Meet our School Staff

Principal: Mrs. Tammy Langfield

Mrs. Langfield has been at St. John’s since 1995.  She began teaching 4th grade, then moved to middle school math and social studies and finally became the principal.  Her previous experiences include teaching in Buckley Illinois , Bitburg Germany , and Clemens Iowa .   Mrs. Langfield believes all children can learn.   Since children learn differently, the challenge is to find the unique way of learning for each child.  She graduated from Concordia University – Chicago in 1986.   Mrs. Langfield is married and has two daughters.   She enjoys traveling and reading.

Preschool 3s: Mrs. Suzanne Denecke

Mrs. Denecke graduated from Concordia University – Chicago in 1985.  She taught in IL for 6 years before moving to WI.  She joined the St. John’s faculty in 2006.  She is married to John, a Financial Consultant with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  The Deneckes have four children – 3 sons and 1 daughter.  Mrs. Denecke enjoys teaching young children about Jesus, reading, sewing and spending time with her family.

Preschool 4s: Mrs. Candy Crass

Mrs. Crass is the 4-Year-Old Preschool teacher. She graduated from Concordia University, Mequon, in 1992. She served as a teaching assistant at University School during the ’93-’94 school year and became the Director of the Summer Program shortly thereafter. She worked here at St. John’s with Mrs. Kennell as the Kindergarten aide before becoming Preschool Teacher/Early Childhood Coordinator in 1999. After a short hiatus, Mrs. Crass rejoined the faculty as preschool teacher in 2002. She has three boys and continues to direct the Summer Program at University School. In her spare time she enjoys walking, reading, and attending Little League games.

Preschool 4s: Mrs. Susan Meyer

Mrs. Meyer received her BA from Valparaiso University in 1980.   She helped to start a preschool program at Trinity, Creston , IA and served as a teacher there for 10 years.  In January of 1996 she and her family moved to Wisconsin .  In the fall of 1996, she began working in the day care and eventually the preschool program of St. John’s .  Mrs. Meyer is married to Pastor Glenn Meyer.  They have been blessed with two daughters and one son. 

Kindergarten: Mrs. Linda Kennell

After growing up in northern California and Austin , TX , Linda Kennell graduated from Concordia Teacher’s College (now University) in River Forest , IL . She began her teaching career with fifth graders at Holy Cross in Collinsville , IL . She also taught at Our Savior Lutheran Preschool in Carol Stream , IL and St. John in Wheaton IL .  She joined St. John’s faculty in 1995.  She is married to Chuck Kennell, our Minister of Music. They have two grown children. Andrew and his wife Emily live in Lee’s Summit , MO , where Andrew is a pastor at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Rachel is a deaconess working for the Lutheran Church in world relief and human care in Germany while her husband, Jonathan Mumme, earns a doctorate there.  Mrs. Kennell enjoys reading and gardening when she is not in the classroom.

1st Grade: Miss Megan Collins

Welcome Miss Megan Collins.  We're looking forward to learning more about you.

2nd Grade: Mrs. Lenore Chandler

Mrs. Chandler graduated from Concordia Teacher’s College, River Forest, Illinois with a B.A. in 1969. She was called to St. John’s and has taught there for 26 years. Besides teaching second grade, she has served as Interim Principal and Sunday School Superintendent. Her loves include children, music, arts, flowers, and angels. She has traveled several times to Europe. Mrs. Chandler finds ways to share these cultures with the children in her classroom.

3rd Grade: Mrs. Linda Buss

Mrs. Linda Buss grew up in southern Minnesota.   She has a BA from Concordia College in St. Paul Minnesota. She has been a teacher in Lutheran Schools for 18 years. She has taught Kindergarten, Preschool, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th grades.  She has been teaching Third Grade at St. John’s for the past 9 years. She is currently working on her Master’s in Educational Technology.  The mother of one enjoys reading, rubber stamping, and singing.

4th Grade: Miss Jennifer Johnson

Miss Johnson grew up in the small northern town of Park Falls, Wisconsin.  She is a 2003 graduate of Concordia University of Wisconsin-Mequon.  In the four years that Miss Johnson has been at St. John’s, she has taught middle school PE, Health, and was an aide in Kindergarten and 1st Grade. Starting in 2007 Miss Johnson has her own classroom and is teaching 4th grade and says she loves the experience.  Miss Johnson likes to stay busy with physical activities, Brewers games, and traveling.

5th Grade: Mr. Brian Brauer

Welcome Mr. Brian Brauer.  We're looking forward to hearing more about you too.

 

6th Grade: Mrs. Janeen Bain

Mrs. Bain joined St. John’s teaching staff in the Fall of 2007.  Although new to the full time staff, Mrs. Bain is not new to our school.  She has been a substitute teacher here for 15 years and has been on the Childcare staff for 4 years.  Mrs. Bain graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD in 1984.  She completed her graduate work at UW-Milwaukee and received a Lutheran Elementary Education certification from Concordia University Wisconsin.  Mrs. Bain’s husband, Steve, is an accountant for WE Energies.  They have a daughter, Rachel, at the University of Wyoming , a son, Tim, at Milwaukee Lutheran High School , and two children, Rebekah and David, who attend St. John’s. 

7th/8th Grade: Mr. Aaron Scott

Mr. Scott is a new teacher with us.  I will add details when they become available. 

Lutheran Special Schools: Mrs. Jennifer Clemens

Mrs. Clemens graduated from Concordia University, Mequon, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in elementary education in 1995. In 2002, she received her Master of Arts Degree in Reading and Learning Disabilities from Cardinal Stritch. She has taught in Jefferson City, MO, here at St. John's, and now for Lutheran Special School. She is married to Tim and enjoys playing volleyball and coaches our 5th and 6th grade team.

 

Office Administrator: Mrs. Peggy Frank

Mrs. Peggy Frank has been affiliated with St. John’s School since fall of 1995 when she brought her son, Jacob to St. John’s for school. In the summer of 1996, the Frank’s, Steve, Peggy, Jacob & LuEllen, joined the St. John’s family, and Peggy started working 2 days a week in the kitchen helping with the hot lunch program. Then she started working in the office, learning from Mrs. Ernst what it takes to be a church & school secretary. When Mrs. Ernst left in August of 2000, Mrs. Frank took over the position.

 

Systems Administrator: Mr. Patrick Sierra

Mr. Sierra is a retired member of the Milwaukee Fire Dept.  He served there for 25 years as a firefighter, paramedic, officer, and later as the Captain of the Bureau of Technical Services.  He is a trained Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MSCE) with many years of experience in the field.  Mr. Sierra has a wonderful wife and 2 strong High school boys.  When not at work you'll most certainly find him on the Driving Range in search of the perfect swing (Yippee I found it! 10/1/09).