St. Matthew Staff

 

Susan Palka - Principal

Degrees:  Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Concordia  University-Seward, Nebraska
Major—Early Childhood
Minor—English
Masters of Educational Leadership from Concordia University-Seward, Nebraska

Previous Experience:
Trinity Lutheran School-Reed City, Mi
Grades Kindergarten, First and Second

St. Matthew Lutheran School-Walled Lake, MI
Grades First, Second, Sixth-Eighth Language Arts  

Hobbies:  Attending my children’s athletic activities, reading, and coaching DI
     
 

Lisa Rohman - 3-Year-Old Preschool Teacher

Degrees: Graduated from Eastern Michigan University

Lisa began working at St. Matthew in 2001.  She is currently involved in many ministries at St. Matthew such as Childrens, International and she is the director of Vacation Bible School.

Hobbies: Spending time with her husband and three children, cooking, crafts, traveling and reading.

Member of St. Matthew since 1998.
     
 

Laura Kitzman - 4-Year-Old Preschool Teacher

Degrees:  Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University-Ann Arbor
Major—Education
Minor—English and Music
Currently pursuing Master’s degree

Previous Experience:
St. John Lutheran-Ionia, MI Grades Pre-kindergarten and Art grades 1-8
St. Matthew Lutheran-Walled Lake, MI Grades 1,2 and Music Director grades K-8

Hobbies:  reading, gardening, and scrapbooking
     
 

Susan Lenghart - Kindergarten Teacher

Degrees:  Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University
Major-Social Studies
Minor-Science and Math
Colloquy obtained from Concordia University in Ann Arbor

Previous experience:
Mt. Clemens Public Schools
Lollipop Preschool

Hobbies:  reading and gardening
     
 

Rebekah Kurien - First Grade Teacher

Degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education - Oakland University, Concordia University Wisconsin
Major-Elementary Education
Minor-English/Language Arts
Endorsed in Early Childhood & Elementary Education in Michigan

Previous experience:
2nd Grade: Immanuel Lutheran School, Palatine, IL

Hobbies:  piano, tennis, scrapbooking, photography, & writing
     
 

Alyssa Bornheimer - Second Grade Teacher

Degrees:  Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Concordia University-Ann Arbor
Major—Language Arts
Minor—Early Childhood Education

Previous Experience:
St. Peter's Lutheran School-Eastpointe, MI Grade 2

Hobbies:  reading, cooking, baking, gardening, crafting, camping, raking leaves and jumping in them, & exploring new places
     
 

Wendy Scheiwe - Third Grade Teacher

Degrees:  Bachelor of Arts in Education from Concordia University –River Forest, IL
Major—Music
Minor—Math

Previous Experience:
Immanuel Lutheran School—Riverside, CA Grade 5
St. Peter Lutheran School—Lodi, CA Grade 6

Hobbies: 
During the school year—Grading papers
During the summer—Reading, sports, gardening, scrapbooking
     
 

Betty Stevenson - Fourth Grade Teacher

Degrees:  Bachelor of Arts in Education from Oakland University
Major—History K-12
Minors—English and Social Studies K-12

Colloquy obtained from Concordia University in Ann Arbor, MI

Previous Experience:
Hartland Public Schools

Hobbies:  Traveling, Reading and a History buff
     
 

Laura Toman - Fifth Grade Teacher

Degrees:  Bachelor of Science in Education from Concordia University in Ann Arbor, MI
Masters of Arts in Reading from Eastern Michigan University

Previous Experience:
St. John Lutheran School—Marysville, Ohio Grade 2
St. Matthew Lutheran School—Walled Lake, MI Grade 2

Hobbies:  Reading, Travel, Going to the movies, Volleyball
     
 

Matt Olsen - Athletic Director & Sixth Grade Homeroom and History Concentration

Degrees: BA in Education from Concordia University Ann Arbor
Major—History
Minors—English

Previous Experience:
16 years at St. Peter Lutheran in Eastpointe, MI
2 years at St. Paul Lutheran in Flint

Hobbies:  Reading; roasting, brewing, and all things related to coffee; Gardening; landscaping; traveling; politics.
     
 

Amy Weston - Seventh Grade Homeroom with Language Arts Concentration

Degrees:  Bachelors of Arts from Concordia University-Ann Arbor, Michigan
Major-Elementary Education and Art
Minor-Early Childhood Education
Currently pursuing Master’s degree

Previous Experience:
Child of Christ Lutheran School Hartland Art Education, Preschool and 5th grade history

Hobbies:  Gardening, landscaping, book club and scrapbooking
     
   

Matthew Topel - Eighth Grade Homeroom with Science and Matth Concentration 

Degrees:  Bachelors of Science for Concordia University-Ann Arbor, Michigan

Major-Mathematics

Minor-Chemistry

Previous Experience:
Student taught at Lutheran High North

9th Grade Algebra

10th and 11th Grade Chemistry

Hobbies: Baseball, Basketball, Playing Instruments such as trumpet, guitar, and piano
     
 

Yvonne Welte - Computer Instructor

Degrees:  Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Concordia Seward, Nebraska

Major—English

Previous Experience:
St. John Lutheran School—Seward, Nebraska Grade One
Sioux Falls Lutheran School—Sioux Falls, South Dakota Grades Kindergarten, First, and Five
     
   

Jason Nichols - Admissions Counselor