Staff Bios

Donna Binsfeld teaches fourth grade at Sacred Heart School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from St. Cloud State University. She has 24 years of service in Catholic schools, the past 20 years at Sacred Heart. She has taught in all grades one through six. She has also been a member of the parish for 20 years. She has 2 adult children.

Contact information
dbinsfeld@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-2854

Patrick Flynn has a Master of Religious Education degree from Seattle University and has worked for over thirty years in youth ministry and as a teacher. He is currently teaching at St. John’s University in addition to his youth ministry work at Sacred Heart and Saint Francis. Patrick has been married to Shelly for 23 years. They have four children ranging in age from 21 to 11 and they live in St. Joe in a house that he is perennially “fixing up”.

Contact information
pflynn@csbsju.edu
320-293-7988

Erin Hatlestad serves as principal at Sacred Heart School. She received her undergraduate degree in Education from the College of St. Benedict and her Master's in Administration/Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas. She has served as principal for the past twelve years. Prior to that, she taught kindergarten, second and fifth grade in catholic schools in the St. Cloud Diocese. Erin grew up in Sauk Centre and is the oldest of five children. She and her husband, Jamie, have three children, Logan, Lauren and Isabella, and have been members of Sacred Heart since 1998. Erin's hobbies include scrapbooking, watching movies, spending time with her extended family and reading.

Contact information
shs@charterinternet.com
320-251-2854

Kathy Janson serves Sacred Heart as a Kindergarten teacher. She has a BS degree in Elementary Education and Reading along with a Kindergarten Endorsement. Kathy has been teaching for 28 years at Sacred Heart. She has taught Kindergarten for the majority of her teaching years, but has also taught third grade. Kathy grew up and has lived in Sauk Rapids her whole life. She attended Sacred Heart School along with her eleven siblings and feels very blessed to be teaching at her alma mater. She and her husband, Bernie, have three children. They are members of Annunciation Church in Mayhew Lake where they also farm. Kathy's hobbies include: gardening, landscaping, reading, crafts, taking long walks, and spending time with family.

Contact information
kjanson@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-2854

Margie Kahl is currently one of the school cooks.

Contact information
320-251-2854

Amy Kleinschmidt is currently teaching 2nd and 3rd grade at Sacred Heart School. She received her teaching degree from St. Cloud State University, and has been teaching at Sacred Heart for 3 years. Amy has been a member of Sacred Heart Parish all her life. She is married, and she and her husband welcomed their son into their family on March 9, 2010. Her hobbies include reading, camping, and spending time with family and friends.

Contact information
akleinschmidt@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-2854

Joan Krause is the Director of Faith Formation for Sacred Heart Parish. Joan and her husband Mike moved to Sauk Rapids in 2008 after living in Grand Forks, North Dakota for 21 years where Joan served as the Director of Faith Formation at Holy Family Parish. Joan and Mike have 5 grown children. Joan is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict. Her interests include travel, reading, and gathering with family .

Contact information
jkrause@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-8115 ext *818

Marty Marrinan grew up in Gaylord, a small town in southern Minnesota. She began teaching at Sacred Heart in 1980 after graduating from the College
of St Benedict with a Liberal Arts degree and getting her teaching license from St. Cloud State University. She has taught many grade levels and is currently teaching first grade. She is married to Paul and has four children , Claire, Tim, Sarah, and Laura.

She is also the Volunteer Coordinator for Project ASTRIDE, a program that provides activities on horseback for riders with disabilities. She has volunteered countless hours for the Tri-County Humane Shelter doing foster care for pregnant mom dogs or puppies without moms. When she has “spare” time she enjoys reading, a movie, a suduku puzzle, and baking.

Contact information
mmarrinan@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-2854

JoAnn Mo grew up on a dairy farm a couple of miles from Upsala. She married Jeff and they have three children: Lisa, Sarah and Jason. Prior to coming to Sacred Heart Parish, She worked for St. Cloud State University and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. JoAnn enjoy crafts, gardening, reading and quilting.

Contact information
jmo@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-8115 ext *814

Jenny O'Fallon teaches second and third grade at Sacred Heart School. She received her teaching degree from the College of Saint Benedict. This is her first year teaching at Sacred Heart. Jenny and her husband have one child, Carter, who was born this past June. She enjoys spending her time with family, at the lake, watching movies, and scrapbooking.

Contact information
jofallon@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-2854

Carolyn Opitz has always been known as Cookie or Cook. In fact,it is even on her license plate ! "Miss O" has taught for 35 years, all for the Diocese of St. Cloud. A '75 graduate of St. Cloud State, she taught 2 years in Luxemburg, then 9 years in Breckenridge. Since then , she has been in the St. Cloud area. She has taught kindergarten, first grade, and third grade, and for 23 years spent part of her summer with the 5-8 year old children in the Breckenridge Summer Migrant Program. Cook lives on Beaver Lake, which is about 10 miles south of St. Cloud. Highway 15 is noisy, but the gorgeous sunsets over the lake make up for it ! She loves to sing, play guitar, bake, fish, read, and TALK - just ask any of her co-workers !

Contact information
copitz@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-2854

Maureen Otremba serves as pastoral minister at Sacred Heart. She received her undergraduate degree in English from Furman University in Greenville, SC, and her Master’s in Theology from St. John’s University. She has a background in teaching and youth and adult faith formation. Maureen grew up in Atlanta, where her extended family still resides. She and her husband, Jim, have three children, Stephanie, Rachel, and David, and have been members of Sacred Heart since 2000. Maureen’s hobbies include calligraphy, piano and organ music, scrapbooking, and talking incessantly.

