Board of Directors Map
Steve Baas
Wisconsin Transportation Builders AssociationSteve Baas has been the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association since 2021. For 16 years prior, he served as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC), lobbying on behalf of ... read moreMMAC members at the state, federal, and local levels. From 1994 to 2005, Baas served the state of Wisconsin under the Tommy Thompson Administration as the Communications Director for the Speaker of the State Assembly. read less
Madison
Andrew Baxter
St. Lucas Lutheran SchoolAndrew has served at Saint Lucas Lutheran School in Milwaukee, WI, for fourteen years. During his time, he was a teacher for five years and has been the principal for the last nine years. Andrew has served on several different ... read moreboards to support educational organizations, currently on WCRIS’ board, and causes over the past decade. read less
Milwaukee
1
134
40
St. Lucas Lutheran School
Donna Bembenek
Catholic Memorial High SchoolDonna has been the president of Catholic Memorial High School (CMH) since July 2017. Prior to her tenure at CMH, she was Vice President of Marketing and Communications for YMCA USA and Senior Vice President of External Relations for YMCA ... read moreof Metro Milwaukee. She has taken part in JFC hearings, spoke before committees, was part of the SCW SWAT team, and leads the Archdiocese of Milwaukee president group. read less
Waukesha
1
465
137
Catholic Memorial High School
Cole Braun
Lutheran High School Association of Greater MilwaukeeCole Braun has served as the CEO of the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee (LHSAGM) since 2013. He has served on the Board of Directors for LUMIN and as the President of ALSS (The Association of Lutheran Secondary ... read moreSchools). read less
Hartland, Greenfield, Milwaukee, and West Allis
5
1898
415
Lake Country Lutheran High School, Martin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee Lutheran High School, Mount Calvary Lutheran School, and Trinity Lutheran Classical School
Edward DeShazer
Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy (GHTCA)Edward is currently the Executive Director of the Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy (GHTCA) in Milwaukee. Under Edward’s leadership, GHTCA transformed from a one-star to a four-star school in six years. Edward’s passion for education and equity has led him ... read moreto serve on several nonprofit boards and to become one of the premiere inspirational speakers for schools, educational conferences, and universities nationwide. read less
Milwaukee
1
400
0
Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy
Kim Desotell
Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE)Kimberly Desotell has served as the President of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education school system (GRACE) since 2015. Under Kimberly’s leadership, GRACE’s system of nine pre-K-12th grade schools has experienced significant enrollment growth, strengthened parental engagement, advanced curricular offerings, ... read moreand increased standardized test scores. Before joining GRACE, Kimberly served as the Director of Development for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She has a lifetime of experience in public and private education, including experience as a principal, grade-school teacher, administrator, consultant, and technology and training specialist. read less
De Pere and Green Bay
9
728
1526
Father Allouez Catholic School, Holy Cross Catholic School, Holy Family Catholic School, Notre Dame of De Pere, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, St. Bernad Catholic School, St. John Paul II Classical School, Chesterton Academy, St. John the Baptist School, and St. Thomas More Catholic School
Kenneth Fisher
Wisconsin Lutheran High SchoolKen has been the president of Wisconsin Lutheran High school since 2012. Prior to his tenure as president, Ken was the Director of Mission Advancement at Wisconsin Lutheran High school and was the senior pastor at Risen Savior Lutheran Church ... read moreand School in Milwaukee from 1997-2011. Ken has been an active member of SCW’s SWAT team and champion of the parental choice movement. read less
Milwaukee
1
568
354
Wisconsin Lutheran High School
Jean Kacanek
Retired School AdministratorJean has dedicated her career to providing quality education through both traditional and alternative schools. She served as administrator at Prairie Hill Waldorf School and, for 15 years, at Tamarack Waldorf School, a Milwaukee Parental Choice Program school. Her work ... read moresparked a deep interest in education policy, leading her to collaborate with School Choice Wisconsin and other advocates to address legislative and regulatory challenges and expand opportunities for private school students across the state. read less
Waukesha
Richard Laabs
Retired, Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative, Inc. (LUMIN Schools)Dick is a faith-based leader, entrepreneur, and active volunteer who has served in CEO, COO, CFO, independent director and ownership positions. He recently retired as the founding CEO of LUMIN Schools, a network of urban Lutheran schools serving low-income families ... read morein southeast Wisconsin and northern Indiana. Other industry experience includes banking, private equity, manufacturing, service, and nonprofit. He has led several new business formations, leveraged buyouts and
corporate divestitures, and is skilled at strategic planning, financial management, and business turnarounds. read less
corporate divestitures, and is skilled at strategic planning, financial management, and business turnarounds. read less
Milwaukee and Racine
Jeff Loberger
Fox Valley Lutheran High SchoolJeff graduated from Martin Luther College and started his teaching career in a 1-room classroom in Nebraska as principal and teacher. Over the next 15 years, Jeff served as principal and teacher in Salt Lake City, Omaha, and even started ... read morea school in Florida. Jeff currently serves as president of Fox Valley Lutheran High School, overseeing 90 faculty and support staff. read less
Appleton
1
308
465
Fox Valley Lutheran High School
Jamie Luehring
Kettle Moraine Lutheran High SchoolSince 2014, Jamie has served as president of Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School, a participant in Wisconsin’s Parental Choice Programs. He previously led HOPE Christian Schools as executive director and served as principal of HOPE Prima, nationally recognized for its ... read morestrong character formation and academic growth. Under Jamie’s leadership, Prima students closed the math achievement gap within two years. Throughout his career, Jamie has focused on expanding access to high quality education and developing student leaders equipped to make a lasting impact. read less
