Faculty
Joan Pingel
Principal
Joan Pingel is a lifelong educator with more than twenty years of experience in teaching. She loves to watch the moment when one of her students, especially one who has been told they will never succeed, looks at their work with pride and smiles with new-found confidence. In 2004, Joan led the first group of women missionaries from the People of Praise to move into the Lakeside neighborhood. While there, she has participated in Bible studies with neighborhood women and worked as staff for summer programs. She never left and doesn’t plan to. A native of South Bend, Indiana, Joan loves to watch college football, especially Notre Dame. When she’s not teaching, she can also be found playing volleyball and baking complicated desserts.
Mary Grams
Pre-K Kindergarden Teacher
Although she joined our faculty in the fall of 2018, Mary Grams has worked for Praise Academy since our doors first opened in 2015. Prior to teaching, she was employed as the school's Director of Finances. She studied architectural and urban history at Mount Holyoke College and earned her bachelor’s in General Studies at Indiana University South Bend. She brings with her a wide range of work experiences such as managing a boutique luxury hotel, serving as a missionary in southern Indiana, and directing operations for a website development and design company. Mary finds her varied work experience prepared her well for adapting to the unpredictable nature of 4-6 year olds! She loves working with her young students at Praise Academy and seeing their unique and unrepeatable selves come alive in the classroom.
Maggie Murray
Elementary Teacher
Maggie joined our faculty in the fall of 2018, exchanging the cold Minnesota climate for our warm Louisiana weather. Before teaching at Praise Academy she taught in the Burnsville, MN school system for 18 years. While there she taught elementary and high school special education. Whether she was using games to teach reading or teaching math with a trip to the grocery store, Maggie loved finding creative ways to help those who were struggling the most. She earned a dual undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from the College of Steubenville and received her Master’s Degree in Education from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. When she’s not preparing lessons, you may find her working on a puzzle, spending time with her husband, going to her son's basketball games or enjoying the warm weather with her grandkids.
Lori Twining
Pre-K - Kindergarten Teacher Assistant
After 31 years teaching at The Montessori Academy in northern Indiana, Lori Twining moved to Lakeside to join the Praise Academy team in 2016. Her expertise is in early childhood education; she enjoys the surprise of discovery so characteristic of young children. She has long had a heart for mission in the People of Praise and is excited to join the work in Lakeside. In her spare time, she enjoys watercolor painting and bird watching—the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher has already caught her eye.
John Crimmins
Elementary Teacher
John graduated with a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University, where he studied history. After college, he spent four years serving as a missionary in southern Indiana. At Praise Academy, he especially values moments when the students treat each other and the faculty like family. He enjoys running, reading, and watching old westerns.
Claire Mysliwiec
Elementary Teacher
Claire graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, where she studied history. She has long loved interacting with children and has been involved in youth ministry since high school. She loves getting to know each child’s unique personality and perspective. She most recently worked in the financial services industry, in a customer service and administrative role. She enjoys cooking and baking as well as hiking and spending time exploring (whether the great outdoors or a big city) with friends. She loves seeing her students’ sense of wonder about the world awaken. She has had a life long dream of being a teacher and is grateful to God for calling her to Praise Academy.