Meet the Team

Mark Schaetzlein

Principal

Joining the BIA family in 2023, I have been blessed to work with the truly dedicated staff that share this page with . Throughout my two years, I have felt so connected to all of you as your Principal and look forward to a tremendous 2025-26 school year. We say often that Bethesda is “Transformational Learning, Anchored in Faith” and surrounded by God’s love. As a three decade educator in the public school system, I have gained a wealth of administrative leadership as a two decade Assistant Principal for Activities and Operations at Buffalo Grove High School in the Northwest Suburbs. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in the Teaching of Mathematics from the University of Illinois and my Master’s Degree from Aurora University in Educational Leadership. All of these experiences lead me now to answer God’s call as Bethesda’s Principal and I am honored and blessed to be able to apply my love of Christ to my daily work. This past year, I was honored to receive my Principal 360 certification as well as be recognized as the Principal of the Year for the Chicago Lutheran Schools.

As I enter year three, I hope that throughout the year, all students, staff and families will feel the Spirit move them in ways toward academic success and love. I am a proud “girl dad” of two amazing daughters, Maddie (27) and Abby (24). As we start the school year, I want all to remember that today, like every day, is a great day to be a Bobcat!

May God bless us all on this school year journey, as we grow our faith in God’s love.

Judith Acosta

Pre-K & Early Childhood Director

I have been an educator for 37 years and a member of the Bethesda International Academy family for 25 years. My journey began as a parent of BIA students, and for the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of serving in our Early Childhood program. Today, I also serve as the Early Childhood Director, where I guide our program, support our teachers, and partner with families to ensure that our youngest learners have a strong and joyful start to their educational journey.Over the years, I have seen firsthand the difference a BIA education can make in the life of a child, and it is my joy to be part of continuing that legacy. Working in a Christian school allows me the incredible gift of freely sharing God’s love each day. If my students learn nothing else, I pray they know, deep in their hearts, that God loves them. This truth is at the center of everything I do as a teacher and director.My hope for every child who walks through our doors is that they will know God’s love and develop a love for Him. I want them to feel safe, secure, and valued as part of our school family. I also want them to fall in love with learning. Yes, meeting academic standards is important, but I believe that when children are encouraged to be curious and excited about learning from a young age, their entire educational journey becomes more meaningful and fulfilling.Outside of school, I find joy in camping and spending time in nature, where the fresh air and stillness refresh my spirit. I also love traveling and exploring new places, experiencing different cultures, and meeting people whose stories broaden my perspective. These experiences bring inspiration, energy, and fresh ideas into my teaching and leadership.

Every day at BIA is both a gift and an opportunity, to teach, to encourage, to plant seeds of faith, and to see God at work in the lives of our students. It is a calling I am grateful to answer, and I look forward to seeing how God will continue to shape our Early Childhood program in the years ahead.

Andrea Oliva

PK 3

I’m thrilled for another school year at Bethesda International Academy! I have been working in Early Childhood Education for over 15 years, and I absolutely love teaching children aged 3 to 5. Their curiosity and energy make every day rewarding. My journey at BIA began in January 2023. My experience includes working as a lead teacher in a daycare and running my own home daycare. I chose Bethesda because of the close-knit, supportive environment and the sense of community. As a teacher at BIA, my goal is to help students overcome academic challenges in a safe, secure, and loved environment guided by my faith in God. In my free time, I love traveling, camping, going to the beach and dancing.

Laurie Mauga

Kindergarten

This is my second year at BIA teaching Kindergarten, and I have 45 years of experience in the education field. I have worked in the daycare field where I was a teacher and director. For 19 years I was the director/teacher at a private church preschool. For 8 years, I was at Grace Lutheran where I taught multiple classes from Pre-K through 4th grade. I have a deep desire to teach children about God and to help them grow in their faith. I love to see a child's growth from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. My goal is to have a happy and active classroom where children develop a great love for learning!!

