St. Peter's Lutheran School Faculty and Staff

Karla Leidecker - 5th/6th Grade,
Band and Choir Director
kleidecker@stpeterslutheranchurch.net

Karla Leidecker has been a part of the faculty and staff of St. Peter's since 2000. She has taught Kindergarten, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, Resource Room, and is now the 5th and 6th grade teacher. She is also blessed to direct the Beginning Band, Advanced Band, Cherubs, and Choristers.

In 5th and 6th grade students begin their formal Confirmation instruction with Bible History taught by Pastor Adams. Mrs. Leidecker teaches Language, Literature, Writing, Spelling/Vocabulary, and Math. They alternate yearly between Ancient History and Early American History taught by Mrs. Leinhase. Mrs. Winston is their Science teacher. Students also take weekly Spanish, Art, and PE classes. Technology has an active role in her classroom through the daily use of Chromebooks as a tool for expression, communication, research, and creativity. Fifth and sixth grade also attend Outdoor Ed which is a highlight of the year!

Sharing and showing the love of Jesus is central in every activity of Mrs. Leidecker’s classroom! They pray together, worship together, and grow in their faith together each and every day!

Valerie Winston - 4th Grade
vwinston@stpeterslutheranchurch.net

Valerie Winston is a proud graduate of Holy Cross Lutheran School and Lutheran High School West, both in Detroit. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education from Concordia, River Forest. (She can’t seem to call it Chicago!) She comes from a family of educators with at least 10 of her relatives currently involved in some aspect of teaching or working with schools.

She will be teaching most of the 4th grade classes this year, as well as 5/6 and 7/8 science. She is excited to work with the 4th graders as they discover the Wonders of reading and hope to Inspire a love of science in the 4th through 8th grades. She is especially excited to help her class become savvy and Smart with the newest technology. She knows that God will be with us every step of the way as we “fix our eyes on Jesus.”

Linda Pfeiffer - 3rd Grade
lpfeiffer@stpeterslutheranchurch.net

Linda Pfeiffer is excited to be teaching 3rd grade at St. Peter’s!  She has 2 daughters…Sydney who is a 1st grade teacher at Immanuel, Macomb, and Erin who just graduated with her degree in Exercise Science and hoping to work in cardiac rehabilitation. They love spending time with family, watching reality TV, and working on their house.  

She attended Lutheran schools for grade school (St. Peter’s Lutheran, Eastpointe), high school (Lutheran High East, Harper Woods), and college (Concordia University, River Forest, IL.)  She taught 2nd grade at Trinity Lutheran in Davenport, IA and 3rd grade and Kindergarten at First Immanuel Lutheran, Cedarburg, WI.  This is her 24th year of teaching, and she still loves it! 

Her teaching philosophy is quite simple.  “I believe that your child is a precious gift from God.  I believe our learning should be centered around our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I believe that learning should be enjoyable, fun, AND meaningful.” 3rd grade is an amazing transition year!  They are becoming more independent in all their studies and are preparing for some departmentalization next year, but they are still working on mastering skills from 2nd grade. 
They will continue to work on reading (bring on the chapter books!) and all things language (English,phonics, spelling, handwriting.) They will be multiplying in math, working on different regions in social studies, and going hands on in science.  Most importantly, they will be learning about our loving God and all that He has created and given us…especially His Son, Jesus!  

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:5

Debbie Pierce - 2nd Grade
dpierce@stpeterslutheranchurch.net

I began my teaching career in 1992 teaching second grade at St. John's Lutheran School in Grand Haven, Michigan. In 1999, I received a call to Our Shepherd Lutheran School in Birmingham,Michigan beginning my ministry teaching second grade for one year and then teaching first grade for 22 years. My ministry will continue at St. Peter Lutheran School in the fall of 2023 teaching second and third grade.

I received my AA as an Early Childhood Care Technician from Macomb Community College. I continued my education at Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan, earning a BA with a major in education and minor in history and psychology. I also received my Lutheran Teaching Diploma. I also received my MA in Reading and Language Arts with an endorsement as a Reading Specialist from Oakland University. Continuing taking classes to learn new techniques to teach and engage the children in my care is a top priority for me.

Larysa Transit - 1st Grade
ltransit@stpeterslutheranchurch.net

Larysa Transit teaches first grade. She has been teaching for over 25 years and has loved every minute of it! She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education and teaching reading from Oakland University.  In first grade the subject areas she teaches are: Jesus time, reading, spelling, phonics, writing skills, handwriting, math, science and social studies.  The students also have special classes which include: technology, music, physical education, Spanish and art. First grade begins each day with prayers and a devotion, it is Mrs. Transit’s favorite time of the day.  The children pray for each other and their families, and they take time to thank God for their many blessings.

Terri Thomas - Resource Room
tthomas@stpeterslutheranchurch.net

Terri Thomas is married to her husband, Brad. They have three married, adult children, and seven grandchildren. She has been teaching for 20 years. This is her seventh year as a teacher consultant and Resource Room teacher. She received her undergraduate degree from Alma College, a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Oakland University, Lutheran colloquy education from Concordia, Ann Arbor, and Special Education certification from Concordia, Ann Arbor. 

She currently works with students in grades K-8 that need extra support outside of the classroom for various learning needs in reading and math. The students meet with her individually or in small groups in the Resource Room three to five times a week. She may also “push-in” to a classroom to assist students in that setting. Her classroom is full of resources and activities to help students achieve success with their learning goals. She thinks it is a blessing to work with children where she shares the love of Jesus every day!

Megan Breithaupt - School Secretary
mbreithaupt@stpeterslutheranchurch.net

Marie Prebe - Church Secretary
mprebe@stpeterslutheranchurch.net

Tina Johnson -
Handbell Director, Piano Accompanist
tjohnson@stpeterslutheranchurch.net