Meet Our Staff

Teachers at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with School are certified by the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as required by Wisconsin state law. In addition, the majority of our teachers are certified by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod which holds teachers to a higher standard both in educational requirements, and in their calling as a Christian educator. Many of our teachers also have a Master’s degree in education which is two years beyond a Bachelor’s in education degree. Teachers often have responsibilities within the church including choirs, youth leaders, celebration worship leaders, Bible study leaders and many more responsibilities which enhance our church life and help build the Kingdom.


“Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.” -Martin Luther

  • Ken Anclam

    Interim Principal

    Mr. Anclam earned a dual Bachelor's degree in both regular (1-8) and special (K-12) education and a Master's degree in special education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He has taught on the Navajo reservation, and at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in the Beloit and Janesville school districts. He has also served as director of Project Assist at UW-Whitewater, and as a teacher trainer with the Peace Corps in Mongolia.


    For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you. Proverbs 2:10-11

  • Danielle Strom

    School Secretary

    Mrs. Strom serves as Our Redeemer School’s Secretary, and is also a member of the Church Tech Team. Mrs. Strom is the primary contact for general school information or questions.

    Phone ext. 1110


    When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. Psalm 94:18-19

  • Mrs. Fleck teaches 3K preschool. She received her early childhood teaching certificate from Gateway in Racine, WI. She taught Infant Toddler at Lakeland Little Learners in Elkhorn, WI for 1 year. After that she joined Youth With a Mission in Jacksonville, FL. She completed their Discipleship Training Program and served in missions in West Africa. After returning, she taught preschool for 12 years at Calvary Maranatha preschool in Williams Bay, WI and 8 years Infant Toddler at Little Professors Learning Center in Walworth, WI. After the birth of her 3rd child, she became a stay at home/ homeschooling mom. Mrs. Fleck re-entered the work force last year as the 3K preschool teacher’s assistant and is now the 3K preschool teacher.  


    Love is patient, love is kind. It does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

  • Mrs. Holt has an Associate's degree from Lakeshore Technical College in early childhood education and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in early childhood through middle childhood education. She received her Colloquy in 2014 from Concordia University-Wisconsin. Before coming to Our Redeemer, she taught Kindergarten for 11 years at Trinity in Merrill, WI. Before that, Mrs. Holt also taught preschool for 12 years. She has been married for 39 years to Jeff Holt, the new middle school teacher at Our Redeemer. They are originally from Sheboygan, WI and were high school sweethearts. They have three grown children all living in the southern Wisconsin area. Jeff and Deb bought a home in Milton, WI. Deb recently accepted the call to serve Our Redeemer as the PK4 teacher.


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

  • Heather Finnegan

    Kindergarten

    Mrs. Finnegan teaches Kindergarten. She received her Bachelors degree from Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois. She is originally from the Chicago area, and taught preschool at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Munster, Indiana for 6 years before staying home with her children. Mrs. Finnegan re-entered the workforce as the program coordinator and parent educator for the Parents As Teachers program at St. Paul's before moving to Wisconsin. She joined the Our Redeemer family in 2015. She graduated with her Master’s Degree in Special Education, with a focus on Autism, from UW-Whitewater, in December 2020.

    Phone ext. 1120


    But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:16-17

  • Mrs. Wallen teaches 1st grade. She attended and graduated from Concordia University, Wisconsin in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education. Her minor was Adaptive Education. Melissa has taught 1st through 4th grade in Pleasant Prairie, WI and Watertown, WI at Lutheran schools.  She has 12 years of teaching experience in multi-grade classrooms. She joined Our Redeemer in 2016.  This will be her 14th year in the classroom teaching God's little lambs.

    Phone ext. 1140


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

  • Laura Hillman

    2nd Grade

    Miss Hillman teaches 2nd grade. She received her Bachelor’s degree in 2009 from Concordia University, St. Paul in Elementary Education with a minor in Music and a specialty in Middle Level Math. She has taught in Lutheran schools in Iowa and Florida before accepting the call to Our Redeemer. Laura also enjoys sharing her love of music to praise the Lord.


