Lutheran Interparish School

Our Faculty and Staff


     

2023-2024  School Year

Mr. Mark Grewe,  Principal

Mr. Mark Grewe has been at LIS since the summer of 2011. Mr. Grewe is a 1981 graduate of Concordia, River Forest, with a concentration in youth ministry and early childhood.  Mr. Grewe received his Masters in Education from Indiana University and his Administrative certification by taking post-graduate work at Concordia.  Mark met his wife Jean at Concordia River Forest.  Jean taught in the Lutheran School system for for 25 years.  Jean is retired after working for Lutheran schools and the Iowa AEA.   Mark and Jean have three children: Nathan, Sarah, and Rachel.  Nathan is a LCMS pastor who works with Lutheran Family Services of Iowa.  He lives in Davenport, IA.  Nathan is blessed with four children: Makenzie, Ashley, Alexander, and Danielle.  Sarah is Social Worker and is married to Travis Jansen and they also reside in Davenport, Iowa. They are blessed with two daughters, Sophia and Eve and two sons, Gabriel and Silas.  Rachel has a Business/Communication degree and is employed by the River Bend Food Iowa  and also resides in Davenport, Iowa.    Mark is looking forward to retiring at the end of the 2023-2024 school year and moving with Jean to Davenport to spend time with his kids and grandkids.  

Favorite Bible Passage:  Psalm 118:24 

Mrs. Monica Miller, Administrative Assistant

Monica Miller has lived in the Williamsburg area all of her life.  Her and her husband, Brad live outside of Parnell and operate a Classic Auto Restoration business.  They have a daughter, Chelsea, who works for Midwest One Bank and a son-in-law, Spencer, who teaches History in the Ottumwa High School.  Monica enjoys gardening and taking their old trucks to various car shows across the state.

Favorite Bible Passage:  Isaiah 41:10





Mrs. Jodi Van Etten, Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Jodi Van Etten is currently the Preschool Teacher at LIS and has been since 2006.  Jodi graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1993 with a double major in Elementary Education and Early Childhood.  She taught two years of Kindergarten at Ackley-Geneva, 3 years of third grade at Knoxville, Iowa, and did in-home daycare for seven years before  teaching at LIS.  Jodi is married to Mike (since 1992), and they have been blessed with 3 boys: Dillon, Dalton & Cooper.


Favorite Bible Passage: Philippians 4:13  



Mrs. Jennifer Rethwisch     Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. Jennifer Rethwisch is married with four children; two who currently attend LIS, and two alumni.   She and her husband Pastor Stewart Rethwish are members of St John, Victor and are both huge supporters of Christian education and LIS.   Jen loves to volunteer at various functions at the school when she is able.  Her hobbies include; cooking, baking, entertaining, camping and quilting in her spare time.

Favorite Bible Passage: 





Mrs. Rebecca Sitas, First Grade & Music Teacher

Mrs. Rebecca Sitas attended and graduated from Concordia University, River Forest (CUC) with Bachelor degree in Elementary Ed., with a minor in music.  Her first call was to Holy Ghost Lutheran School in Monroe, MI.  She taught second and/or third grades there from 1997-2007.  Mrs. Sitas also coached the JV volleyball team, directed hand bells, children's choir and yearly musicals.    She received her Master of Reading Degree from Eastern Michigan University in 2003.  The Sitas family moved to Williamsburg in 2007...teaching music at LIS since then.  Mrs. Sitas and her husband Bill, have three daughters: Kathryn, Naomi, and Leah.  In her spare time Mrs. Sitas enjoys singing, playing flute and recorder, reading and spending time with family.

Favorite Bible Passage:  Jeremiah 29:11


Mr. Bill Sitas,  Second Grade Teacher

Bill is currently teaching second grade at LIS.  He graduated from Concordia, River Forest in 1997.  He received a masters in education from Marygrove College in 2003. Bill received his masters in school leadership from the University of Iowa in 2011.  Bill has taught many levels, including 2nd and 5th - 8th grades at Holy Ghost Lutheran School in Monroe, MI.  Bill served at LIS from 2007 - 2010 as principal.  He was the director of child care at the University of Iowa while working for Bright Horizons.  Bill and his wife, Becky (1st grade teacher) have three children, Kathryn, Naomi and Leah.



