Junior High & High School Teachers & Staff

Senior Administrator, Junior High & High School Principal – Mr. Joe E. Archer is the Principal of Illinois Lutheran Junior High and High School. He has over 40 years of administration and teaching experience and began his current position at Illinois Lutheran High School in 1995. He has served as school system administrator and currently serves as Senior Administrator, as well as principal of the high school and junior high. Mr. Archer provides spiritual leadership and works closely with boards and committees to develop and implement programs and policies that are in keeping with the school’s strong Biblical foundations, goals, and objectives.

Mr. Archer says, “Our school provides a unique educational opportunity. We offer an academically challenging Pre-K through 12th grade curricula firmly founded in God’s Word. We strive to provide a family atmosphere where parents, teachers, and students work together as a community of learners to prepare for tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities and grow in our faith. We stand ready to provide any additional information you may need about our program. Please feel free to contact us at any time.”

Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 105 – Email: jearcher@ilhs.org

Dean of Student Life – Mr. Phil Adickes was born in Fort Atkinson, WI. His family moved to Arizona in the late 70s when his dad was Called to Arizona Lutheran Academy. Mr. Adickes attended Phoenix College and also worked with a professional photographer during those years until he decided it was time for a change. He enrolled in Martin Luther College in 1993.

In 1997, Mr. Adickes was assigned to California Lutheran HS as a dorm supervisor for one year. Then in 1998 he was assigned as grades 6-8 teacher, Athletic Director, and Principal to Faith LS in Tacoma, WA. They spent 16 years there until 2014 when he accepted a Call to Zion in Denver. Mr. Adickes accepted the call to serve as the Dean of Students at Illinois Lutheran in 2018.

Mr. Adickes and his wife, Anne, have three children: Leah, Levi, and Grace. In his free time, he loves listening to music, being outside, working in the yard, riding his bike, skateboarding, playing basketball, and working on his 1978 Convertible Volkswagen Super Beetle. His favorite pastime is cheering on the Packers.

Mr. Adickes teaches Religion, Health and Math
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 121 – Email: padickes@ilhs.org


Dean of Academics – Mrs. Katty Van Arnold grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from Martin Luther College in 2018 with a degree in Elementary Education and Secondary Mathematics Education. Before coming to ILHS, she taught math and was a dorm supervisor at Michigan Lutheran Seminary. In summer of 2023 she got married to Mr. Noah Van Arnold, who is the 5th grade teacher at the elementary campus.

Mrs. Van Arnold enjoys most every activity outside including hiking, running, hammocking, camping, rollerblading, etc. She also likes playing board games, traveling to new places, and visiting friends and family.

Mrs. Van Arnold is a Math Teacher, Guidance Counselor, and Registrar
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 110 – Email: kvanarnold@ilhs.org


Dean of Spiritual Life – Mr. Tim Rimpel is a 1978 Graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. He holds a Masters of Social Sciences from Governor’s State University and a Masters of Arts in Religion from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI. Mr. Rimpel has been teaching in Crete for over 35 years. He currently teaches Junior and Senior Religion. As Dean of Spiritual Life, Mr. Rimpel is responsible for all aspects of spiritual life and oversees all worship opportunities for our students.

Mr. Rimpel says, “Illinois Lutheran provides a Christ-centered education that promotes a Biblical mindset to live out what has been learned.”

Mr. Rimpel teaches Religion
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 107 – Email: trimpel@ilhs.org


Activities Director – Mr. Nathan Hinz is from Wisconsin and graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. Mr. Hinz has been teaching at ILS since 2001. Currently he teaches 8th grade Language Arts and physical education for grades 7-12. He serves as the schools’ Activities Director. He is the head coach of the boys varsity basketball program.

When asked what he enjoys the most about teaching, he said, “Bringing the Gospel to people who may be hearing it for the first time and watching them grow in their connection to Christ.”

When Mr. Hinz is not at school he enjoys camping with his family in the tri-state area and playing golf whenever possible. Mr. Hinz and his wife, Ginger, have two children, Mollie, and Hannah, both graduates of ILHS.

