Teaching Staff
Mrs. Julie Barr
Pre-School Director
I graduated from Cedarville University in 2001 with a generalized Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, but my interest in cognitive and social development keeps me coming back to preschool!
I worked in several daycare settings and summer programs before I was hired to teach preschool at St Charles Borromeo School in Kettering where my children also attended. I taught there for 7 years, but left in 2020 to broaden my experience working in Kettering and Centerville public schools in integrated preschool and special needs classrooms. I also continued my education, studying Teaching English as a Second Language, Autism spectrum disorders, Applied Behavior Analysis, Love & Logic, and Concious Discipline. In 2023, I took my first director role when I was asked to help transition Centerville City Schools' after-school care program when it's directors retired.
I currently live in Centerville with my college sweetheart and husband of over 20 years, our 3 teenage sons (who keep me very active!) a gecko, and our shepherd mix who is the best dog ever!
I am very happy to be back in a Catholic school setting in a dircector's role, where the mission is not just education, but also building strong families and strong communities. I look forward to using my collected experiences to serve you and your family!
Contact her at jbarr@icsdayton.org
Ms. McKenzie Buschur
Pre-School
My name is McKenzie Buschur. I have been working in Preschool since 2019. This will be my third year at ICS. I love working with preschool and having fun with the kids! My favorite thing is how exciting everything is to them at this age! In my free time, I love traveling, going to concerts, trying new coffee shops, reading, and going on walks.
-McKenzie Buschur
Contact her at mcbuschur@icsdayton.org
Pre-School Aide
Ms. Elizabeth Schweitzer
Kindergarten
My name is Elizabeth Schweitzer. I started at ICS in 2013. Back then, I was the preschool teacher as we began building the preschool program. After a year of teaching preschool, I moved to teaching Kindergarten and have been loving teaching Kindergarten ever since. My favorite subjects to teach are science and math, probably because those were my favorite in school to learn. In my spare time, I enjoy playing the cello and making dinner for my family.
Contact her at eschweitzer@icsdayton.org
Ms. Maddie Rinderle
Kindergarten
This is Ms. Rinderle's sixth year teaching at Immaculate Conception. She graduated with her Bachelor's degree from the University of Dayton and has attended Catholic schools in Cincinnati and Dayton for almost her entire life. She loves that she is working at Immaculate Conception and has always felt called to work in a Catholic school. Her favorite subjects to teach are reading and writing. She loves showing students the building blocks to learn how to read!
Contact her at mrinderle@icsdayton.org
Ms. Christina Acernese
First Grade
Christina Acernese is in her eighth year of teaching in Catholic Education. She found her purpose in teaching the young minds of today. Being an avid learner herself, she always likes to think “outside” of the box to make learning engaging and fun for the students. She also has her reading endorsement and one of her passions is teaching young children to read. In the past, she has worked as a professional tutor helping students improve in their reading and math.
Christina comes to us from Galion, Ohio. In Galion, she was the First and Second Grade Teacher, as well as the Third and Fourth Grade Science teacher for five years. In her first year at Galion, she was the Title I Reading Specialist and Ms. Haus was her principal. Christina made many wonderful memories and connections with the parishioners, families, and teachers at St. Joseph Catholic School and they will always hold a special place in her heart. She is looking forward to creating new memories and connections with the families, teachers, and parishioners at Immaculate Conception School.
Christina wants to thank the parents/guardians of the students for this amazing opportunity and responsibility of teaching their children. Most importantly, she wants to thank God for the blessing and guidance to become a teacher.
When Christina is not teaching, she enjoys cooking, reading, singing, playing her flute, and dancing. She is a Buckeye fan and is looking forward to the Fall weather. She loves Fall and describes it as if God took a paintbrush and colored the leaves in crimson red, sunflower yellow, and vibrant orange. Christina also loves her family and friends and appreciates having them in her life and spending time with them. She is blessed with a wonderful family who helped her get her classroom ready this year and her relocation to Dayton. She prays we all have a wonderful school year.
