SCWA Board of Directors
Richard Laabs
Retired, Founding CEO, Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative, Inc. (LUMIN Schools) | Board Chair
LOCATION: Milwaukee and Racine, WI
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 in 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.
Paul Scriver
President, Shoreland Lutheran High School | Vice-Chair
LOCATION: Kenosha, WI
Paul 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 active 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.
Randy Melchert
President and Founder, Academy of Excellence | Treasurer
LOCATION: Milwaukee, WI
Randy 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 University, 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.
Jeffrey Loberger
President, Fox Valley Lutheran High School | Secretary
LOCATION: Appleton, WI
Jeff 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 a school in Florida. Jeff currently serves as president of Fox Valley Lutheran High School, overseeing 90 faculty and support staff.
Edward DeShazer
Executive Director, Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy | Executive Member
LOCATION: Milwaukee, WI
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 to serve on several nonprofit boards and to become one of the premier inspirational speakers for schools, educational conferences, and universities nationwide.
Steve Baas
Executive Director, Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association
LOCATION: Madison, WI
Steve 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 MMAC 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.
Andrew Baxter
Principal, St. Lucas Lutheran School
LOCATION: Milwaukee, WI
Andrew 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 boards to support educational organizations, currently on WCRIS’ board, and causes over the past decade.
Cole Braun
CEO, Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee
LOCATION: West Allis, WI
Cole 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 Schools).
Kimberly Desotell
President, GRACE School System
LOCATION: Green Bay, WI
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, and 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.
Kenneth Fisher
President, Wisconsin Lutheran High School
LOCATION: Milwaukee, WI
Ken 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 and School in Milwaukee from 1997-2011. Ken has been an active member of SCW’s SWAT team and champion of the parental choice movement.
Jean Kacanek
Retired, Former Administrator, Tamarack Waldorf School
LOCATION: Waukesha, WI
Jean 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 sparked 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.
Jamie Luehring
President, Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School
LOCATION: Jackson, WI
Since 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 strong 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.
Richard Mannisto
President, Messmer High School
LOCATION: Milwaukee, WI
Richard 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 also has worked for the Kern Family Foundation.
Charles “Chuck” Moore
Executive Director, Impact Christian Schools
LOCATION: Madison, WI
Chuck 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 leading 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.
Andrew Neumann
Executive Chair & CEO, Open Sky Education (HOPE Christian Schools)
LOCATION: Milwaukee and Racine, WI
Andrew 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 Ph.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.
Lori Saqer
Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, Seton Catholic Schools
LOCATION: Milwaukee, WI
Lori 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 programs 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.
Sam Seefeld
Executive Director, Trinity Lutheran Freistadt
LOCATION: Mequon, WI
Prior 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 that 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.
Barbara Strawn
Retired, Roncalli Catholic Schools
LOCATION: Manitowoc, WI
Barbara was the Director of Finance at Roncalli Catholic Schools in Manitowoc until her retirement in 2025. Since the inception of the statewide parental choice program in 2013, Barbara helped 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.
Brenda White
Retired President, Siena Catholic Schools of Racine
LOCATION: Racine, WI
Brenda 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 Milwaukee 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 Holy Apostles School in New Berlin.