Contact information
motremba@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-8115 ext *817

Rita Pederson is the fifth grade teacher at Sacred Heart School. She has taught in the St. Cloud Diocese for 33 years. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Moorhead State University. She grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She has been married for 30 years. Rod and Rita have three children, Ann, Ben and John. She enjoys time with her family, biking, swimming, and reading.

Contact information
rpederson@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-2854

Cindy Pfannenstein received a degree in elementary education from the College of Saint Benedict. In 2008, she joined the SHS staff as a first grade reading and math teacher. Prior to spending time at home to raise her family, Cindy taught first grade in the Sartell school district. Cindy and her husband, Paul, reside in St. Cloud. They stay busy raising five children. In Cindy's spare time she likes to walk/run, cuddle up with a good book by the fireplace, and tend to her flowerbeds in the spring and summer.

Contact information
cpfannenstein@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-2854

Beth Plumski joined the Sacred Heart staff in October of 2008. She graduated from the College of St. Benedict with a degree in Liturgical Music and a minor in Theology. Her major instruments are organ and piano with a minor emphasis in voice. Beth and her husband, Duane, live in St. Stephen with their daughter, Maggie, and son Tyler. She enjoys spending time with my family, being outside, gardening, scrapbooking, and many other craft projects.

Contact information
bplumski@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-8115 ext *822

Betty Schloemer is the sixth grade teacher at Sacred Heart School. She has been teaching at Sacred Heart for 20 years and during that time has taught sixth and fourth grades. Prior to her employment here she was the Media Specialist / Science teacher for grades five and six at the St. Joseph Lab School. Betty earned her undergraduate degree in education from the College of St. Benedict and also has a master's degree in Information Media from St. Cloud University. She has been married to her husband, Bernie, for nearly 40 years and has raised two daughters. She is also a grandmother of five. Betty enjoys reading, making cards, playing piano, and gardening.

Contact information
bschloemer@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-2854

Julie Schmid grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota. She married Corey and they have two children: Annataya and Kirby. The family moved to Sauk Rapids over 10 years ago. Prior to moving to Sauk Rapids Julie was employed at Advertising Unlimited in the credit department in Sleepy Eye, MN. Julie enjoys walks with the family dog, watching the children's activities and hosting St. Cloud Riverbat players on the summer months.

Contact information
jschmid@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-2854

Sherri Skuza a graduate of the College of St. Benedict, has thoroughly enjoyed teaching at Sacred Heart School for the past 21 years. She is married to Bill (17 years now!) and they have two children ages 9 and 10. Her interests include “artsy stuff”, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Contact information
sskuza@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-2854

Sandy Sobieck is currently one of the school cooks.

Contact information
320-251-2854

Ruth Steffes received her BA in Elementary Education and Music Education from the University of Mary in Bismarck ND. She taught 3 years in Browerville MN and has taught at Sacred Heart School for 27 years. She taught 1st and 3rd grade before
becoming the music teacher, librarian and technology coordinator at Sacred Heart. She accompanies for Masses at Sacred Heart and St. Francis. She is married to Jack and has 2 adult daughters, Kim and Kristi, 1 son, Scott, and 3 grandchildren. In her spare time she reads, bikes, rollerblades. She enjoys participating in Wii sports games and DDR.

Contact information
rsteffes@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-2854

Jim Storms takes care of the maintenance at the school and church campuses, and has been with the parish since 2000. He and his wife, Dolores, have raised 5 children and are blessed with grandchildren. Jim was raised on a farm and continues to live on part of that same farm. He enjoys fishing, hunting, golf, travel, and time with family.

Contact information
320-251-2854

David Walker joined the Sacred Heart staff in 2008 and is part of the parish’s custodial staff. David graduated from Cathedral High School and pursued graphic arts at St. Cloud Technical College. He has worked in media services for the 742 school district ; as an activity director and cook for seniors. David enjoys playing the organ, singing, and listening to all types of music. His hobbies include board games, word finds, fishing, hiking, skiing, and exploring Minnesota.

Contact information
320-251-2854

Fr. Ron Weyrens spent his youth in Sartell and St. Joseph. His parents are Hugo and Rita Weyrens. He has three sisters and one brother, and is the oldest and wisest. Fr. Ron attended St. John’s Prep, St. John’s University, and St. John’s Seminary and School of Theology. Ordained as a priest in 1982 he has served the parishes of St. Francis Xavier, Sartell, MN; St. Paul, St. Cloud, MN; Sacred Heart, East Grand Forks, MN; St. Mary of the Presentation, Breckenridge, MN; St. Joseph, Waite Park, MN; and has been pastor here since July of 2005. He enjoys hiking, gardening, biking, traveling, working on puzzles, and reading.

Contact information
frron@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-8115 ext *812

Sarah Woeste began working for Sacred Heart Parish in September of 2003. She attended the College of St. Benedict and has her degree in Liturgical Music with emphasis on Voice. Sarah is married and has 3 children. She enjoys singing, playing piano, spending time with family, scrap booking, hiking and going for bike rides.

Contact information
swoeste@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-8115 ext *816

Bob Zawacki was born and raised in Foley, the oldest of six children. He attended St. Cloud State University, served in the U.S. Navy for four years, then graduated from Minnesota State University Mankato with a degree in Business. He is married to Nancy and is the father of Brian and Paul. Bob enjoys fishing, camping, rose gardening, and road trips. He has a passion for mission outreach and peace and justice issues.

Contact information
bzawacki@sacredheartsaukrapids.org
320-251-8115 ext *811