    Laura Hillman was also chosen as the "Distinguished Lutheran Elementary Teacher of the Year" in 2023. There are over 21,000 teachers teaching in almost 2,000 Lutheran schools across the United States. 


    Phone ext. 1150


    The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exalt over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

  • Kirsten Kramer

    3rd & 4th Grade

    Ms. Kramer teaches 3rd and 4th grade. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in

    Elementry Education with concentrations in Psychology and Children’s Literature

    from Concordia University at River Forest, Illinois. Ms. Kramer has been at Our

    Redeemer since 1991.

    Phone ext. 1160


    "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

  • Kristi Collins

    5th & 6th Grade

    Ms. Collins has been a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with School for 27 years, serving on many different boards, committees, and as Sunday School Superintendant. All four of her children graduated from Our Redeemer. Ms. Collins received a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Concordia College River Forest, IL. She previously taught at Hope Lutheran School in Chicago, and at Bethel Lutheran School on the north side of Chicago. From 2003-2016, Ms. Collins taught in Genoa City, WI. In 2006 she became a National Board Certified Teacher, and re-certified in 2015. She continued in Lutheran education from 2016-2022 in the Principal/Teacher role at Our Redeemer, and is now excited to begin serving as a full-time middle school teacher for in the Fall of 2022.

    Phone ext. 1210


    My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9,10

  • Jeff Holt

    7th & 8th Grade

    Mr. Holt earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh and teacher's certification from Concordia University Wisconsin.  He served as the Director of Speech and Debate at Sheboygan North High School and was named to the Wisconsin Debate Coaches' Hall of Fame in 2009.  He also taught at Hortonville High School, Sheboygan Area Lutheran High School, Kiel High School, and Trinity Lutheran School in Merrill, WI before accepting the call to serve at Our Redeemer.  Mr. Holt and his wife, Deb, have three adult children who all live in southern Wisconsin.

    Phone ext. 1180


    As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

  • Rebecca Penniman

    Music Teacher

    Mrs. Penniman teaches general music for grades PK4-5th, directs the Day School children’s choirs, directs the Gabriel’s Choir for grades 6-8 and is the coordinator for the church’s Praise and Worship services. In addition, Mrs. Penniman is our Resource Room coordinator. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in music from Concordia University at River Forest, Illinois and earned a Master’s degree in Special Education specializing in Emotional/Behavioral Disorders from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

    Phone ext. 1200


    Do not fear for I am with you. Do not be afraid for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

  • Judy Becker

    Title I Math Teacher

    Mrs. Becker received her Bachelor's degree from UW-La Crosse and her Master's degree from UW-Whitewater. She taught in Thorp and Fontana before coming to Our Redeemer to teach Kindergarten for 30 years. Mrs. Becker is re-joining the Our Redeemer staff by helping out the the Title I Math program.


    From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is to be praised. Psalm 113:3

  • Stephanie Freitag

    Spanish Teacher

    Mrs. Freitag teaches Spanish to Kindergarten through 8th grade. She graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a French teaching degree and taught French at Jefferson High School before becoming a stay-at-home mom. When her three children were in school she began teaching Spanish at St. Andrew Parish School in Delavan, where she taught for three years. Mrs. Freitag is joining the staff at Our Redeemer beginning in Fall 2020.

    Phone ext. 1190


    You may not understand now what I am doing, but someday you will. John 13:7

  • Mr. Schotanus teaches band and band lessons to students in 5th though 8th grade. He received a Bachelors in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1995. He spent two years as the director of bands at Pacelli High School in Stevens Point, WI. During that time he felt a passion for working with younger students, and accepted a position as a beginning and middle school band director in Lake County, IL at multiple schools. During that time Mr. Schotanus performed with the Antioch Community Band, College of Lake County Concert Band, as well as serving as director and performer for the Round Lake Symphonic Winds.


    This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24