Mr. Hinz teaches 8th grade English/Language Arts and Physical Education
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 114 – Email: nhinz@ilhs.org


Mrs. Anne Adickes is married to Phil, the Dean of Students, and moved to Crete with her family in 2018. She’s taught grades 6-8 English Language Arts in several classrooms, in both private and public schools, over the last 22 years.  Along with teaching Language Arts and Religion here, she’s also the Children’s Ministry Director at Amazing Love Lutheran Church in Frankfort.

Anne grew up in Green Bay, WI, just two blocks from Lambeau Field. She’s a die-hard Packer fan who definitely enjoys the ribbing between Packers and Bears fans around here. She’s pretty much a sports fanatic and admits that she gets way too invested emotionally during almost all sporting events. Anne and Phil have three children – Leah, Levi, and Grace.  The family loves hanging out with their dogs, Lulu and Millie, and going to movies.

Mrs. Anne Adickes teaches Religion, Language Arts & 8th Grade Homeroom
Phone: 708.672.3262 – Email: aadickes@ilhs.org


Mr. Conor Kopp was born in Milwaukee, WI and has also lived in Laport, IN, Plainfield, IL, Grand Rapids, MI, Fort Myers, FL, Saginaw, MI, and Appleton, WI. He attended Michigan Lutheran Seminary for high school and graduated from Martin Luther College in 2023. His parents are Brian and Cheryl Kopp and he has three younger siblings – Liam, Elise, and Greta.

Mr. Kopp enjoys reading, writing, playing electric guitar, playing video games, and watching anime. His favorite part of teaching literature is teaching students how to think critically and analyze a text. He loves seeing them work through deep concepts and ideas as they apply them to their lives. 

Mr. Kopp teachers English
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 118 – Email: ckopp@ilhs.org


Mr. Jacob Lash was born and lived his whole life in Racine, WI. He is the oldest of three children of Brian and Kim Lash, who have both lived in the Racine/Kenosha area since childhood as well.

Mr. Lash graduated from Shoreland Lutheran High School in 2013 and immediately went to Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN the following fall. After spending five years there, he graduated from Martin Luther College in the spring of 2018 with a double major in Secondary Mathematics Education and Elementary Education. Just a few hours after graduation, Mr. Lash received an assignment from the WELS assignment committee to teach high school and junior high math at ILS.

Mr. Lash began talking to and met his future wife Kelly in May of 2019. In October of 2020 he proposed and she said yes! They were married on July 17 of 2021.  Mrs. Lash is now working as the office manager of Zion Lutheran Church, just across from the high school that Mr. Lash teaches at. Mr. and Mrs. Lash love playing Cribbage and Sequence together as well as going for nice walks in the evenings.

Mr. Lash teaches Math
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 103 – Email: jlash@ilhs.org


Mr. Caleb Paul is our Spanish teacher from Bennett, Colorado. He graduated from Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School in 2017 and then graduated from Martin Luther College in 2021. He has traveled to various countries in Central and South America to learn Spanish and experience different cultures. In 2019 he spent the summer in Mahahual, Mexico to lead a Bible School Camp and teach English at Cruz de Cristo. “Profe Paul” continues to travel to Latin America during the summers to learn more about the Spanish language and those who speak it, “because in real life you can’t turn the subtitles on”.

Profe Paul loves to inspire his students to learn and use the Spanish language to explore the world and communicate Christ with people who come from different cultures.

On top of traveling and Spanish education, Profe Paul enjoys cooking and baking for others, exploring nature, and listening to diverse music.

Profe Paul teaches Spanish
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 102 – Email: cpaul@ilhs.org


Mr. Jeff Rick grew up in La Valle, WI, and he graduated from Martin Luther College in 2017 with a degree in Elementary Education and Secondary Social Studies Education. Mr. Rick teaches different levels of Social Studies classes at the junior high and high school, and he is the Public Relations Director at ILS. He also coaches seventh and eighth grade boys’ basketball at Illinois Lutheran Schools.

When asked what he enjoys most about teaching, Mr. Rick said, “I love seeing the ‘aha’ moments when students understand difficult topics and questions.”

Mr. Rick was married to his wife in July 2017. Mrs. Lisa Rick is a preschool teacher at Illinois Lutheran Elementary School. Mr. Rick enjoys playing and watching sports (mostly football and basketball). He also enjoys hiking and traveling with his family.