Ronica Hicks

1st Grade

I am so grateful to be returning to Bethesda International Academy as the 1st-grade teacher! After completing my first full school year here, I can confidently say it has been an incredible blessing working at BIA. The supportive community, dedicated staff, and joyful students have made this past year deeply fulfilling, and I’m excited for what’s ahead. With over 17 years in the field of education and childcare, I bring experience and passion to my role in the classroom. Prior to joining BIA, I spent four years working as a certified Dyslexia Practitioner and Literacy Intervention Specialist. I am a strong advocate for access to high-quality literacy instruction and for meeting the needs of diverse learners. I also have earned a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, with triple endorsements in Early Childhood Development, ESL (English as a Second Language), and Special Education. This additional training has deepened my commitment to serving all students in a way that is developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and engaging. One of the things I love most about teaching is creating a classroom environment where learning is fun, meaningful, and full of connection. I also love sharing the love of Christ with my students and helping them see how deeply they are known and loved by God. These are the values that drew me to Bethesda, and they continue to inspire me every day. Outside of teaching, I enjoy tending to my plants, singing, reading, creating art, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. As a born islander, I love almost anything beachy and tropical. I am so excited for another school year filled with growth, joy, and discovery!

Melissa Hernandez

2nd & 3rd Grade

This is my sixth year at BIA, and my fourth teaching in the classroom! I've always loved the diversity that the school offers. BIA instills values of faith, respect, and responsibility while providing a strong academic foundation. I am looking forward to helping the students thrive in their education and become a better version of themselves. I am very passionate about fostering a growth mindset, helping students develop critical thinking skills and encouraging them to explore different perspectives. When I am not in school you will find me in my kitchen baking or cooking new foods. I also enjoy my quiet time reading a good book.

Stephanie Blackfeather

4th & 5th

I’m so excited to be teaching 4th and 5th grade this year at BIA. Over the past two years, you may have seen me around the school in many roles—STEAM coach, educational consulting, substitute teacher, 1:1 instructional coach and summer camp teacher—and now I’m blessed to be here full-time. I grew up in Chicago and am a lifelong Lutheran who attended Lutheran schools from grade school through college, earning my degree in education from Concordia University, River Forest as a synodically trained educator. I’ve spent the past 30 years teaching in Lutheran schools, the past 5yrs. part time as I cared for my mom, and my passion is helping each child discover their God-given gifts while building a strong foundation in Christ. When I’m not in the classroom, I love spending time with my husband and our 21-year-old son, coaching others in health and wellness, crafting and creating, camping, and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation outdoors. I look forward to an amazing year of learning, growing, and celebrating all that God has in store for us!

Joe Dembowski

6th, 7th & 8th

This is my 13th year teaching at Bethesda International Academy. In my time here at BIA, I have mostly taught at the upper grade levels, commonly in the areas of science and mathematics. Currently, I am the self-contained 6-8 teacher and take on some coaching, as well as assume in-house technology responsibilities. I have had the opportunity to pursue my graduate degree in educational leadership while at BIA, all the while maintaining my teaching degree and endorsements in ELA, middle school, and general science. In regard to my time at BIA, I could not BE ANY MORE APPRECIATIVE THAN I AM EVEN TODAY for taking a chance on me all those years ago. They have been receptive to new ideas and challenges over the years, and just generally showing care, patience, and compassion towards me. That is who Bethesda is.

I believe that exploring your own personal faith walk is incredibly important in all aspects of life. Setting the foundations of that at an early age, where kids come to know God and Jesus plays a vital role in a child’s development. Having spent my grade school, high school, and graduate level years in Lutheran institutions, I have personally felt the guidance of God and the blessings He provides for me and my family. I have seen that work done as a student by all of the caring individuals who have guided me to where I am today. It is a tremendous reason for which I make all my efforts in servant leadership capacities. I want to give back. My hope for my students is to continue to pursue and strengthen their interests, realize and maximize their individual potential, and create a hunger and motivation for learning with a Christ-centered growth mindset. I want them to strengthen their independence in a way that prepares them well beyond their years at Bethesda.

I have a whole host of hobbies, which includes athletic activities such as running and swimming, team sports (go Sox, Bulls, Bears), playing guitar, reading, fishing, boating, general travel, and of course all things Star Wars. I am also, once again, building up to run in this year’s Chicago Marathon in October.