• Called to Grace Lutheran Church & School as Pastor 2020
• Graduate Concordia Seminary St. Louis, MO – Masters of Divinity 2015
• Graduate Concordia University St. Paul, MN – BA Religious Studies 2011
• Graduate Kendall College Chicago, IL – AAS Culinary Arts 2001
• Ordained at St. Mark Lutheran Church Elko, NV  2015
• Vicared at Hope Lutheran Church Plant City, FL  2013
• Lutheran Youth Encounter – Captive Free Alumni  2007
• Favorite Bible Verse: 2 Timothy 2:1-2 “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

• Graduate of Lynchburg University; Master of Education in Educational Leadership
• Graduate of Old Dominion University; Master of Science in Special Education
• Graduate of Virginia Tech; Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• 20+ years of experience in education
• Member of Grace Lutheran Church
• Married to Shannon and mom of Sawyer and Chaz
• Passionate about education and sharing the love of Jesus with students and families
• Favorite Bible verse: Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Hi! I’m Jerlyn Matthews, Your Preschool Director and VPK Teacher here at Grace Lutheran. What a blessing to be a part of this mission teaching and sharing the love of Jesus. I truly believe children learn best in a caring and loving environment where they feel safe and loved—then they are able to not only learn but thrive. I’ve been married to my wonderful husband Jeffrey for 35 years (and counting) with three blessed adult children.

My Life Verse is: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And  he will direct thy path.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

My name is Lauren Shaw, and I am the Administrative Assistant at Grace Lutheran School. I enjoy supporting students, families, and staff each day. As a proud military spouse, I have lived in several places before moving to Key West from North Carolina in 2024. I am originally from Orlando and happy to be back in Florida and part of the Grace Lutheran community. My husband and I have 4 kids, 2 of whom attend Grace Lutheran School. I love to be able to combine my passion for organization, communication, and service with the Christ-centered mission of the school.

Favorite Bible Verse: Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

I hold bachelor’s degree in European History and Economics from Bennington College in Vermont and received my Master’s degree in Business Administration while continuing my almost 30 year career at the University of Florida as an administrative systems coordinator. I have two boys, Richard and Tony, ages 39 and 41.

When my second husband passed away in 2018, I retired from UF and moved to Key West. in 2025 I have moved to Sarasota to help my brother and sister-in-law care for my 92 year old parents (with all of us living together under one roof!) I am an active member of Bayside Community Church in Lakewood Ranch.   I continue to work remotely for Grace Lutheran School assisting Amy Donaldson and the rest of the staff as needed.

My passion is to join God wherever I see Him at work as His servant, and that places me right here at Grace Lutheran School, as a ladies small group leader at Bayside Church, and in my family home.

I was born and raised right her in sunny Key West! I absolutely love the ocean and feel blessed to be surrounded by it every day. I am married and have two amazing daughters who keep me smiling and on my toes.

My Favorites:

• Drink: Coffee
• Animal: Penguin
• Pets: 2 dogs, a Cat, a bearded dragon and a chameleon

I have a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with ESOL Endorsement from Barry University. This is my 16th year teaching and my year at Grace Lutheran. Prior to teaching at Grace Lutheran, I taught at the public school system in Key West. My teaching experience includes grades Pre-K, Kindergarten, First, Sixth, and ELL Resource Teacher for grades K-5. As an ELL Resource Teacher, I taught students who spoke English as their second language.

My Favorites:

• Color: Blue/Teal
• Candy: Dark chocolate
• Drink: Coffee
• Hobby: Boating
• Food: Sushi
• Other: Spending time with
• Animal: My Dachshund Reese, my kids & my family

Favorite Bible verse: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” –Jeremiah 29:11

Hi, I’m Ms. Mackenzi and I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with your children. I have volunteered many years in the school system with my own two boys and previously worked in a reading and writing intervention program in Virginia. I am originally from Wisconsin, but have had the pleasure of exploring many new places with my husband who serves in the US Navy. We have two young boys and two crazy dogs. I’m looking forward to exploring more of Key West and getting to know all of our Grace Lutheran families!

My favorite Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 16:14, “Do everything in love.”

My name is Jessica Gomez. I have a Master of Science in Psychology and a Certificate in Phonological Awareness. This is my 4th year teaching at GLS. I have been working in the educational and counseling field throughout the keys for 14+ years. I live in Key West with my husband, our two kids and two Siberian Huskies. I am a lover of traveling, spending quality time with family, crafting, reading and animals. I am so happy to be a part of the GLS family!

My favorite bible passage is Psalm 23:

"The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever."

My name is Cassandra Morgan, and I am grateful and excited to be a part of the Grace Lutheran School team. From a young age, I’ve had a passion for working with children, spending much of my time helping in the church nursery and children’s group. Over the years, I have cared for many children and even had the opportunity to travel to France for several weeks to do so.

More recently, I have been at home raising my two children while working alongside my husband to grow our local business. I feel truly blessed to have found such a wonderful school community for my family, and I look forward to being part of your children’s growth and learning.

My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

My name is Katie Peterson and I am teaching 2nd grade. My husband and I were both born and raised in Iowa and moved to Key West 11 years ago. I have two sons that attend Grace Lutheran (1st and 3rd grade) and also two big dogs at home!

