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Faculty Directory

Faculty Directory

Mrs. Jennifer Dawson

Mrs. Jennifer Dawson

Job Title: Kindergarten Teacher

Email: Click Here to Email Me!

Ext: 2302

Website: https://sites.google.com/stphils.com/mrsdawsonskindergarten/home

Mrs. Dawson has been teaching kindergarten at St. Philomena since 1998-99 and has been teaching since 1994. Mrs. Dawson is from Roanoke and earned her degree in Early Elementary Education from Bradley University.  Mrs. Dawson is married and has one daughter, Rebecca.  She loves walking her dogs and spending time with her family.

 

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Mrs. Krista Dippold

Mrs. Krista Dippold

Job Title: PreSchool Teacher

Email: Click Here to Email Me!

Ext: 2301

Mrs. Dippold joined the faculty at St. Philomena School for the 2020-21 school year. A native of Lake Villa, IL, she began teaching in 2010 after receiving her degree in Elementary Education from Knox College. Mrs. Dippold previously taught as a Library Specialist as well as grades 2nd, 4th and 5th. She and her husband have four children, Lincoln, Henry, Ruby and Penelope. Outside of school she enjoys crafting, reading, gardening and being outside.

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Mrs. Colleen Donlan

Mrs. Colleen Donlan

Job Title: Junior High Social Studies & 7th Grade Homeroom

Email: Click Here to Email Me!

Ext: ext. 2334

Mrs. Donlan began teaching at St. Philomena School in 2022-23. She has been teaching ninth-twelfth grade Social Studies since 2013.  She is a Peoria native and a graduate of St. Philomena School (class of 2002!), her children are third generation St. Phil's Tigers!  Mrs. Donlan attended Illinois State University where she earned her degree in Social Studies Education.  She is married to Zack and they have three sons: Liam, Finn and Aiden. In her after school time, Mrs. Donlan likes spending time with her family, cooking, baking and traveling.

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Mrs. Emily Esparza

Mrs. Emily Esparza

Job Title: 5th Grade Teacher

Email: Click Here to Email Me!

Ext: 2328

Website: https://sites.google.com/stphils.com/mrsesparza/home

Mrs. Esparza began teaching fifth grade at St. Philomena in 2017-18. She has five additional years teaching third through fifth grades prior to her arrival here.  She is from Chicago and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education at Western Illinois University.  Mrs. Esparza is married and has three children, Olivia, Nicolas and Leo.  She likes to cook, bake, read, and travel.

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Mrs. Morgan Fehl

Mrs. Morgan Fehl

Job Title: Resource Teacher & Curriculum Coordinator

Email: Click Here to Email Me!

Mrs. Fehl taught third grade at St. Philomena beginning in 2010-11. In 2023-24 she transitioned to a resource teacher and our curriculum coordinator.  She is from Peoria and obtained a degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University.  Mrs. Fehl is married and has three children Charlie, Maggie, Patrick and Grace.  She enjoys shopping, reading, working out, watching the Cubs, going on vacation with her family.

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Mrs. Molly Fricano

Mrs. Molly Fricano

Job Title: PreK-4 Classroom Aide

Email: Click Here to Email Me!

Mrs. Molly Fricano joins the St. Philomena School staff for the 2025-26 school year as an aide in the PreK-4 program. A Peoria native, she received her bachelor's degree for nursing at Bradley University. Previously, Molly was a nurse in the OSF Labor and Delivery department for 17 years. She was also part of the Maternal Fetal Life Flight Transport Team, flying on Life Flight helicopters. Molly is married to Nick and at home they have four children, Mia, Dominic, Finley, and Claire, along with two cats Meatball and Cheeseburger, and two lizards Frost and Flash. Mrs. Fricano says, "I love to spend time with my family, friends, and neighbors, reading a good book, taking walks, doing puzzles, and playing Mario Party!"

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Mrs. Traci Heppard

Mrs. Traci Heppard

Job Title: 3rd Grade Teacher

Email: Click Here to Email Me!

Ext: 2305

Website: http://3h-stphils.weebly.com/

Mrs. Heppard is a Peoria native and began teaching in 2013. She joined the St. Philomena Faculty for the 2019-2020 school year to teach third grade, having previous experience teaching first and second grades. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Illinois State University. Mrs. Heppard is married to Sam and they have four children, Benjamin, William, Charlotte and Noah, and a dog, Charlie. When not in the classroom, she enjoys cooking, going on walks with the family, reading, crafting and enjoying the good company of friends and family.

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Mrs. Cindy Heuermann

Mrs. Cindy Heuermann

Job Title: 1st Grade Teacher

Email: Click Here to Email Me!

Ext: 2308

Website: https://sites.google.com/stphils.com/heuermann

Mrs. Heuermann has taught kindergarten and first grades at St. Philomena since 1997-98, and celebrated 30 years as a teacher in 2023-2024. Mrs. Heuermann is from Peoria and earned her Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Eureka College.  She is married with two children, Nick (married to Bridget) and Rachel, and has three grandchildren, Lydia, Adler and Fiona.  Mrs. Heuermann enjoys gardening, walking her dog, cooking, and sewing.

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