Mrs. Cathy Swanstrom
Head of School

Mrs. Swanstrom was born in Wichita, Kansas, and grew up in Houston, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Concordia Lutheran College (now known as Concordia University Texas) and holds a Texas Teacher Certificate, a Lutheran Teacher Certificate, and a Director of Child Care License.

She began her teaching career in 1984 and has been at Immanuel since 1998, bringing 40 years of experience to education. Mrs. Swanstrom has taught all ages of children in her career from 4-year-old pre-kindergarten classes all the way up to middle school electives. Here at Immanuel, she began in the classroom and was later moved into the role of Director of the Preschool in 2002. She is married and has two children—a daughter and a son—as well as a granddaughter.

Mr. Richard Crouch MBA, DCE
Assistant Head of School

Mr. Crouch was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He attended Concordia University Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education in 2013 and completed his internship the following year, receiving his Director of Christian Education (DCE) Certificate in 2014. He furthered his education by earning a Master of Business Administration in Non-Profit Management from Concordia University, Nebraska in August 2024.

Since 2016, Mr. Crouch has been involved in leading preschool chapels at every church he has served. He also has experience serving on school boards, having served on preschool boards for 3 years at his previous church. Additionally, he taught 6th–12th grade theology for one year and was a Director of Youth Ministry for 7 years, gaining valuable experience working with students of all ages.

Mr. Crouch is married to Mrs. Kellye Crouch the two-year-old teacher here at Immanuel and together they have two sons.

Mrs. Winnie McNamara
Registrar

Ms. McNamara was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and comes from a German immigrant family that arrived in Texas before the Civil War. A lifelong Lutheran, she has been deeply rooted in her faith and community.

She attended Houston Baptist University and Houston Community College and earned a Certificate of Christian Education from Concordia University.

Ms. McNamara began teaching in 2009, spending her entire 15-year career at Immanuel, where she has been dedicated to nurturing and educating young minds. She is the proud mother of her daughter, Robin

Mrs. Hayley Huckleberry
Three-Year-Old Teacher

Mrs. Huckleberry was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She attended Houston Community College and earned an Early Childhood Certificate of Christian Education from Concordia University Texas.

She has been teaching for 10 years, all of them at Immanuel. Mrs. Hayley is married to her husband, Andrew, and they have one daughter, Lilly.

Mrs. Jamie Hernandez, LTD
Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. Hernandez has been teaching since 2008, with experience in Pre-K and Kindergarten at Memorial Lutheran School and Epiphany Lutheran School in Houston. This is her first year at Immanuel Lutheran.

Mrs. Hernandez was born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in Austin, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Concordia University Texas and holds both a Lutheran Teaching Diploma and a Texas Educator Certificate.

She is married to Stephen, who serves as the Cantor and Parish Administrator at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Mrs. Kellye Crouch, DCE
Two-Year-Old Teacher

Mrs. Crouch was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and lived there until her family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, so her father could attend seminary. She spent four years in St. Louis before her family received a call to Panama City, Florida, where she graduated from high school. She then moved to Austin, Texas, to attend Concordia University Texas, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education in 2012. She completed her internship the following year and received her Director of Christian Education (DCE) Certificate in 2013.

Mrs. Crouch has been teaching two-year-olds for a total of six years, including the past two years at Immanuel. Since 2014, she has been actively involved in children's education as a Children's Ministry Coordinator, chapel leader, and preschool administrator.

She is married to Richard Crouch, Assistant Head of School, and together they have two sons.

Ms. Megan Moygnagh
Two-Year-Old Teacher

Ms. Moygnagh has been teaching at Immanuel Lutheran since 2015, beginning her teaching career in 2006. She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and grew up in Holden, Massachusetts. She attended Mount Wachusett Community College, earning an Associate degree in Human Health Services, and later obtained a Bachelor of Science in English with a minor in Theater and a concentration in Art from Fitchburg State University.

Ms. Megan has been with her husband for 11 years and is a proud mother to her 13-year-old stepson.

Mrs. Noemi "MiMi" Whipple
Toddler Teacher

Mrs. Whipple began teaching in 2013 and has been part of Immanuel since 2016. Before entering education, she earned a technical license in occupational and physical therapy, specializing in senior care.

Originally from Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Ms. Mimi became a U.S. citizen in 2016. She is a proud mother of five—four sons and one daughter—all of whom are now adults. She has been married to her husband, Keith, since 2010.

Mrs. Randi Budwit
Three-Year-Old Teacher

Mrs. Budwit has been with Immanuel Lutheran School for the past 12 years, and has been teaching since 1993. She was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and has lived in Maine, New York, Nashville, and Athens, Greece for two years, following her father’s work as a pastor and Peace Corps volunteer.

She studied applied flute for three years at the University of North Texas and later pursued theology at Dallas Theological Seminary through online courses.

She is married to her husband, Pete, and is the proud mother of two daughters, Amanda and Lindsay. She cherishes her role as a grandmother to five grandchildren—Mason (17), Weston (14), Shelby (12), Lyla (10), and Mattie (6).

Ms. Stephanie Kasper
Pre-K Teacher

Ms. Kasper has been a part of the Immanuel Lutheran faculty since 2013, bringing with her 22 years of experience to the classroom. She grew up in Bellville, Texas, and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Southwest Texas State University. She holds a Texas secondary teaching certificate in Theater Arts and English/Language Arts.

Ms. Kasper is the proud mother of a 15 year old son and 12 year old daughter.

Ms. Mireida Miranda
Teacher Assistant

Ms. Miranda is a native Houstonian and has been teaching at Immanuel Lutheran School since 2019. She attended the Polytechnic Institute and has additional college experience. She is passionate about creating a nurturing and engaging learning environment for her students.

Mrs. Naomi Davis
Teacher Assistant

Ms. Davis was born in Gainesville, Florida, and has dedicated her career to education and childcare. She has been a part of our Immanuel teaching staff since 2016. She earned her nursing degree in 1978 before transitioning into early childhood education. She received her Houston Montessori Certificate in 1988 and later earned her Texas Child Care Certification in 1995, 2019, and 2021.

Throughout her 25-year career, she has remained passionate about fostering children's growth and development.

She is the proud mother of two daughters, Karla and Dinah.

Ms. Semonyia Hillsman
Teacher Assistant

Ms. Hillsman was born and raised in Houston, Texas and comes from a large family—she is a twin and has four other siblings. She began her teaching career in 2021 and joined Immanuel Lutheran School in 2024. Before coming to Immanuel, she worked with students at Nathaniel Q. Henderson Elementary and Fonville Middle School.

She is currently pursuing her education at Houston Community College and is dedicated to creating a supportive and engaging learning environment for her students.

Mr. S. M. Hernandez
Cantor/Music Teacher

Mr. Hernandez was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He attended Concordia University Texas where he studied theology and sacred music.

Stephen previously served as Kantor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Copperas Cove, Texas; and as interim organist and choir director of Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas.

Stephen is married to Jamie, who serves as a teacher at Immanuel Lutheran School.

Rev. I. S. Pacey
Senior Pastor

Born and raised in Orange County, California. He is married to Clarissa and they have two children. 

Rev. Pacey studied at UCLA (B.A., Political Science 1992), Concordia Theological Seminary (M.Div., Pastoral Theology 2000), and Drew University (M.Phil., Liturgical Studies 2004). His vicarage was at Montana State University (Bozeman, MT) and he was ordained 31 December 2000 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Brooklyn, NY).

Reverend Pacey previously served as Associate Pastor of Memorial Lutheran Church and School – Houston, Texas.