Jackson
1
198
376
Kettle Morain Lutheran High School
Richard Mannisto
Messmer High SchoolRichard recently became president of Messmer High School. Prior to this, Rich worked at Wisconsin Lutheran College from 2013-2025, holding the positions of vice president of advancement, vice president of development and strategic initiatives, and vice president of development. Rich ... read morealso has worked for the Kern Family Foundation. read less
Milwaukee
1
546
2
Messmer High
School
Randy Melchert
Academy of ExcellenceRandy Melchert is the President and Founder of Academy of Excellence (AOE). Randy holds a Master’s in Christian Thought with an emphasis in Church History from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, a Master’s in Rhetoric and Public Address from Bob Jones ... read moreUniversity, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin. AOE has been active in the political realm, having been part of a National School Choice Week rally in Madison and testified at a JFC hearings. read less
Milwaukee
3
3839
0
Academy of Excellence
Charles “Chuck” Moore
Impact Christian SchoolsChuck was previously a member of the SCWA board. He is currently a WCRIS board member and is the leader of the Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI). He has worked for schools in the Milwaukee area and now is ... read moreleading Impact Christian Schools with schools located throughout the state. Chuck is a stalwart choice ally. He has taken part in SCW National School Choice Week celebrations, testified before committees and JFC hearings, authored op-eds in defense/support of the choice program, is an active member of the SWAT team and a member of the choice schools working group. Impact Christian Schools will encompass 15 schools in the 2025-26 school year and 4 more schools down the road. read less
Madison
10
797
657
Abundant Life Christian School, Community Christian School, High Point Christian School, Impact Christian Academy, Lighthouse Christian School, Mount Horeb Christian School, Eagle School International, Karis Academy, and Pella Hill Virtual Academy
Andrew Neumann
Hope: Christian SchoolsAndrew is an educational entrepreneur committed to ensuring all children have access to excellent learning opportunities that help them fulfill their purpose and lead flourishing lives. He began his career as a high school and college teacher while completing a ... read morePh.D. in educational mathematics. In 2006, he joined Educational Enterprises (now Open Sky Education) and serves as its Executive Chair/CEO working to support the team to advance its mission nationally by growing its school networks (HOPE Christian Schools and EAGLE public charter schools), Christian wraparound programs (Compass Educational Programs), and the Character Formation Project. read less
Milwaukee and Racine
6
2680
1
Hope Christian: Caritas, Hope Christian: Fidelis Hope Christian: Fortis, Hope Christian: Prima, Hope Christian: Semper, Hope Christian: Via
Lori Saqer
Seton Catholic SchoolsLori is currently the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer at Seton Catholic Schools. She recently served seven years working in another large school system and seventeen years prior to that as an auditor of schools participating in Wisconsin’s parental choice ... read moreprograms and other non-profit organizations, she has a deep understanding of the importance of having the business operations of a school functioning well and following the best practices of the education industry. read less
Milwaukee and West Allis
15
3405
220
Blessed Sacrament Catholic, Catholic East Elementary, Mary Queen of Saints Academy, Northwest Catholic School, Our Lady Queen of Peace School, Prince of Peace School, St. Adalbert School, St. Catherine School, St. Charles Borromeo Parish School, St. Margaret Mary Catholic School, St. Mary of Czestochowa, St. Rafael the Archangel, St. Rose of Lima, St. Roman Parish School, and St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
Paul Scriver
Shoreland Lutheran High SchoolPaul has been at Shoreland Lutheran high school since 2002. Prior to Shoreland Lutheran High School, Paul worked at St. John’s Lutheran School in Burlington for 10 years and Zion Lutheran School in Morrison for 6 years. Paul is an ... read moreactive supporter of the choice movement. He has brought students from Shoreland Lutheran High School to multiple National School Choice Week celebrations, hosted serval Hispanics for School Choice back to school events, and attended legislator listening sessions to advance school choice. read less
Kenosha
1
285
158
Shoreland Lutheran High School
Sam Seefeld
Trinity Lutheran FreistadtPrior to joining the SCWA board, Sam was part of SCW’s SWAT team. Sam has testified before the Joint Finance Committee during their biannual listening tour. Additionally, Sam has gone to Madison multiple times to testify before committees about legislation ... read morethat would affect the parental choice movement. Lastly, he has been a speaker at one of SCW’s National School Choice Week celebrations. Sam has been in the educational field since 2009. read less
Mequon
1
178
167
Trinity Lutheran School of Freistadt
Barbara Strawn
Roncalli Catholic SchoolsBarbara is the Director of Finance at Roncalli Catholic Schools in Manitowoc. She wears many hats and all the skills she acquired as an entrepreneur, tax preparer, corporate accountant, and systems administrator help her overcome the varied challenges of her ... read moreposition. Since the inception of the statewide parental choice program in 2013, Barbara has been helping families achieve their goal of sending their children to private schools through participation in the choice program. She’s embraced the opportunity to collaborate with schools throughout the state, assisting with their entry into the program. read less
Manitowoc
3
274
417
Roncalli High School, Roncalli Middle School, Roncalli Elementary School
Brenda White
Retired, Siena Catholic Schools of RacineBrenda has spent over three decades in education leadership. She is the retired President of Siena Catholic Schools of Racine, a system of seven schools that serves students in grades 3K-12. Brenda was an associate superintendent for the Archdiocese of ... read moreMilwaukee before joining Siena Catholic Schools in 2017. From 1989 to 2008, Brenda served as principal for St. Margaret Mary School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Hills Middle School in Brookfield, and for Holy Apostles School in New Berlin. read less
New Berlin