Our Faculty

Lead Pastor

Pastor Pete has been here at Pilgrim since April of 2024. Pete has earned a Bachelor of Arts from Martin Luther College and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. 

Prior to living and serving here in the East Valley, Pete, his wife Melissa, and their family lived in Suamico, WI for 5 years. Pastor Z. served as the pastor of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church and Mel worked full-time at home as they raised their 7 kids and German wirehaired pointer, Max. 

For 7 years prior to Suamico, Pete and Mel lived and served in Laramie, Wyoming. Pete was a mission explorer who had the privilege of planting a new church, and Mel worked as a home visiting nurse. 

At Pilgrim Lutheran School, Pastor Z. teaches the basics of Christian doctrine to all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. 

Pastor Z. and his family are excited to live and serve among us! They look forward to continuing to explore Arizona in their 12 passenger van. Pastor Pete looks forward to meeting you soon!

School Principal, 3rd - 4th Grade

Scott was born in Pigeon, Michigan and attended high school at Michigan Lutheran Seminary and graduated in 2000. While there he enjoyed competing in football, basketball and track.

Scott then attended Martin Luther College where he met his wife to be and graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.

He was assigned to St. Paul’s in Algoma, WI and served there for 11 years. He was then called to St. Lucas, Kewaskum in 2015 where he served as Athletic Director and 5th and 6th grade teacher.

Scott moved to sunny Arizona in 2018, where he was 5th and 6th grade teacher and Athletic Director. Now, he serves as Principal at Pilgrim and teaches Science for grades 6-8, Math for grades 7-8, along with a number of phy-ed classes. '

Scott and his wife, Ellen, were married in 2005. They have two wonderful boys, Blake and Carson. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports with his boys, golfing, hunting, and fishing.

Stop by to meet Mr. Stevenson any time!

Preschool

I am so excited to have the opportunity to share Jesus with your child this upcoming school year! I graduated from Martin Luther College in May 2025 with degrees in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. 

When working with preschoolers, I emphasize the importance of play and allowing children the opportunity to explore their environment at their own pace and in their own way. As a teacher, I see my role as a guide in their education by providing materials and play experiences that give them the skills they need to be successful. In preschool, a high priority of mine is that the children are engaged and are active participants in their learning. 

If you were to step into my classroom, you would see children playing with various toys, papers with colorful scribbles, buildings made from cardboard or blocks, children dressed up in a police hat or wearing a doctor's coat, calming a crying baby doll, or reading a story. All of these various actions help them to regulate their emotions, learn social cues when interacting with others, and understand the world God made. 

I look forward to getting to know each of you as I serve you and your child in my classroom! 

Kindergarten

Kim is a Southwestern girl with Midwestern roots! She was born in Harbor Beach, MI but raised in Las Cruces, NM. Kim has spent most of her life in the desert southwest, but did live in Germany for 4 years where she was able to spend a lot of time traveling throughout Europe.

2002 was a busy year for Kim as she graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education and married Steven Drexler. They moved to Mesa, AZ were she began her call teaching at Pilgrim. She and Steven have been blessed with four wonderful children, Gabe, Emma, Elizabeth (Elie) plus daughter-in-law, Sammie!

Kim loves teaching kindergarten and she hopes that when you (and your child) walk into her room you can feel it! She strives to provide a positive atmosphere where children can be themselves and grow academically, emotionally and most importantly, spiritually, as we spend time in God’s Word throughout the year. She places a high priority on academic standards and doing "your personal best." All the kids in her class know that they work hard because "that's what good students do!"

1st - 2nd Grade

Ellen was born and raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She attended Lutheran schools all her life, including Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, WI for high school, and Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN for her teaching degree.

Ellen taught at St. John's in Montello, Wisconsin and then married Scott Stevenson. She then taught at St. Peter's in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin until she became a full-time mom. Scott and Ellen have been blessed with two boys, Blake and Carson.

Mrs. Stevenson is our 4th and 5th grade homeroom teacher, and also teaches reading and history for grades 6-8.

Music has been a big part of Ellen's life since as long as she can remember. In Kindergarten, she would come home from church and play the hymns from that day's worship service. She has not only taken years of piano and organ lessons, but also been part of many different choirs. Ellen is a major part of our music program at Pilgrim! She enjoys using her musical gifts to the best of her ability in service to the LORD.

5th - 8th Grade

Gary is a Wisconsin native who has served in numerous places and roles since graduating from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1983 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. He has served in Chicago, IL at St. Andrew’s Lutheran for 12 years; in Appleton, WI at Riverview Lutheran for 11 years; and in Sturgeon Bay, WI at St. Peter’s Lutheran for 17 years before beginning his ministry here at Pilgrim. The Lord has blessed him with a loving wife, Rebekah, and five beautiful children: Brenna, Sam, Elena, Ben, and Jon.

Mr. Thoma is our homeroom teacher for grades 6-8 and Athletic Director at Pilgrim. He currently participates in departmentalized instruction in grades 4-8.

In his free time, Gary enjoys time with his wife and family and is an avid fan of Wisconsin sports: the Packers, Badgers, Brewers, and Bucks. He strives to be a guide and mentor for our young people in Christian faith life and desires to help them all reach the potential God has planned for them. He intends to encourage them daily with Scripture such as Psalm 73:26, “ My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Recruitment Director

Katie grew up in West Milford, NJ and moved to Prescott, AZ in 2010 where she received her Accounting degree in 2014 from Old Dominion University.  2014 was an exciting year! After graduating she married her husband Will and moved to Mukilteo, WA.

Since then, they have lived in Tehachapi, CA and San Antonio, TX before coming back to Mesa, AZ in 2022. Along the way, Will and Katie were blessed with their two delightful children, Gabe and Sophie! While living all over the country, Katie practiced corporate and small business tax & bookkeeping. Katie joined the Pilgrim ministry in the beginning of 2024 in the school office.

Outside of serving the ministry, you are likely to find Katie out camping, scrambling up some rocks, rafting, or kayaking all over the state with her beautiful family enjoying God’s magnificent creation!

School Secretary

Sherryl joined the Pilgrim ministry in 2025, serving dynamically as our school secretary while also assisting in the Preschool classroom. She brings a deep-seated passion for Christian education to her dual roles, and she is thoroughly dedicated to fostering a welcoming, organized, and Christ-centered environment for all visitors, students, and staff.

Originally growing up in the Philippines, Sherryl moved to the United States in 1999 and experienced living in various regions across the country before relocating to beautiful Arizona in 2017. It was here that she and her husband, Jerry, expanded their family with the joyful arrival of their second child!

Loving every minute of the beautiful chaos of motherhood, she balances her ministry work with a vibrant family life. Outside of Pilgrim, you will find Sherryl embracing outdoor adventures—whether she is paddleboarding, traveling to new destinations with her family, or enthusiastically cheering on her children from the sidelines at their sports games!