St. John’s School Staff
Mrs. Kay Koenitzer
Principal
(920) 387-4310
kay.koenitzer@stjohnsmayville.com
Serving as St. John’s Lutheran School Principal for the last five years, I have been blessed with an awesome staff, caring parents, and delightful students who believe in Christian education as an important part of life. Last year I celebrated 35 years in the Lutheran education system. My husband, Bill, and I have been married for 42 years. We have two wonderful children, Will (Katie) and Tiffany, and four fabulous grandchildren, Courtney, Cole, Kaitlyn, and Fletcher. I received my B.S. in Education at UW-La Crosse. Any chance I get I enjoy spending time with friends and family at our cottage Up North. I love to kayak, paddleboat, read, rummage, and just do “whatever”. I look forward to an amazing school year!
Throughout my life this verse has remained one of my favorites as God has always shown me: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
Mrs. Laurie Benter
Administrative Assistant
(920) 387-4310
laurie.benter@stjohnsmayville.com
This school year starts my 27th year at St. John’s School as administrative assistant!
Wow! What a ministry it has been! God has truly blessed my time here at SJLS.
I am married to Gary and we have two grown daughters. Melissa (Mel) Benter, resides in Jackson, and Katie, an occupational therapist, lives in the Indianapolis, IN area. We have two precious granddaughters, Addison and Lilly. We wish they lived closer than Indiana, but we spoil them when we can! I am a life-long resident of Mayville. In our spare time, Gary and I enjoy gardening, trips to Indiana to see Addison and Lilly, and spending time at the family cottage on the Chippewa Flowage near Hayward, Wisconsin.
Mr. Scott Hamre
8th Grade Homeroom, Middle School Soc. St., PE, Religion Teacher
(920) 387-4310
scott.hamre@stjohnsmayville.com
Luke 14:27- “And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
I was born in Mineral Wells, TX, but grew up all over as an Army brat, since my father was a helicopter pilot. I moved nine times before the age of fifteen and have moved five times since age eighteen. I was blessed to be able to live and visit different areas of the states and Europe. I feel these experiences help me to bring a unique perspective to the classroom. I was confirmed at Dreifaltigkeitskirsche at Worms am Rhein in Germany. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in History and Physical Education along with Coaching Endorsement from Concordia University-Nebraska and my Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University-Texas. I met my wife Rachael at CUNE. Our teaching ministry has brought us to St. Louis-MO, Walburg-TX, Newkirk-OK and to Mayville-WI. I believe Lutheran schools are the best opportunity available for education and are in a prime position to explode in growth in developing Christian servants and leaders. I have 3 daughters (3rd, 5th & 7th grade) who attend St. John’s. I enjoy small group Bible study, adventures with my family, coaching my girls’ soccer and basketball teams, camping, pheasant and deer hunting, fishing, family road trips, BBQ cooking and competitions and following my Texas sports teams: the Longhorns, Cowboys, Rangers, Stars and Mavericks (and the UW Badgers hockey team). I am thankful and blessed to be a part of St. John’s-Mayville.
“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity and dignity.” Titus 2:7
Mrs. Melissa Travis
7th grade homeroom teacher
melissa.travis@stjohnsmayville.com
Hello! I feel so blessed to be teaching at St. John’s in Mayville. I believe that God has brought me to this school for His purpose. So a little about me…I grew up in Fort Dodge, Iowa. I graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Community Health Education and added my elementary teaching license at Buena Vista University. This will be my 16th school year teaching middle school science! It is my 4th year at St. John’s. I teach 5th-8th grade science, 5th-8th grade health, 6th grade English, 7th grade math, and electives. Previously, I taught middle school science in Newton, Iowa. Since moving to Wisconsin, I have also done some grant work in the School District of Horicon. I love spending my time outside of school with my family as I am often attending sporting events, show choir competitions, and concerts for my three children. Cole is a senior, Connor is a sophomore, and Claire is a 6th grader. They keep me very busy! My husband, Scott, works at CUNA Mutual in Madison. In my free time, I enjoy scrapbooking, reading, fishing, and watching movies. My favorite Bible verse is Titus 3:1 “Be ready to do whatever is good.” I do my best to let that verse guide my life.
Mrs. Tammy Bushke
6th grade homeroom teacher
tammy.bushke@stjohnsmayville.com
I was born and raised in Mayville. I attended the University of WI-Stevens Point and graduated with a degree in elementary education with an emphasis in coaching, reading and language arts. I also received my Master’s Degree in reading from UWSP. I have taught 3rd grade – 8th grade both here at St. John’s Mayville and Wausau Middle School. I have over 25 years of teaching experience in everything from ESL and alternative education to reading and writing. I am privileged to be at St. John’s now teaching in the middle school and serving as the school librarian. I am currently the 6th grade homeroom teacher. My husband Burt and I have a wonderfully busy life together with our three children – 2 college graduates and an eighth grader. My favorite song is What Faith Can Do by Kutless. It is an amazing song that is both powerful and uplifting and reminds us that if we continue believing -miracles can happen.
Ms. Hannah Christiansen
5th Grade Homeroom Teacher
hannah.christiansen@stjohnsmayville.com
I am so excited to teach at St. John’s! God has blessed me with the opportunity to teach in this welcoming and supportive community. I am a newly called teacher here at St. John’s and will be teaching 5th grade along with middle school classes. I recently graduated from Concordia University of Wisconsin with a degree in Lutheran Elementary Education. My family is from Waukesha, Wisconsin, and my husband and I live in Milwaukee. We enjoy spending time with
our large families and playing lots of games and sports.
