Jen Koclanis - Kindergarten teacher

I have been a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church my whole life. I am an alum of St. Peter and graduated here in 1992. I went on to pursue my teaching degree at Winona State University in Minnesota and graduated in 2000. I worked in the public school system for six years, teaching both fourth and second grades. While working there, I pursued my Master's degree in Teaching and Leadership at St. Xavier University.
My family started to grow and I needed a job closer to the Arlington Heights area. I felt like God led me to St. Peter and I have been teaching here ever since. I loved teaching preschool at St. Peter for 13 years. In 2020, I moved into the kindergarten teaching position. My sister teaches here with me and my mother was also a teacher here for 15 years. My twins graduated from St. Peter in 2020 and my youngest son in 2024.
The Christian foundation they have had at St. Peter is one of the greatest gifts my husband and I have given them. I'm thrilled to be teaching kindergarten this year and preparing them to excel spiritually, academically, and socially. I chose to come to teach at St. Peter because I wanted to spread God's love to as many children as possible. I wanted the same opportunity for my children that I had growing up. St. Peter is a loving, nurturing, and family-oriented school and church. It has been a blessing to many generations and will continue to be a blessing for years to come.