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
  • Wisconsin State License
  • Ed.D – Leadership and Innovation – Concordia University Wisconsin – currently enrolled

Minsitry 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

  • 2016-2020 – Wisconsin Lutheran College Adjunct Professor
  • 2016-2018 – WELS Commission on Youth and Family Ministry, Member
  • 2015-2018 – WI Lutheran State Teachers’ Conferece, Program Committee Member
  • 2015-2018 – WELS Leadership Candidate Training Program, Mentor
  • 2010-2015 – WELS National Leadership Conference, Steering Committee Member
  • 2008-2010 – WELS Admininstrator 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.

Gary Gray - 8th Grade

Gary Gray

Education

  • B.S. in Education – Martin Luther College
  • M.S. in Education – Concordia University Wisconsin

Ministry Experience

  • 2021-Present – Peace Lutheran School, Hartford, WI – 8th Grade, Middle School Math and Science, Coach.
  • 1994-2021 – Arizona Lutheran Academy, Phoenix, AZ – Assistant Principal, Math and Science Instruction, Coach
  • 1991 – 1994 – Abiding Word, Houston, TX – Principal, Middle School Instruction
  • 1982 – 1991 – Good Shepherd, West Bend, WI – Assistant Principal, Middle School Instruction, Coach
  • 1977 – 1982 – Gloria Dei, Sierra Madre, CA – Principal

Marv Wittig - 7th Grade / Athletic Director

Marv Wittig

  • 7th Grade / Athletic Director
  • Phone:262-673-3811 x207
  • mwittig@peacehartford.org

Education

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

Debbie Spriggs - 6th Grade

Debbie Spriggs

  • 6th Grade
  • Language Arts & Art
  • 262-673-3811 ext. 206
  • dspriggs@peacehartford.org

Education

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College
  • WI State License

Ministry Experience:

  • 2009 – Present – Peace Lutheran School

Personal Mission Statement

Each child is a gift from God with unique and God-given gifts and abilities. My goal is to encourage each child to use their individual talents to the best of the ability with which God has supplied. My prayer is that the gifts at work in His servants at Peace nurture growth in grace and knowledge of Christ their Savior in His children’s hearts and lives.

Connie Schmidt - 5th Grade / Musical Director

Connie Schmidt

Education 

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Dr. Martin Lutheran College
  • WI State 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

Deb Wittig - 4th Grade

Deb Wittig

Education

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

  • 3rd Grade
  • 262-673-3811 x.203
  • shsteinbrenner@peacehartford.org

Education

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

Ministry Experience

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

Personal Misison Statement

Krista Rydecki - 2nd Grade

Krista Rydecki

  • 2nd Grade
  • 262-673-3811 x202
  • krydecki@peacehartford.org

Education

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

Ministry Experience

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

Personal Mission Statement

Amanda Harvey - 1st Grade

Amanda Harvey

Education

  • B.S. – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College
  • WI State Licensure

Ministry Experience

  • 2015-Present – Peace Lutheran School – 1st Grade
  • 2007-2011 – Lamb of God – West Allis, WI – Kindergarten Teacher

Service and Awards:

  • 2017 Hartford Rotary Teacher of the Year

Personal Mission Statement

Teaching young minds is a job that cannot be taken lightly. It is full of challenges, frustrations, and responsibilities. However, it is a job that is also full of satisfaction, wonder and joy.  All students are blessed with unique gifts, talents, and abilities. My personal goal for my classroom is to challenge students adn watch them grow to their full potential. Also, to nurture each child to know and love his Savior and prepare them to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Stephanie Arndt - 1st Grade

Stephanie Arndt

  • 1st Grade
  • 262.673.3811 ext. 203
  • sarndt@peacehartford.org

Education

  • B.S – Elementary Education – Martin Luther College
  • M.S. – Education – Mankato State University
  • WI State 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

  • Kindergarten Teacher
  • 262-673-3811 x.233
  • jigl@peacehartford.org

Education

  • BS – Early and Midlle Childhood Education – Wisconsin Lutheran College
  • WI State Licnse

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
  • WI State 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

  • 3K/4K Teacher
  • 262-673-3811 ext. 211
  • bgerbing@peacehartford.org

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

  • Special Needs
  • 262-673-3811 ext. 216
  • tsalzwedel@peacehartford.org

Education / Certification

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

  • Reading Resource Teacher
  • Piano Teacher
  • 262-673-3811 ext. 216

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

  • Bookkeeper/School Office
  • 262-673-3811 ext. 210
  • jheinz@peacehartford.org

Julie Ehlers - Preschool Aide

Julie Ehlers

  • Preschool Aide
  • School Secretary
  • jehlers@peacehartford.org

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

Rachel Steinbrenner - Classroom Aide

Rachel Steinbrenner

  • Classroom Aide

Kathleen Zastrow - Kindergarten Aid

Kathleen Zastrow

  • Kindergarten Aid