All/Faculty/Staff/

Ben Washburn - Principal

Ben Washburn

Education

  • B.S. Ed. – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College
  • M.S. Ed – Curriculum and Instruction – Concordia University Wisconsin
  • Ed.D – Leadership and Innovation – Concordia University Wisconsin
  • Wisconsin Teaching License

Ministry Experience

  • 2013-Present – Principal, Peace Lutheran, Hartford, Wisconsin
  • 2010-2013 – Principal, Apostles Lutheran, San Jose, CA
  • 2005-2010 – Asst. Principal, Apostles Lutheran, San Jose, CA
  • 2000-2005 – Asst. Principal, St. Mark Lutheran, Eau Claire, WI
  • 1997-2000 – Dormitory Supervisor and Instructor, Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, WI

Service & Awards

  • 2021-2022 – Concordia University Wisconsin Adjunct Professor
  • 2016-2020 – Wisconsin Lutheran College Adjunct Professor
  • 2016-2018 – WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry, Member
  • 2015-2018 – WI Lutheran State Teachers’ Conference, Program Committee Member
  • 2015-2018 – WELS Leadership Candidate Training Program, Mentor
  • 2010-2015 – WELS National Leadership Conference, Steering Committee Member
  • 2008-2010 – WELS Administrator Candidate Training Program, Mentor
  • 2003-2005 – WELS Western WI Ministerial Educational Scholarship Committee, Member
  • 2001- Eau Claire, WI Teacher of the Year

Personal Mission Statement

A Christian educator’s responsibility is to bring up a child in the knowledge and training of the Lord.  A teacher’s goal should always be to teach a child how to learn, not just what to learn.

Sherman Carstensen - Vice Principal & 8th Grade

Mr. Sherman Carstensen

Education

  • BS Education – Immanuel Lutheran College
  • BS Math and Finance – UW Eau Claire

Ministry Experience

  • 2022 – Present Peace Lutheran School
  • 2021-2022 – Morning Star Lutheran School, Jackson, WI – Principal
  • 2017-2021 – Immanuel Lutheran School, Mankato, MN – Grades 7-12
  • 2015-2017 – Faith Lutheran School, Markesan, WI – Grades 3-7 8
  • 2012-2015 – Trinity Lutheran School, Watertown, SD – Grades 3-7

Aaron Zingsheim - Middle School

Mr. Aaron Zingsheim

Education

  • A.A. – Liberal Arts – UW Washington County
  • B.S. – Elementary Education – UW Milwaukee
  • Wisconsin Teaching License

Ministry Experience:

  • 2022-Present – Peace Lutheran School
  • 2017-2022 – Silverbrook Elementary, West Bend, WI – 5th Grade
  • 2012-2017 – Whitman Middle School, Wauwatosa, WI – 6th Grade
  • 2006-2012 – Milwaukee Academy of Science – 7th & 8th Grades

Personal Mission Statement

Marv Wittig - 7th Grade

Marv Wittig

Education

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College
  • Several continuing education credits at UW-Stevens Point and Wisconsin Lutheran College
  • Wisconsin Teaching license

Ministry Experience

  • 2004-Present   Peace, Hartford, WI, 7th Grade Homeroom, departmentalized, Athletic Director & Technology Coordinator
  • 1997-2004      Mt. Calvary-Grace, La Crosse, WI, 6-8 Departmentalized, Technology Coordinator
  • 1989-1997      St. John’s, Caledonia, MN, 5-6, Athletic Director

Service and Awards

  • Presented at our Wisconsin State Teacher’s Conference in 1998, 1999, 2002, 2011, & 2015
  • Presented at the WELS Education Conference 2015
  • Presented a number of technology workshops for schools and organizations
  • 2008 Hartford Teacher of the Year

Personal Mission Statement

Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

It is the responsibility of the parent and teacher to work together to fulfill this command. It is the child’s responsibility to show respect and obey those whom the Lord has chosen to guide them.

As teachers, we must continue to grow stronger both spiritually and mentally to best guide the children. We must also use all the tools the Lord has given us here at Peace. We pray that the Lord’s will be done through us.

Courtney Mitchell - 6th Grade

Mrs. Courtney Mitchell

Education

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College

Ministry Experience:

  • 2022-23 – Peace Lutheran School – 6th Grade
  • 2021-22 – St. Marcus Lutheran School, Milwaukee, WI – 2nd Grade

Personal Mission Statement

Martha Johnson - 5th Grade

Mrs. Martha Johnson

Education 

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Martin Lutheran College

Experience

  • 2022 – Present – Peace Lutheran School
  • 2015-2022 – Bethlehem Lutheran Church – Music Minister
  • 2004-2015 – Nebraska Lutheran High School – Instructor

Deb Wittig - 4th Grade

Deb Wittig

Education

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College
  • Wisconsin Teaching License

Ministry Experience

  • 2007-present – 4th Grade – Peace, Hartford
  • 2004 – 6th Grade – Peace, Hartford, part-time
  • 2001-2002: Immanuel, La Crosse, WI, 2nd-3rd Grade
  • 1997-1998: St. Matthew’s Stoddard, WI, 6th-8th Grade
  • 1989-1997: St. John’s, Caledonia, MN 2nd & 4th, part-time, PE Grades 1-4

Service and Awards:

  • 2017-Present Wisconsin Lutheran State Teachers Conference Program Committee Member

Mission Statement

John 21:15 “Feed my lambs.”
What an awesome responsibility our Lord has given us. I relish the opportunity to be in the classroom educating children academically, physically, emotionall, and most importantly, spiritually.

