Administration

Director – Sherri Audia

Mrs. Audia has taught at Emanuel since 2008 where she has educated children in both second grade and preschool.  She became the Director of the Early Education Center in 2020.  Mrs. Audia graduated from Georgian Court University where she also attended graduate school and received her teaching certification.

Mrs. Audia and her family are active members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sayville.   She is married and has three children who all attend college.  Her family and Great Dane keep her busy, but in her spare time she enjoys visiting her parents in the Adirondacks, cooking, reading and walking her dog.

Administrative Assistant – Francine Lawrence

Mrs. Lawrence has worked at Emanuel Lutheran School since 2004. She started her working career as a paralegal for 18 years. When her children started middle school, she decided to “retire”. With too much time on her hands, Mrs. Lawrence began working part-time at Emanuel as a Preschool Teacher’s Assistant. In 2012, the position of Administrative Assistant was available and she decided to accept the position.

In her spare time she likes to do strength training, take long walks and spend time with her family and grandchildren.

Mrs. Lawrence is an active member of Emanuel Lutheran Church, since 1988. She serves on the Church Council as Worship Chair. Her husband, Richard and two children, Richard and Alexandra attended Emanuel Lutheran School. Mrs. Lawrence loves seeing and being around the children of Emanuel and watching them grow.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE:

President-Joseph Dragone

Secretary-Nancy Barrett

Finance-Linda Thompson,

Members-Linda McAvoy, Mary Haufe, Francine Lawrence.

 

We can’t thank you enough for all that you have done for our family the past school year; we are eternally grateful.  You go above and beyond for the students and families at ELS.  Thank you for allowing my son the opportunity to learn and grow here and we are so grateful for the amazing administrative guidance you have given us.

 

Dana P.

Pre Kindergarten Parent, 2022

Early Childhood Faculty

Preschool Teacher –  Sherri Audia

Pre Kindergarten Teacher –  Stephanie Varricchio

Ms. Stephanie was excited to join the fellow teachers and staff at Emanuel in 2021.  She recently received her Bachelor’s degree in Child Study from St. Joseph’s College.  She is a member of the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society.  Ms. Stephanie has worked in the childcare center at a local gymnasium since 2017.

Ms. Varricchio is an active member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church.  She volunteers her time for church events, and has been an active participant in the Festival Choir at her church since 2016.  In her spare time, she loves to read, bake desserts, and play tennis.

Toddler Teacher –  Shirley Eng

Mrs. Eng has been at Emanuel since 2012 where she has served in many capacities, including teaching our toddlers since 2019.  Mrs. Eng is a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church for over 20 years.  She can always be seen volunteering at our churches events.  She was a Girl Scout leader for 20 years, served as the PTFL treasurer and Vice President of our school for many years.  Mrs. Eng is responsible for running Operation Christmas Child at Emanuel.

Mrs. Eng is married and has 7 children, all who have attended ELS.  In her spare time she enjoys reading, crafts, and spending time with her family.

 

Specialty Faculty and Staff

Preschool Assistant – Annette Kearney

Mrs. Kearney has been a Teacher Assistant at Emanuel since 2016.  Prior to coming to Emanuel, Mrs. Kearney worked at another preschool and was a licensed Wild Life Rehabilitator for 10 years.  Mrs. Kearney is also a Direct Care Counselor at IGHL. 

She lives with her daughter and a menagerie of pets in Speonk.

In her free time Mrs. Kearney enjoys reading, camping, cooking, baking and playing with her pets. 

Preschool Assistant – Diane Monsell

Mrs. Monsell began work at Emanuel Lutheran as a Preschool Teacher’s Assistant and is her current position.  Prior to Emanuel, she operated an in-home Day Care through NYS Social Services for 18 years, while raising 3 children and a handicapped brother.  During these years, she also was involved with the Boy Scouts of America for ten years where she served as Den Mother, held committee positions, and was a Suffolk County Council member.  

Upon her husband’s retirement in 1995, she also retired and they traveled cross country and toured Alaska for three months in their camper.  After returning home they raised a grandson, who attended and graduated from Emanuel.

