Dr. Rebecca Burton
Concordia Academy
Head of School
Rebecca’s favorite verse is Romans 5:3-5 - More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. She and her husband Robert were married in Painesville, Ohio on June 2, 2000, and they have two children. She and her family joined as charter members of the St. Peter Lutheran Church in 2006 when the church first organized. In 2007, she joined the St. Peter staff. She is passionate about education and how it impacts our generation of children. She is also passionate about family and time spent with them. She loves nachos, sweet tea, and Reeses Pieces and would gladly welcome such gifts!
Elaine Vincenzo is the Assistant Director of Concordia Academy. Her most favorite vacation memory is being on the beach with her three daughters. Her dog, Buddy, keeps their home hopping! She's totally a Pepsi person, and loves popcorn and Blue Bell Vanilla icecream. Although she prefers Mexican food, her favorite Roanoke restaurant is the Italian Bistro. Picking one Bible verse was really difficult for her - she said, "For today, let's go with Isaiah 3:31 - But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Her favorite hymn is "Amazing Grace" and she likes "If We are the Body" by Casting Crowns and anything by Third Day.
Karla Balduc is our Kindergarten teacher, and she has 9 years of teaching experience. She and her husband Robert were married in 1990 in Carrollton, Texas. They are parents of four children, two dogs and one cat. Her favorite vacation memory is white water rafting in Colorado. Karla is passionate about teaching children … and puppets!! She tries to live by this verse: Matthew 6:33, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well, and finds that she can talk to God best when she’s in the car, on a walk or right before bedtime.
Kathleen Eldridge teaches our 3 year olds ... and she is passionate about teaching, of course, having been in the field for 20 years! She is the mother of three and grandmother of three, as well. The very first concert she remembers attending was the Oak Ridge Boys and her favorite hymn is "Onward Christian Soldiers". She can't live without chicken, and prefers Pepsi over Coke and chocolate over vanilla. Kathleen is a NY Yankees fan, and her favorite TV shows are CSI, NCIS and SVU (she must be good at solving those mysteries!) The Bible verse that gets her through is Psalm 139:7-12, Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there;if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Jackie Ferris has two years of experience and is the Assistant 
Teacher for the 4 year old class. After their marriage in 2005, she and her husband, Matt, went on a honeymoon to Niagara Falls! They now have four children. Her favorite treat is Doritos; she prefers Coke to Pepsi, and to be completely fair, she won’t choose between chocolate and vanilla – she says, “I like them swirled!” She’s a reality TV junkie, but likes getting away to the front living room of her house to pray and read God’s Word. Her favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:28, And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.
Melissa Gorgas teaches our 2 year old class. She and her husband Brett were married in 2003 in Waco, Texas, and they have one son. She likes her Coca-Cola in a can and claims to be able to touch her tongue to her nose - a skill that we’re sure entertains her students! Her favorite Bible verse is Luke 22:42, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” The last book she read is Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo, and the worship song that touches her heart is “Send Me Out”.
Lena Lampley has 6 years of teaching experience and is the Assistant Teacher for the 4 year old class. She and Chase were married in June 2006 on the beach in Cozumel, Mexico. She is mom to two little ones. Her favorite restaurant in Roanoke is Twisted Root, and she enjoys a good shopping trip to Target when she can get some free time! Lena's favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Amy Lucas is the Assistant Teacher for the 3 year old class this year. She has 10 years of experience working with children. She and her husband Bradley were married in 1992 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and have two teen-aged children. Her favorite movies are Sound of Music and Anna and the King, and she loves Chex Mix! Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13, I can do all this through him who gives me strength. She says, “I am passionate about exercise, helping others and helping my kids be the best they can be!”
Debbie Mitchell, the Assistant Teacher for the 3 year old class, loves visiting national parks such as Yellowstone, Badlands, Mt. Rushmore and the Grand Canyon. She and her husband, Ken, were married in 1997 in Los Angeles, California. They have three children and two pet dachshunds. Her favorite treat is popcorn at the movie theater, and her favorite movie is The Sting. She has two years of experience as an assistant teacher, but a lot more years of experience as a mother who works hard at raising her children to be kind, compassionate, Christian people. She lives by two Bible verses: Philippians 4:13, I can do all this through him who gives me strength; and Romans 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Ranelle Rush is a teacher with 18 years of experience, and she is the 4 year old teacher. She drinks Diet Coke and loves chocolate. Married to Rick in 1977 in Wichita, Kansas, she is the mother of two adult children and grandmother of two (who happen to be twins!) “Shout to the Lord” is her favorite worship song, and she is passionate about telling others about Jesus. Panera Bread Company is one of her favorite restaurants, but since moving to the area, she has discovered the German restaurant, Gerhard’s in Roanoke and likes it a lot, too. Her favorite Bible verse that keeps her going is 1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