Mr. Rick teaches Social Studies, Computers and 7th Grade Homeroom
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 113 – Email: jrick@illinoislutheran.org


Miss Chloe Robbert grew up in Weyauwega, WI until June 2012 when her father took a call to serve as the pastor for King of Kings Lutheran Church in Wasilla, AK. In October of 2021, her family then returned to the Midwest when her father took a call to serve at St. John’s Lutheran in Goodhue, MN. She attended Luther Preparatory School for high school and graduated in 2018. She graduated from Martin Luther College in 2022 with a degree in Secondary Science Education.

Teaching at Illinois Lutheran is her first call out of Martin Luther College. She is very excited to be sharing her love for Christ and his creation with all her students. “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” (Hebrews 11:3)

Miss Robbert teaches Biology and Anatomy & Physiology
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 111 – Email: crobbert@ilhs.org


Miss Beth Schuppe is from Memphis, TN and graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1983. She has been teaching at Illinois Lutheran since the doors opened in 1987. Miss Schuppe teaches American History to 8th graders, World History to freshmen and World Geography for sophomores-seniors. Juniors and Seniors are able to choose from several electives She also coaches the ILHS Scholastic bowl team.

When asked what she enjoys most about teaching, she said, “Being with the students. They bring such joy to my life. They are my family here in Crete. I love sharing with them how God directed history to further His plan of salvation because nobody explained that to me when I was younger.”

When away from school, she enjoys playing her guitar for fun, in school devotions and also in church services. She leads a ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church called Paws with a Purpose whose members visit residents at nursing homes with their dogs.

Miss Schuppe teaches History and Government
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 106 – Email: bschuppe@ilhs.org


Mr. Peter Shi was born and raised in China and is an only child. His Chinese name is Ziwen Shi. When he was 15 years old, God gave him the opportunity to come to the United States to study. He went to Michigan Lutheran Seminary in 2014 and started as a Sophomore, graduating in 2017. He attended Martin Luther College as a staff minister, but later decided that he wanted to be a teacher because he has always loved science and he wanted to help students to be successful. He graduated from MLC in 2022 and is looking forward to his first teaching Call and first classroom.
He believes that all students have the ability to do well in science, and he is willing to help them as much as possible. Mr. Shi said that “Learning science can show how powerful God is to put everything in order and no one else has the power and knowledge to create all these orders.”
When away from school, Mr. Shi enjoys video games, working out, traveling to new places, and playing the piano for fun.

Mr. Shi teaches Chemistry & Physics
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 126 – Email: pshi@ilhs.org


Mr. Jonathan Witte grew up in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin where he attended Faith Lutheran Grade School and graduated from Winnebago Lutheran Academy  in 2013. He graduated from Martin Luther College in December of 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Music Education. His first five years of ministry were at Luther High School in Onalaska, Wisconsin where he was the grade school and high school band director.

At Illinois Lutheran Schools, Mr. Witte serves as music teacher as well as director of bands and choirs. He loves to share his passion for music with students of all ages!

Jonathan and his wife, Carley, moved to Crete in the summer of 2023 with their two cats Milo and Millie. Outside of making music, Jonathan enjoys taking photos, making videos, and dreaming of being an astronaut.

Mr. Witte’s favorite bible passage and confirmation verse is Zephaniah 3:17 – “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Mr. Witte teaches Band, Choir and Music
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 108 – Email: jwitte@ilhs.org


Pastor Kendall Cook
Trinity Lutheran Church
Phone: 708.672.8125 – Email: kcook@trintycrete.org


Pastor Frank Italiano
Trinity Lutheran Church
Phone: 708.672.8125 – Email: fitaliano@trinitycrete.org


Pastor Michael Schneider
Zion Lutheran Church
Phone: 708.672.8600 – Email: mschneider@zioncrete.org


Jessica Bushey
Administrative Assistant, Director of Publicity & Marketing
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 123 – Email: jbushey@ilhs.org


Tonya Danielewicz
Financial Manager
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 124 – Email: financial@illinoislutheran.org


Taryn Oldenburg
Recruitment Director
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 126 – Email: toldenburg@illinoislutheran.org


Rik McGathey
Repairs & Maintenance
Phone: 708.672.3262, ext. 116 – Email: rmcgathey@ilhs.org