MEET OUR SCHOOL FACULTY…
A highly qualified, Christian teacher leads every grade level
purposefully toward success. Every staff member has at least an education degree from Martin
Luther College (formerly known as DMLC) or another college, and is constantly pursuing
opportunities to grow professionally and spiritually.
All of our faculty members are WELS certified and state licensed or in the
progress of becoming licensed.
Here is a bit about the experience and passion our school
staff brings to Risen Savior:
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Pastor Kenneth Fisher (Senior Pastor) has served Risen Savior as pastor
since 1997. Prior to his work at Risen Savior, he served as the Developer for the
“World Mission Collection,” a missionary to Russia, and as Tutor and Instructor
at Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw. He is also the Project Director for
“WhatAboutJesus.com” (a website for the unchurched produced by the WELS
Commission on Evangelism) and presents for Schools of Outreach around the Synod. He enjoys
photography, Thai cooking and global travel. He was raised in Michigan where he attended
public school, a Lutheran grade school, and Michigan Lutheran Seminary for high school. He
graduated from Northwestern College in 1988 and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1993 (after
an extra year as a vicar in Australia). In July 2004, he married Kimberly.
Principal Robert Dusseau (Principal) was
born in Milwaukee. In 1990 he graduated from Shoreland Lutheran High School in Somers, WI.
Rob continued his education at Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN earning a B.A. in
Elementary Education. Shortly following his wedding, he and his wife, Cathy, left for
Sofia, Bulgaria where Rob was assigned as Educational Director for the WELS mission in
Sofia. Following their time in Bulgaria, Rob moved to Libertyville, IL where Rob taught
3rd & 4th grade and served as Athletic Director while his wife, Cathy, taught
Kindergarten. From 1998 until 2003, he served at Peace Lutheran School in Holiday, FL
(while there he attended Seton Hall University and received a M.A. in Educational
Leadership and Administration in 2002). From 2003-2008, Rob was principal at St.
John’s in Burlington, WI. Rob and Cathy enjoy gardening, cooking, golfing, traveling,
and experiencing new things. He began serving as principal at Risen Savior on July 1,
2009.
Pastor Seth Haakenson (Pastor for Hispanic Ministry) was born in
Youngstown, OH and grew up in Douglas, Arizona on the border with Mexico. He attend public
high school; graduated from Martin Lutheran College in 2000 and Wisconsin Lutheran
Seminary in 2004. His ministry experience prior to receiving his call to direct Hispanic
Outreach at Risen Savior included time in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. He is
married to Monica. When not engaged in ministry, he enjoys traveling, reading and the
outdoors.
Dr. Clarence Jenkins (Development Director) was born in Bay City,
Michigan and, after attending Michigan Lutheran Seminary, graduated from Dr. Martin Luther
College with a degree in Elementary Education. Clarence has taught at St. Paul’s,
Brownsville, Wisconsin; St. Croix Lutheran High School, St. Paul, Minnesota; Michigan
Lutheran Seminary; and Wisconsin Lutheran College. During these years of service he earned
a Master’s degree in education, a Master’s degree in English, and a Ph.D. in
English. For the past ten years, Clarence has served in the area of financial development,
first as the Vice-President of Development at Wisconsin Lutheran College and more recently
as the Associate Vice-President of Financial Development at the YMCA of Metropolitan
Milwaukee. Clarence also has spent nine years as an alderman in Wauwatosa, where he and
his lovely wife, Ruth, currently reside.
FACULTY
Mr. Chad Biesterfeld (6th grade) was born in Crete, Illinois. He attended
Illinois Lutheran High School, and upon graduation enrolled at Prairie State College.
After two years at Prairie State he transferred to Martin Luther College. In 2002 he
received his Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Secondary Education with an emphasis in
Physical Education and minor in History. He served as a principal/teacher for six years in
Indianapolis, Indiana. He is married to his wife, Heidi, and they have two daughters, Ava
and Ella. Chad enjoys playing various sports in his free time.
Mrs. Lori Ehlke (1st grade) was installed on Sunday, October 20,
2009 as a first grade teacher at Risen Savior Lutheran School. Her husband, Brett, is a
senior at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. She enjoyes art. She is fulfilling a one-year call
at Risen Savior Lutheran School. She is a graduate of Martin Luther College in New Ulm,
MN.
Mr. Mark Elke (7th grade) was born in
Beloit, Wisconsin. After graduating from Luther Preparatory School in Watertown,
Wisconsin, he went to Martin Luther College. In 2003, he received his Bachelor of Science
in Elementary and Secondary Education with an emphasis in Social Studies from Martin
Luther College. Prior to his coming to Risen Savior, he served as a teacher for 4 years in
Citrus Heights, California. Mark and his wife, Annette have a daughter, Olivia and a son,
Caiden. Mark’s outside interests include cooking, sports, fishing and hunting.