Contact her cacernese@icsdayton.org
Ms. Jami Kovacs
First Grade
Hello, my name is Jami Kovacs. I am a Dayton native but moved to Sidney, Ohio when I was in the second grade. I attended Immaculate Conception School until we moved. In 2016 I graduated from Wright State University with a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education. I taught as a substitute teacher and long term substitute in Kettering, Ohio. In 2021, I accepted a position as a Paraprofessional in Kettering, Ohio. I'm excited to share that this is my second year having my own classroom outside of my 6 years as a substitute teacher.
When I am not teaching I’m at home with my 3 boys playing cars or doing some kind of creative activity. I enjoy baking with them and going on evening walks.
Contact her jkovacs@icsdayton.org
Ms. Cassie Phillips
Second Grade
Miss Phillips is a Dayton native, having attended Queen of Martyrs, St. Helen’s, Our Lady of the Rosary and Chaminade Julienne Catholic Schools. She is very excited to be part of the Falcon Community at ICS and continue her teaching career with IC’s community of disciples!
Contact her at cphillips@icsdayton.org
Mrs. Jennifer Shepard
Second Grade
Jennifer Shepard began teaching in 2007. She studied Interdisciplinary Studies K-8 with a secondary focus on Child Psychology at Liberty University. She is starting her third year here at Immaculate Conception.
When Jennifer is not teaching she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, being outdoors, reading, doing puzzles, and exploring the marvelous state of Ohio. She loves a rainy day where she can enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book.
Jennifer is excited to be at Immaculate Conception and looks forward to another great school year!
Contact her at jshepard@icsdayton.org
Ms. Magdiel Perez
Third Grade
My name is Magdiel Perez. I started teaching 3rd grade at ICS last year and I really enjoyed it! My first language is Spanish and I’m originally from Arizona. I’m part of the Lalanne program through the University of Dayton, hence the big move to Ohio. Some of my hobbies include reading, drawing, listening to a wide variety of music, and spending time with God.
Contact her at mperez@icsdayton.org
Ms. Kendall Jans
Third Grade
My name is Kendall Jans and I am originally from northern Wisconsin. My husband is in the Air Force and we got stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and that is why we currently reside in Ohio. I got my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and am currently pursuing a Master’s in Literacy Development at Wright State University.
In my spare time, my husband and I love to go hiking with our dog. I am also an avid reader, so you can almost always find me reading a book! I’m so happy to be teaching 3rd grade at Immaculate Conception School and helping to shape the future of my students. I was blessed with this opportunity and I am beyond excited to be part of this wonderful community.
Contact her at kjans@icsdayton.org
Ms. Alexandra Bartley
Fourth Grade
Alexandra Bartley grew up in Oak Park, IL, graduating from Oak Park River Forest High School in 1992. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Civilization and Archaeology at the University of Cincinnati in 1996. After college, she worked as an archaeologist, excavating ancient Native American cultures at Fort Ancient and the Grand Canyon. She completed a Master of Arts in Language Arts and Literature at Eastern Michigan University in 2001, where she also taught writing and literature courses.
Since then, Ms. Bartley has taught a variety of age groups, from infants to college-age. She has also worked as a writer and content editor in academic publishing, creating textbook materials and standardized tests for clients, including Pearson, Time-Life Books, and GED Testing Services. She joined the Immaculate Conception family in 2018, teaching third grade. This year, she will be teaching Reading, Writing, and Social Studies to Grade 4. She loves working with students, expanding their minds and watching them grow. When she is not in the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, Katherine, who attends Immaculate Conception. She also loves reading, writing, hiking, and spending time out on the lake.