As well  as assisting the teacher, she is responsible for the extended care program.  Diane is an active member of Emanuel Lutheran Church and has been involved in the altar guild, ushering, Epistle reader and alter floral arranging.

Now widowed, she enjoys her four grandchildren and the wonderful children of Emanuel.  Her hobbies include crafts, gardening, and floral arranging. 

Preschool Assistant – Debra Paradiso

Ms. Debra joined the Emanuel team in October of 2021.  Prior to working at Emanuel she was a Youth Advocate/Child Caregiver at Madonna Heights.  Ms. Debra has a young daughter that keeps her on her toes.  She lives in Patchogue with her family.  In Ms. Debra’s free time she enjoys being outdoors, doing arts and crafts, reading and spending time with her family.

Preschool Assistant/Substitute – Anna Audia

Ms. Audia joined the Emanuel team in 2020.  She is an English and Italian Major at Gettysburg College.  She is an active member at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sayville where she has taught Vacation Bible School.  She is a volunteer at Southside Hospital. Anna enjoys reading, going to the beach, cooking and spending time with friends.

Business Office – Paul Schulz

Mr. Schulz joined the Emanuel staff in September of 2020 as the Business Manager.  He previously served as Senior Director of College Services at Concordia College in Bronxville, NY, for 21 years.  Before joining the Concordia staff, he served as Principal here at Emanuel Lutheran School.  He started as the 6th grade teacher at Emanuel in 1983 and transitioned to Principal in 1988.

Upon his retirement from Concordia, he assumed the Business Manager position on a part-time basis.  He is responsible for the financial business of the church and school and helps with the buildings and grounds at Emanuel.

Mr. & Mrs. (Kristen) Schulz have two daughters who attended Emanuel Lutheran School and four grandchildren.  He is an active member of Emanuel Lutheran Church and services on the Church Council.  Mr. Schulz enjoys golfing and reading in his free time and love’s spending time with his grandchildren.

Rev. Steven Williamson-Link

My name is Pastor Steven, and I am a child of God. I am not a perfect man, nor a perfect pastor. That’s the truth. I am a sinner and make mistakes every day, but thanks be to God for His amazing grace! In faith, I am redeemed by God through repentance and the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, my Lord. It is Him I praise and Him alone I serve. I could just leave it at that (since that’s really the only thing that matters), but I’ll share a little more about myself… just in case you’re curious.

I was born in the Midwest and grew up in the north-west suburbs of Chicago. I love my family very much, and I am forever thankful to my parents (Jeff and Kathryn) for raising me in a Christian home and taking me to church every Sunday. I was baptized and confirmed in the LCMS (Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod). I am the oldest of four and have three siblings (Phil, Joe, and Hannah). In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar and writing music.

In May of 2018, the Lord greatly blessed me, and I married my beautiful and talented wife Natalie! In addition to working as a Digital & Social Media Marketing Manager, Natalie is also an Author. She has a Masters in Poetry from Dartmouth, and has published seven books. We have a chocolate lab named Bellamy.

Education & Pastoral Ministry:

I attended St. John’s Lutheran School (Wheaton, IL) from preschool through eighth grade, and I graduated from Wheaton Academy High School (West Chicago, IL) in 2005. In 2009, I received my undergraduate degree in Theology from Concordia University Wisconsin (Mequon, WI), after which I enrolled at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. During this time, I served at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church (Huntington, IN) for Field Work, and West Portal Lutheran Church & School (San Francisco, CA) for Vicarage. I received my first divine call and graduated from CTS with a Masters of Divinity on May 17, 2013. I was ordained at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elmhurst, IL (June 16, 2013), and was installed (June 25, 2013) at Resurrection Lutheran Church (Cairo, NY), where I joyfully served God’s people as Assistant Pastor until January 8, 2023.

Led by the Holy Spirit, I accepted my second divine call (December 13, 2022) to serve Emanuel Lutheran Church & School in Patchogue, NY. As a pastor, I do lots of things and have many responsibilities, but the most important of all of these are administering the Sacraments, preaching, and teaching the Word of God! I have a heart for sharing the love of Christ with all of God’s children, and I am honored to serve Christ in His kingdom. Certainly, God is with us, and I can’t wait to see the wonderful things He has planned for all of us at Emanuel!