Shelly Steinbrenner - 3rd Grade

Shelly Steinbrenner

Education

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College
  • Wisconsin Teaching License

Ministry Experience

  • 2018-Present – 3rd Grade – Peace Lutheran School

Personal Misison Statement

Connie Schmidt - 2nd-3rd Grade

Connie Schmidt

Education 

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Dr. Martin Lutheran College
  • Wisconsin Teaching License

Experience

  • 1993-Present – Peace Lutheran School – 3rd Grade and Musical Director 

Service and Awards: 

  • 2016-Present – New Teacher Induction Mentor

“From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 3:15

Krista Rydecki - 2nd Grade

Krista Rydecki

Education

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College

Ministry Experience

  • 2018-Present – 2nd Grade, Peace Lutheran School

Personal Mission Statement

Leah Plocher - 1st Grade

Leah Plocher

Education

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College
  • Wisconsin Teaching License

Ministry Experience

  • 2022-Present – Peace Lutheran School – 1st Grade
  • 2021-22 – Leap of Faith Childcare, New Lisbon, WI – Director

Stephanie Arndt - 1st Grade

Stephanie Arndt

Education

  • B.S – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College
  • M.S. – Education – Mankato State University
  • Wisconsin Teaching License

Ministry Experience

  • 2019 – Present – Peace Lutheran – Kindergarten
  • 2007 – 20011 – St. John’s, Sleepy Eye, MN – Preschool and Kindergarten

Service and Awards

  • 2014 – 2019 – Assistant to WELS National Civilian Chaplain

Personal Mission Statement

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled with the measure of all the fullness of God.” Eph. 3:17-19

Jillian Igl - Kindergarten

Jillian Igl

Education

  • BS – Early and Middle Childhood Education – Wisconsin Lutheran College
  • Wisconsin Teaching License

Ministry Experience

  • 2019 – Present – Peace Lutheran School – Kindergarten
  • 2016 – 2019 – Allenton Elementary – Kindergarten
  • 2014 – 2016 – St. John’s Lutheran, Waterloo, WI – 1st and 2nd Grades
  • 2014 – 2012 – Walker Elementary, West Allis, WI – 1st – 3rd Grades

Personal Mission Statement

God puts us where He wants us each and every moment of our lives, and it is our duty to serve in each of these situations to His glory. It is my privilege to have been placed in the role of teacher to impress Christian values on His little lambs, and it is rewarding to be a part of watching children grow academically, emotionally, socially, but most importantly, spiritually, in our time together.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Leslie Campbell - Kindergarten

Leslie Campbell

Education / Certification

  • B.S. Elementary and Early Education – Alverno College
  • Wisconsin Teaching License

Ministry Experience

  • 2021-Present – Peace Lutheran, Hartford, WI – Kindergarten Teacher
  • 2011 – 2021 – St. John’s, Wauwatosa, WI – Preschool Teacher

Leah Unke - Preschool Director

Leah Unke

Education / Certification

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College

Ministry Experience

  • 2019 – Present – Peace Lutheran – Preschool Teacher
  • 2016 – 2019 – Divine Savior Academy, Doral, FL – Preschool Teacher
  • 2010 – 2011 – Divine Savior Academy, Doral, FL – Preschool Teacher
  • 2008 – 2010 – Beautiful Savior Lutheran School, Carlsbad, CA – Preschool Teacher
  • 2006 – 2008 – Divine Savior Academy, Doral, FL – Preschool teacher

Personal Mission Statement

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13

Bethany Gerbing - 3K/4K Teacher

Bethany Gerbing

Education / Certification

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College

Ministry Experience

  • 2020 – Present – Peace Lutheran – 3K/4K Teacher
  • 2017 – 2020 – St. Paul, Algoma, WI – Preschool Director

Terri Salzwedel - Special Needs

Terri Salzwedel

Education / Certification

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Dr. Martin Luther College
  • M.S. Ed – Special Education – Wisconsin Lutheran College – currently enrolled
  • Wisconsin Teaching License

Ministry Experience

  • 2020 – Present – Peace Lutheran – Special Needs
  • 2015 – 2019 – Mt. Lebanon, Milwaukee, WI
  • 2003 – 2015 – St. Peter, Schofield, WI
  • 1998 – 2003 – St. Peter, Schofield, WI
  • 1987 – 1990 – Pilgrim, Mesa, AZ

Ruth Wiedoff - Resource Teacher & Piano Teacher

Ruth Wiedoff

Margie Bentz - Piano

Margie Bentz

Education / Certification

  • B.S. Elementary and Early Education – Wisconsin Lutheran College

Ministry Experience

  • 2005 – 2015 – Holy Trinity, Okauchee, WI – Preschool Teacher and Director, Piano Instructor
  • 2017-Present – Peace Lutheran – Preschool and Piano Teacher

Philosophy of Education

Teaching, to me, is a huge privilege. It’s an opportunity to watch young minds grow and learn. It’s a responsibility that I share with each child’s parents to help develop a love of learning and growing. But, most importantly, it’s a blessing to be able to share the love of Jesus with them each and every day!

Kris Smith - Panther Care Director

Kris Smith

Jenna Heinz - Bookkeeper/School Office

Jenna Heinz

Julie Ehlers - Preschool Aide

Julie Ehlers

Renee Biondich - Kindergarten Aide

Renee Biondich

  • Kindergarten Aide

Brandi Draheim - Preschool Aide

Brandi Draheim

  • Kindergarten Aide

Rachel Hyer - Special Needs Aide

Rachel Hyer

  • Special Needs Aide

Shanna Marek - Panther Care

Shanna Marek

  • Panther Care

Kalinda Trapp - Kindergarten Aid

Kalinda Trapp

  • Kindergarten Aid

Kathleen Zastrow - Elementary Aide

Kathleen Zastrow

  • Grades 2-3 Aide