Contact her at abartley@icsdayton.org
Ms. Ann Sacksteder
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Sacksteder is native to Dayton, having grown up in the Five Oaks neighborhood, and attending Corpus Christ and CJ. After College she took a couple years to travel and teach. Her teaching experience includes time spent in Ghana, Kenya, The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, Inner City San Antonio, Cincinnati, and Dayton. Seven years ago, God blessed her with the opportunity to teach here at Immaculate Conception where she has found a diverse and welcoming home.
rs. Sacksteder is native to Dayton, having grown up in the Five Oaks neighborhood, and Contact her at asacksteder@icsdayton.org
Ms. Katie Mitchell
Fifth Grade
Contact her at kmitchell@icsdayton.org
Ms. Jan Reed
Sixth Grade
My name is Jan Reed and I teach Religion to 5th and 6th grades, as well as Social Studies to 6th grade. I have been married since I was 21 to my husband Dave, and we have one son. I have a Bachelor’s degree from U.D. in Business Administration and a Master’s in Theology. We live in the country north of Dayton with our 100 lb. German Shepherd, who is spoiled rotten. I have traveled extensively in missionary trips which have provided immersion into many cultures. I have also been involved in many social justice programs and activities in the Dayton area. I bring these experiences into the classroom. I believe my calling to teach began as a child and I also believe my Catholic faith is a call to spread God’s love to students.
Contact her at jreed@icsdayton.org
Ms. Marie Williams
Seventh and Eighth Grade
My name is Maria Williams. As a native Daytonian, I graduated from the University of Dayton in 2020 with a degree in English with a concentration in professional writing.
After a brief stint with the National Park Service I realized from working with different school groups that teaching was what I was most passionate about. I completed a teaching program through the Ohio State University and I am excited to begin my first year teaching at Immaculate Conception!
In my spare time I enjoy reading, baking, gardening, and spending time outside.
Contact her at mwilliams@icsdayton.org
Mr. James Frommeyer
Seventh and Eighth Grade
My name is Jim Frommeyer and I am a 2009 graduate of Lambuth University (now University of Memphis-Lambuth Campus). In 2023, I came to Immaculate Conception to teach Social Studies and Religion.
In my free time I enjoy watching and playing sports, reading & collecting comic books, and spending time with my wife and son. I'm so happy to be a part of the Immaculate Conception community!
Contact him at jfrommeyer@icsdayton.org
Seventh and Eighth Grade
Mrs. Sandy Beall
Art
Mrs. Beall was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and moved to Dayton with her parents when she was in the 8th grade. They joined Immaculate Conception parish within weeks of arriving in Belmont. She has been a parish member for over 45 years. She attended Carroll High School and received a BFA from the University of Dayton.
After graduating from college, she spent many years working in management and in retail sales for Elder Beerman Stores but her dream to teach elementary school Art never left her. While two of her children were still attending Immaculate Conception, she approached the principal and suggested that the school needed an Art Teacher. She was thrilled when she agreed and the next year, Mrs. Beall began teaching part-time Art. Throughout the more than 16 years that she has been at ICS, Mrs. Beall has taught Art along with Religion, Social Studies and Physical Education. As a teacher, Art has always been her favorite subject.
Mrs. Beall is married to a retired Dayton Police officer and has three grown children (all in the military) and six dear grandchildren. In her spare time she loves to walk, watch movies and spend time with her family.
Contact her at sbeall@icsdayton.org
Mrs. Christina Pultz-Miller
Music
I have been a Catholic school educator since 2015 and have taught music and choir to grades PK-8. I strongly believe in using meaningful relationships as well as engaging experiences to inspire students in my music classroom. In my time at the Ohio State University I performed with the Symphonic Band, Collegiate Winds, University Chorus and other chamber ensembles. I moved to Dayton with my family in 2016 and have had the joy of singing in Immaculate Conception’s Rock Mass Choir over the years. I graduated with a Master’s of Arts in Teaching from Miami University in the Spring of 2022. I truly love the time I get to spend with students and strive to enrich their lives with a fun and charismatic approach to music education.
Contact her at cpultzmiller@icsdayton.org
Mr. Todd Barhorst
Gym
This is Mr. Barhorst's fifth year as gym teacher at Immaculate Conception. He is a product of a lifelong Catholic education as a graduate of Precious Blood elementary and Chaminade Julienne High School. He has been a varsity baseball coach for the Chaminade Julienne baseball team for 11 years and took over as head coach in the fall of 2019. He is passionate about working with kids on physical education, team work, and accomplishing goals.
Contact him at tbarhorst@icsdayton.org
