Robert Casey, Pastor, St. Barbara Parish

 Father Casey grew up as the fourth of five children in a middle class family in the Chicago suburb of Alsip.  He attended Stony Creek Public Elementary School and then Marist (Catholic) High School.  He entered the college level seminary at Niles College and received a B.A. in English from Loyola University in 1989. 

Father Casey has been serving as a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago for over 17 years.  He is fluent in Spanish and enjoys reading, writing, traveling, camping and backpacking in his spare time.

Education:

  • Certificate in Advanced Pastoral Leadership, Kellogg School of Management and Mundelein Seminary, 2011
  • Masters of Divinity, University of St. Mary of the Lake, 1994
  • B.A. in English, Loyola University, 1989

                                                                             

 

Janet Erazmus, St. Barbara School Principal

 Janet Erazmus serves in her ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools.  She received her Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.S.E.) in Elementary Education with a minor in both Social Science and English from DePaul University in 1968.

She spent her teaching career at St. Turibius School for 24 years in grades 2, 4, 5 6, 7, and 8.  She taught summer school in 1969 and 1970 at St. Jane de Chantal Parish in Chicago teaching Reading in grades 1 and 2.

She later went on to receive her Master of Science Degree in Administration/Leadership and Curriculum Development from Loyola University in 1991.

Janet Erazmus is presently the Principal of St. Barbara School in Brookfield, for the past 20 years.

She received her elementary and high school education at St. Casimer Elementary and girls’ Parish High School.  St. Casimer is now known as Our Lady of Tepeyac in the Little Village area of Chicago.

Ms. Erazmus serves on the following committees in the Archdiocese of Chicago for the Office of Catholic Schools:

  • Archdiocesan Principals Association (APA)
  • Curriculum Committee
  • Anti-racism Committee
  • Catholic Identity

 

She maintains a membership with the:

  • The National Education Association (NCEA)
  • Phi Delta Kappa International (PDK)
  • Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
  • International Reading Association (IRA)
  • Joliet Historical Society

 

Ms. Erazmus enjoys travel, reading, exploring different ethnic restaurants and just spending time with family and friends.  She is a life-long learner who believes that each child should be taught to achieve their highest potential.  Children are a gift from God, each possessing their own unique gifts to share with each other.

 

 

Kimberly A. James, Assistant Principal

 Kimberly James has been the 4th Grade teacher at St. Barbara School since 2004.  Here, she teaches all subjects (English, math, reading, religion, science, social studies & spelling).  She incorporates computer and Web technologies into daily lesson plans and publishes a daily website for her students and their parents.  Kim was also appointed to the Curriculum Instruction Assessment Committee for the archdiocesan school evaluation and has worked with the Archdiocese of Chicago to create a religion curriculum at St. Barbara School.

Ms. James’ previous experience includes 9 years as the teacher of 1st, 2nd and 4th Grades at St. Turibius School in Chicago.  Between 1996 and 2000, Kim was also the Religious Education Coordinator at St. Turibius.

Ms. James holds a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago (1995) and an Illinois Type 03 Certification, endorsements in Mathematics and Social Science.  Kim is the proud 2006 recipient of the St. Barbara “Heart of the School Award” for recognition of outstanding, unique and innovative accomplishments by individual teachers throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Mrs. James enjoys attending Chicago Blackhawks games with her husband, shopping with her friends, and reading mysteries. 

 

Leslie Hewitt, Assistant Principal

 Leslie Hewitt has been a teacher at St. Barbara school since 1986. This year marks her 31styear in teaching. Ms. Hewitt holds a BS in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University. She did her graduate work at the University of Illinois Chicago Circle in Special Education.

Ms. Hewitt taught in the Chicago school system as a Deaf Education teacher for six years before coming to St. Barbara School. During her time away from teaching she joined the business world with the Kolcraft company who make car seats and mattresses.

She has taken her science fair winners to the Illinois State Science Fair for many years; where many of them were awarded First Place ribbons. She loves teaching science and has her students experimenting and making things happen in the science lab in all the areas of science. Her students work on Invention Convention, owl pellet dissection, Biome projects, worm, chicken wing and frog dissection every year.

Ms. Hewitt spends her time away from teaching with family and friends. The family farm in Kentucky is her favorite place to go.   She is a avid reader of science fiction, mysteries and biographies. 

 

Cathy Carone, Administrative Assistant

 Mrs. Carone loves working with the St. Barbara students in a school setting.  She was raised in the Chicagoland area where she lives today.

Cathy graduated from Queen of Peace High School in Burbank, IL.  After school, she worked in the Loop for 10 years at a Reinsurance Company, where she worked her way up to Claims Examiner before leaving to raise her family.

Later, Cathy worked as a part-time Administrative Assistant at St. Symphorosa Rectory for 2 years then came to St. Barbara School in 1997.

She loves listening to music, playing Sudoku, spending time with family and attending Chicago White Sox games.

 

Angela Lawler, Business Manager

 Angela grew up on the south side of Chicago, the 3rd of 4 children.  She was a member of St. Simon Church where she was baptized, made her First Communion, Confirmation and was married.  Angela attended Nightingale Elementary School (Chicago) and Gage Park High School (Chicago) where she was a member of the National Honor Society and was a Principal Scholar, graduating 10th in her class.

Angela married her best friend, Brian in February of 1985.  She has two children, a son and daughter, in college who both attended St. Barbara School k – 8th Grade.  She and her family live in Brookfield.

While her children were in school at St. Barbara, Angela worked and volunteered at school as FSA President and running the Hot Lunch Program.  She started work at the School Financier in 2001 and became the Business Manager for both the Parish and School in 2009.

Her previous work experience includes Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalog Buying Department and in-home childcare.  Angela enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking, reading and gardening in her spare time.