St. Mary's Catholic School - Sycamore, IL

08/05/2026

My name is Mary Iwans. My husband Bill and I arrived at St. Mary Sycamore in 1991, very young with 2 children under 3 - later a third child would come along - with 3 successful restaurants.

In 1993 our oldest started kindergarten at St. Mary's School. We fell in love with the school and church community. You could feel Christs pressence every where you went. In the school you could feel the love for learning!

I started working at St. Mary's in 1998, as a classroom aide while going to school and working nights. Eventually I was offered a teaching position. By this time my roots were already sunk in deep. All three of our children went through St. Mary's. My husband and I felt called to teach. So we sold the restuarants and here I stayed. There is nothing greater than bringing our 2nd graders to Christ in Reconciliation and Communion. Christ gives me the drive I need every day, along with a little coffee and Snoopy.

In my summers my husband and I camp with our dog Murphy to see some of the beautiful country God created. We have visited 45 states so far.

My passion and love for St. Mary's lives deep in my heart. I know when I retire at the end of this school year God will continue to put St. Mary's in capable hands.

08/03/2026

Calling All Alumni!!

Please take a moment to complete the alumni questionnaire sheet so that we can keep our records up to date and stay connected with you. Your updated information sheet will help us share news, events, and opportunities. Please share the link with other Alumni.

Thank you for your time and continued support! 🌟

Database informatiom

07/30/2026

My name is Tammy Agnello and I am the Kindergarten teacher here at St. Mary’s Sycamore.This is my third year teaching Kindergarten here at the greatest little Catholic school, St. Mary’s Sycamore. I have taught at both parochial and public schools in Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade. I have a Bachelors degree from Aurora University and a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education from National Louis University.

I enjoy teaching the foundational academic skills of reading, writing, math and science along with planting the seeds of our Catholic faith in God’s little lambs.
“But Jesus called the children to him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God ... “
I have a passion for art an music that you will find interlaced within my teaching style. I believe that children learn best when they are engaged in hands-on learning and STEM activities. It is important for young children to grasp concrete real object learning before moving on to more abstract concepts.

A fun fact about myself is that I enjoy painting, gardening and traveling in my free time. I enjoy teaching at St. Mary’s because it is like a big Catholic family where everyone supports and helps each other out. Everyone who teaches here is very passionate about our ministry and the love that they have for our students.

07/24/2026

My name is Sue Croke and this is my 12th year teaching preschool at St. Mary's. You could say I've been part of the preschool world my entire life! As a child, I attended the daycare my parents started, which eventually grew into 3 locations. During high school, I worked there, and after college I became the owner of one location while also serving as the director of all three locations.

After our family business was sold following 40 wonderful years of serving children and families, I continued my passion for early childhood education as the Assistant Director and Pre-Kindergarten teacher at a Lutheran school in Algonquin for seven years. Twelve years ago, I found my home at St. Mary's, where I have had the joy of teaching preschool ever since.

My husband, Emmet and I have been married for 32 years. We have two wonderful daughters, an amazing son-in-law, and two beautiful grandchildren who bring us so much joy.

Teaching young children has always been my calling. I truly love the family I have become a part of at St. Mary's and am grateful for the opportunity to help our youngest learners begin their educational journey. I look forward to another wonderful year of laughter, learning and watching each child grow.

07/18/2026

📢Calling all current and future kindergarten families.

Come join us on our playground for a kindergarten play date where children can make new friend and families can learn about our school.

This event is FREE and open to current kindergarten families as well as families exploring kindergarten options.

Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/U7HNgZnieopKub3EA

We can't wait to meet you!

07/17/2026

My name is Lindsey Hines, and I am excited to serve as the Administrative Assistant at St. Mary School. I have been a part of the St. Mary community for more than six years and have also worked in communications for St. Mary Church for the past three years. Throughout my time here, I have enjoyed supporting our school and parish by helping families stay informed and feel welcomed. One of the things I love most about working at St. Mary is being part of a faith-filled community where I can build relationships with our students, parents, and staff while supporting Catholic education.

Outside of work, I enjoy reading and spending quality time with my family and friends. I am the proud mom of three wonderful daughters and two beautiful granddaughters, who bring so much joy to my life. I feel truly blessed to be part of the St. Mary family and look forward to welcoming and supporting our students and families throughout the school year.

07/15/2026

At St. Mary we’re more than a school-we’re a community. We invite all of our school families to join us for Holy Happy Hour! It’s a great opportunity to relax, connect with other parents and parishioners, and enjoy an evening together. Check out the flyer for all the details!

07/14/2026

07/04/2026

Wishing everyone a safe, joyful, and blessed Fourth of July!