Mrs. Jamie Schwoch
4th Grade Teacher
jamie.schwoch@stjohnsmayville.com
I was raised here in Mayville, Wisconsin and attended grade school right here at St. John’s Lutheran School. I am a graduate of U.W. Whitewater and later completed my colloquy from CUE net Concordia. I became the fourth grade teacher at St. John’s in 2001. I feel truly blessed to be called by my home congregation. My husband, Jamie, (yes, same first name) and I have been blessed with two children, Braeden and Ellie.
One of my favorite bible verses is Jeremiah 29:11 “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.” This year we will be focusing the many different ways that we can “Build a Better World!”
Mrs. Faye Hazelburg
3rd Grade Teacher
faye.hazelberg@stjohnsmayville.com
I graduated from Concordia University Mequon with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in the fall of 1994. I had the privilege of student teaching 1st grade at St. John’s Lutheran School in 1994 and in 1995 I was hired to teach 5th grade at St. John’s. I have been teaching 3rd grade at St. John’s Lutheran School since 1999. I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, reading, and being physically active! My husband Ted and I have been blessed with two wonderful children who are both in high school. My husband is also a teacher and has been teaching at Mayville Middle School since 1996.
My confirmation verse is very special to me: “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life.” Rev. 2:10.
Ms. Jeana Schraufnagel
2nd Grade Teacher
jeana.schraufnagel@stjohnsmayville.com
I am blessed to be in my third year of teaching second grade after ten years of teaching in Kindergarten at St. John’s. It will be an exciting year to learn and grow WITH second grade!I I graduated from Marian University in 2003 with a Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. God blessed my husband, Aaron, and I with our sons Keegan and Levi.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.– Proverbs 3:5-6
“Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly…Leave the rest to GOD.”
Mr. Doug Mageski
1st Grade Teacher
doug.mageski@stjohnsmayville.com
It is a blessing to be called back to serve at this very tight-knit school. My experiences with this school have renewed my faith and desire to continue the work of the Holy Spirit by sharing the Gospel with all His children and having the privilege of overseeing the development of my students’ mind, body, and spirit. I currently live in the beautiful town of Germantown with my wife, Chelsey Mageski, my three beautiful children; Elijah, who is 6 years old, Aubree, who is 4 years old, and Sophia, who is 2 years old, and our dog Socks. I graduated December of 2013 Summa Cum Laude from Concordia University Wisconsin and quickly started teaching 4th grade at Green Tree Elementary School in West Bend, WI. This will be my fifth year at St. Johns. My wife works as a hospice nurse with Seasons Hospice in West Allis. In our free time we love to go fishing, spend time hiking, visit the zoo, and cheer on our local Lakeshore Chinooks baseball team. I also have to admit that my household cheers for the Vikings on Sundays!
“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity and dignity.” Titus 2:7
Mrs. Rachael Hamre
Kindergarten Teacher
rachael.hamre@stjohnsmayville.com
This is my third year blessed to teach kindergarten at St. John’s. I am a graduate of Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska. While I was actually born in Seward, I mostly grew up in an underground house on a farm in northern Oklahoma. I have taught every age from PK through twelfth grade over my years of teaching in St. Louis, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The move to Mayville has brought me full-circle back to Wisconsin, as I did my student teaching once upon a time at Martin Luther High School. My husband is Scott, the St. John’s eighth grade teacher. We have three children who attend St. John’s, Greta, Lottie, and Karryn. I Thessalonians 5:16-18 is my favorite Bible passage
Kindergarteners are a joy. At St. John’s we delight in playing and learning. I really believe in focusing on students’ gifts and talents while teaching math, science, art, music, religion, and reading. We emphasize phonics with the Jolly Phonics program, and it is amazing to watch students become readers. While children will spend time in the computer lab and with other forms of technology, socialization and exploration remain especially vital for their development. Most importantly, I treasure watching youngsters grow spiritually to be able to voice their faith in Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life with Him in heaven.
Mrs. Candace Fink
PK4 Teacher
candace.fink@stjohnsmayville.com
My name is Mrs. Candace Fink. I am very excited to be teaching 4K at St. John’s. I am a graduate of Marian College, Fond du Lac with my Bachelor’s Degree in Early Elementary Education. Prior to that, I earned my Associates Degree in Early Childhood/ Early Elementary from Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WI. I married my husband Rick in 2008. God blessed us with twin boys, Micah and Isaac, in August of 2014, and our daughter Anya in December of 2017. I love to teach and work with children to help them “Reach for the Stars.” I am very grateful how the Lord has guided my path to bring me to St. John’s. I am very excited to be at St. John’s.
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Mrs. Brooke Krueger
PK4 Teacher’s Aide
brooke.krueger@stjohnsmayville.com
I feel so blessed to be part of the St. John’s Staff for my 4th year of being the 4K Teacher Aide! I was born in Bismarck, North Dakota but for my entire childhood I was raised in Chandler, Arizona. My husband, Paul and I have been truly blessed with 3 awesome kiddos, Sam, Olivia & Emily! I have worked with children since 2009, whether it was teaching Sunday school, working in childcare or teaching preschool. I enjoy working with children and helping them excel to the best of their ability. One of my favorite verses from the Bible is, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3: 5-6
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11-13.