I graduated from Simpson College with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and an endorsement in reading. I previously taught Pre-K and Kindergarten in Iowa, Illinois, and Florida. I took some time off to be home with my boys while they were younger, and am back in the classroom this year full time.

My husband and I have always felt that a Christian education was important for our children, and I am blessed to be a part of this mission now as a teacher!

My favorite bible verses are:

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own." –Matthew 6:34

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul." –Psalm 23:1-3

• Graduate of the University of Central Florida; Bachelor’s in Psychology, Minor in Business Administration and Post Graduate degree; Master of Social Work
• 10+ years of experience in the Social Work field
• Married to Jonathan Johnston, mom of Isabella (16) Zoey (4) and Oliver (2)
• Passionate about kindness and the love of Jesus Christ

I’m Monica Johnston, your 3^rd grade teacher at Grace Lutheran. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to teach your child and make them feel heard and cared for. My number one goal is to be able to provide a loving caring environment. I believe children learn best when they feel comfortable and safe and I strive to reach that this school year.

I graduated from the University of Central Florida with my Bachelor’s in Psychology and I have also completed my Master’s in Social Work from UCF! GO KNIGHTS! I have a wonderful husband who also graduated from UCF. We are a big UCF family. We were both raised in Orlando, Florida. We have 3 amazing children. When I am not in school, I love reading and spending time with my family.

My teaching philosophy is that every child has their own strengths, talents and ideas. It is my responsibility as their teacher to help them reach their full potential. It is important for me to create a welcoming inclusive environment where every child feels safe and comfortable to learn, grow, and thrive. It is my goal to encourage your child to be a lifelong learner along with having a firm foundation in Christ. My favorite verse is Proverbs 21:21.

I graduated from Stetson University in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies. Born and raised in Key West, Florida, I am a proud 6th generation Conch with deep roots in the community. Having attended Grace Lutheran School from Pre-K through 8th grade and being a lifelong member of Grace Lutheran Church, my connection to this school and church has been a lifelong journey.

I’ve been part of the Grace Lutheran team for five years, working with many grade levels. Last year, I co-taught 3rd and 4th grade before becoming the lead teacher for 5th and 6th. I’m excited to return to 4th grade and help students grow academically and spiritually.

I am passionate about guiding students on their academic and spiritual paths, helping them discover the joy of learning while deepening their faith. Being part of the Grace Lutheran School community allows me to give back to a place that has shaped so much of who I am, and I am thankful I can contribute to the growth and development of our students.

I retired from Monroe County School District May 2023, in which I was a teacher for 32 years and an ESE Staffing Specialist for three years. This will be my third year teaching at Grace Lutheran. I have a Masters Degree from Nova Southeastern University in Teaching and Learning specializing in Reading. I am a fourth generation conch. I am married with 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren. Four of my six grandchildren attend Grace Lutheran School. I enjoy spending time with my family. I love boating and traveling.

I am a Navy spouse and this is my third year teaching at GLS. I hold a Master’s Degree from Old Dominion University in Elementary Education and a teaching certificate in both Florida and Virginia. I have two daughters who will also be attending GLS.

I have a perfect hound-dog named Maple, a paraplegic dachshund named Buddy, a crazy beagle-basset hound mix named Daphne, two guinea pigs (Reese and Karen), and one American Paint horse named Misty! I also had 30 chickens in my backyard in Virginia from March-May, but now those are dwindling in my freezer.

In my free time, I enjoy baking, listening to audiobooks, reading, and going for runs.

I’ve always loved learning, especially when it comes to history, and I enjoy sharing that passion with others. Outside of teaching, I like to read, watch ice hockey, play guitar and bass, and unwind with music or a good story, whatever the medium. I like to get outside when I can, even if the Keys heat can make that a bit of a challenge. I have my Bachelor’s Degree in History & Social Studies from the Baptist University of Florida. I look forward to working with you all and am excited to see you grow!

Hi, I’m Coach Sevanah! I love being  the PE coach at Grace Lutheran, and I love Jesus, fitness, and island life. I’ve lived in Key West for 16 years, and my husband  and I are raising our three little conchs here in paradise. I’m passionate about teaching kids to live active, healthy lives and I believe Jesus is the ultimate dead-lifter, carrying the weight of the world for us all!

Favorite Bible Verse:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:13 💪

Mrs. Phyllis has spend 30 years teaching school in Key West. As a school librarian, she uses puppetry, drama and crafts to make literature come alive for students. She is also Great Books trained. Storytelling involves the students as they either act out their part or participate as the audience during this special area.

My name is Helen Green. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Arts and Choir. I have taught music, piano and vocal for 30+ years.

My Favorite Bible verse is John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

• Graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia; Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
• 20+ years of professional experience in dance & choreography, the performing arts, and Pilates
• Founder & Artistic Director of Dance Key West, a 501c3 nonprofit organization
• Currently studying public administration at Liberty University and Hatha yoga at Akasha Yoga Academy
• Member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (Florida Keys Chapter) and the American Legion Auxiliary (Unit 1280 in Cassadaga, NY)
• Married to Dennis, mom of Hendrix & Polly
• Favorite Bible verse: Galatians 5:13 “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”