Mrs. Stephanie Elke (Educational Support) was born and raised in
Manitowoc, WI. After graduating from Martin Luther College in 2003 with a BS in Elementary
Education with a concentration in Music, she taught first grade at Immanuel Lutheran
School in Greenville, WI. She is married to Kevin who is a teacher at Kettle Moraine
Lutheran High School. She has taught here at Risen Savior since 2004.
Mrs. Kimberly Fisher (Dean of Students) was born and raised in Scottsdale
AZ. She received her BS in Elementary Education and Cross Categorical Special Education
Certification from Central Michigan University. She also has a WELS teaching
certification. Kim is married to Rev. Kenneth Fisher and has a daughter who is also a
teacher. She has taught for Milwaukee Public Schools, Jesus Cares Ministries, and St.
Jacobi, Greenfield. She also works with Omin Learning Resources which assists several area
WELS schools in reaching out to high-risk students. She has been in staff since
before the school began.
Mrs. Tracey Inniger (2nd grade) was born and raised in Flint, MI and
received her BS in Elementary Education from Dr. Martin Luther College. Tracey brings a
wide range of ministerial experiences to our teaching staff. Her vast teaching experience
includes Caledonia, WI; St. James MN; Appleton WI, and most recently Big Bend, WI before
joining the Risen Savior faculty in 2005. She is married to Jeff Inniger and they have two
children.
Mr. Paul Kelm (5th grade) was born and raised in Bloomer, WI and
graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1986 with a BS in Elementary Education with a
concentration in Science. He previously taught in Eau Clair, WI; Tsuchiura City,
Ibarakiken, Japan; Gibbon, MN; and 12 years in Plzen, Czech Republic before arriving at
Risen Savior in 2006. He is married to Jennifer who also was a teacher in Plzen. They have
3 children – Ben, Joshua, and Lydia. In Paul’s free time he enjoys photography
and outdoor sports. He loves children and teaching about his Lord.
Mrs. Anna Kolander (Assistant to the Principal) received her BS in
Education from Dr. Martin Luther College and Southwest State University in Minnesota in
1981. She is married to Dr. John Kolander and has four children. She has taught at Samuel
School in Marshall, MN; Fox Valley Lutheran High School; and Trinity in Waukesha, WI. She
taught grades 3-5 and high school biology and algebra. She received her Masters Degree in
Curriculum and Instruction from the University of WI, Oshkosh in 2005. Anna's been
on staff at Risen Savior since 2006.
Mr. Jon Rosenow (5-year-old Kindergarten) graduated from Martin
Luther College with a double major in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education
in 2009. He was born in Manitowoc, WI and gre up in Wonewoc,WI; Hutchinson, MN; and
Milwaukee, WI. Jonathan attended Luther Prep for high school in Watertown, WI. In the
'07-'08 school year he lived in the Dominican Republic and taught Kindergarten and first
grade. He has also been in various choirs throughout high school and college. He loves
music and sports of all kinds. 2009-2010 is his first year at Risen Savior.
Mrs. Angie Schmidt (4-year-old Kindergarten) was born in New Ulm,
Minnesota. After graduating from Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, she went to Martin
Luther College. She graduated from Martin Luther College in 2007 with a Bachelor of
Science in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Spanish and Urban Education. Her
husband Brian is a student at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Her outside interests include
sports, piano, and traveling.
Mrs. Beth Schulz (4th grade) was born in Appleton WI. She has traveled
extensively and has lived in Cairo, Egypt, as well as St. Peter MN. She received her BS in
Education on the Elementary and Secondary levels at Concordia, River Forest and is
certified in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. She also has her WELS
teaching certification. She is married to Dr. David Schulz and has three children. She
enjoys reading, barbershop chorus, and working out. Beth started teaching at Risen Savior
in 2004.
Mrs. Becky Wetzel (3rd grade) was born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin,
and lived in Francis Creek throughout her childhood. She attended Manitowoc Lutheran High
School. After graduating in 2002, she went on to Martin Luther College. Her first
assignment out of MLC was to Riverview Lutheran School in Appleton. She served one year
there as their second grade teacher. After marrying Jeff Wetzel in August 2007, she
accepted a call to teach at Zion Lutheran School in South Milwaukee. She has taught first
grade at Zion for two years. In 2009, she accepted the call to teach at Risen Savior where
she is teaching third grade.
Mr. Jeff Wetzel (8th grade) was born and raised right here in Milwaukee.
He attended and graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran High School. He went on and received his
BS in Education on the Elementary and Secondary Levels with an emphasis in Physical
Education from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. His teaching experience includes
Faith in Antioch IL, and Lutheran Preparatory School in Watertown, WI. Jeff is the
Athletic Director since he arrived at Risen Savior in 2005.
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