Meet Our Staff
Administration:

Principal
Candice Bicondoa
Year started at St. Paul’s: 2022
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Family: Oldest of three children, two nieces, one nephew
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Teaching Experience: 1st, 4th, 5th
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Hobbies: Reading, traveling, being out in God’s creation (parks, zoos), spending time with family
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Favorite Bible Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6
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What brings you joy?
Being part of the lives of students and families as we work together. It is a joy to create a safe space for kids to feel loved and know they are loved by our Lord.

Secretary
Karen Gorentz
Year started at St. Paul’s: 2025
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Family: Husband Jon and kids Jaden, Kaylin & Kiersten
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Hobbies: Baking, Cooking, Helping at Church and with LWML
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Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 23
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What brings you joy?
​Working with others to achieve one common goal, seeing the kids succeed and be passionate about their interests, and helping others.​​​​​​​
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Teaching Staff:

Preschool
Justine Guck
Year started at St. Paul’s: 2021
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Family: Husband, two children, and two dogs
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Teaching Experience: Preschool
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Favorite Bible Verse: Isaiah 40:8
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What brings you joy?
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The children!
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Kindergarten
Kari Dahlgren
Year started at St. Paul’s: 2024
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Family:
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Teaching Experience:
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Hobbies:
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Favorite Bible Verse:
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What brings you joy?
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1st Grade
ReNae Tangen
Year started at St. Paul’s: 1994
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Family: Husband and three children
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Teaching Experience: K-6th
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Hobbies: Reading, music, gardening, doing puzzles
Favorite Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:11
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What brings you joy?
I find joy in seeing how much growth each student experiences from the beginning of the year to the end. I also find joy in working as a team with a great staff!

2nd Grade
Brooke Adamczyk
Year started at St. Paul’s: 2019
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Family: Husband and three children
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Teaching Experience: 2nd
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Hobbies: Fishing, spending time with family, board games, watching movies, watching boys play sports
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Favorite Bible Verse: Joshua 1:9
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What brings you joy?
God’s gift of children. Watching them grow throughout the year. Being there for their good and bad times. The joy they bring to everyone and all the hugs.

3rd Grade
Jolene Wagner
Year started at St. Paul’s: 2016
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Family: Husband, four children, and grandchildren
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Teaching Experience: Preschool-8th grade
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Hobbies: Crafts, reading, shopping
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Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 46:10
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What brings you joy?
The joy of introducing new ideas, concepts and skills, and seeing the students become excited about learning. My joy comes from the Lord, for He has called me into the teaching ministry!

4th Grade
McKenzie Schimtz
Year started at St. Paul’s: 2021
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Family: Husband and two children
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Teaching Experience: PreK, 3rd, 4th, 6th
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Hobbies: Reading, camping, fishing, spending time with family
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Favorite Bible Verse: John 3:16
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What brings you joy?
Watching students make connections, the “ah-ha” moment when something clicks, and seeing the growth over the year.
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5th Grade
Mary Spencer
Year started at St. Paul’s: 2018
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Family: Husband and two children
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Teaching Experience: 2nd- 6th grade
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Hobbies: Reading, puzzles, gaming (electronic and board), walking, and traveling
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Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 46:10
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What brings you joy?
Seeing kids have an AHA! Moment when they understand something for the first time.
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6th-8th Grade
Shari Brown
Year started at St. Paul’s: 2011
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Family: Husband and four children
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Teaching Experience: Kindergarten, 3rd-7th grade, Special Education (all grades)
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Hobbies: Gardening, playing piano, reading, crocheting, spending time with family
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Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 46:10
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What brings you joy?
Making personal connections and establishing relationships with students brings me joy. I try to find at least one thing with which to make a personal connection with them.
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Music
Angie Ratcliffe
Year started at St. Paul’s: 2019
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Family: Husband and three children
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Teaching Experience: Music PreK-adults, choir, band
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Hobbies: Gardening, cheering on the Green Bay Packers
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Favorite Bible Verse: Romans 8:28
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What brings you joy?
I consider it a joyful privilege to guide my students in learning to sing praise to our God. I love to bring the joy of music to each child, build foundational musical skills and watch each student grow throughout the years in my class.

Teachers' Aide
Deb Meyer
Year started at St. Paul’s: 2022
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Family: Husband and two children
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Teaching Experience: K-6th, High school
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Hobbies: Wood carving, wool felting, punch needlework and watching grandkids play in sports.
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Favorite Bible Verse: Malachi 3:10
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What brings you joy?
I love to see the “light bulb come on” and I always tried to make learning fun.

Teachers' Aide
Deanna Moenkedick
Year started at St. Paul’s: 2024
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Family: Youngest of 6
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Teaching Experience:
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Hobbies: Traveling, Golfing, Being on the Lake
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Favorite Bible Verse: John 3:16
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What brings you joy?
Watching the children grow and connecting with them.
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Support Staff:

Director of Christian Education (DCE)
Christopher Brown
Christopher Brown has been at St. Paul's since August of 1999 as director of Youth & Family Ministry.
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Christopher grew up in Park Rapids Minnesota where he attended St. John's Lutheran Church and graduated from Park Rapids High School. He then attended Concordia College in Moorhead and graduated in 1996 with a degree in Child & Family Studies with an emphasis in Parent Education. In 2013, Christopher completed DCE certification through Concordia University St. Paul and is now called as Director of Christian Education (DCE) to St. Paul's in Perham.
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Christopher and his wife Shari have been blessed with 4 boys: Isaac, Jackson, Peter, and Samuel, and enjoy the busy life raising four boys can bring. Christopher personally enjoys hunting and fishing, sports card collecting, music, and reading.

Pastor
Andrew Ratcliffe
Pastor Ratcliffe (PR) moved to Perham with his family in the Spring of 2018. As a product of Lutheran education himself, he is very excited about the school ministry of St. Paul’s. PR previously served at St. Paul’s in Sac City, IA and St. John in Seward, NE. His wife, Angie, teaches music, and one of his two kids is school-age and enrolled in kindergarten. While his primary role involves ministry at the church, he leads weekly chapel for preschool, leads chapel once a month for the elementary school, and periodically teaches religion in the upper grades. PR is a pastor’s kid from Kansas City, MO. He is a Cheesehead (in Viking territory). He plays the guitar, loves the Minnesota snow, and is always excited to talk about Jesus!
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