Favorite Bible Verse:  Hebrews 4:16

Mrs Shelly Shaffer, Third Grade Teacher

Mrs. Shelly Shaffer is currently teaching 5th Grade at Lutheran Interparish School.  She graduated in 2001 from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a BS in Elementary Education and endorsements in K-8 Reading and K-8 English and Language Arts.  After substitute teaching for two years, she began her work at LIS in 2003, as the Fifth Grade teacher. Shelly completed the Concordia Colloquy program in 2007 to receive her Lutheran teacher certification.  Shelly and her husband Donnie, have three children, Camden, Lauren and Hunter.

Favorite Bible Passage: Phillipians 4:13



Mrs. Robyn Schaefer, Fourth Grade Teacher

Mrs. Robyn Schaefer teaches 4th grade at LIS.  She began teaching in the fall of 1979 after graduating from Concordia, Seward.  She taught at Trinity Lutheran School in Cedar Rapids for twelve years before coming to LIS in 2000.  Her husband, Bill, sells insurance for Farm Bureau in Williamsburg.  They have one son, Ryan, who works for Reinhart Tiling, and daughter-in-law Lauren who is also a teacher.  

Favorite Bible Passage: Jeremiah 29:11




Mrs. Donna Armbrecht, Fifth Grade Teacher

Mrs. Donna Armbrecht was born and raised in a small town in Colorado. She attended a Lutheran grade

school and high school. She attended Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University) in Seward

NE from 1987-1991. She was married to Mr. Andy Armbrecht (6th grade teacher at LIS) in the summer of

1991. She received a call to teach Kindergarten at Lutheran Interparish School in 1991. She taught

Kindergarten for 5 years and then stayed home with their children from 1996-until the present 2022.

She has enjoyed volunteering at LIS. She is a member of St. John Homestead and is the organist there.

She enjoys being with her family, coaching basketball, and watching the Iowa Hawkeyes (especially the

women’s basketball team) play. She and Andy have 4 children, Isaiah (Audrey), Emma (Spencer), Lydia

and Simeon.

Favorite Bible passage: John 3:16

Mr. Andy Armbrecht, Sixth Grade Teacher

Mr. Andy Armbrecht has taught at LIS since 1989, first in fifth grade, and currently in sixth grade. He is co-athletic director and also teaches upper grade PE. Mr. Armbrecht graduated from Concordia College I Seward, NE, in 1989. He and his wife have four children: Isaiah, Emma, Lydia, and Simeon. His interests include reading, sports, gardening/ outdoors, the Iowa Hawkeyes, and vocal music. Mr. Armbrecht is a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Homestead.

Favorite Bible Passage: John 14:6




Mrs. Linda Wille, Seventh Grade Teacher

Mrs. Linda Wille graduated from the University of Iowa in 1989 and taught at Tri-County Schools for 10 years. Then she came to LIS in 2000. She earned her colloquy from Concordia University in Seward, NE in 2004. Mrs. Wille and her husband, Jeff, are blessed with 4 children. Sarah and Nathan were born in 1995. Tyler and Kaitlin were born in 2001. Much of Mrs. Wille's time is spent going to her children's activities. She also enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with family and friends. 

Favorite Bible Passage: Jeremiah 29:11




Mrs. Elyse Wilde, Eight Grade Teacher

Mrs. Elyse Wilde was born and raised in southern Minnesota and attended a Lutheran school from Preschool through eighth grade. She then attended a local public high school. She graduated from Concordia University, in Seward, NE in 1994 with a degree in Secondary Education. She began teaching in 1995 and taught in both MN and AZ before starting at LIS in 2004. In 2010 she earned her Middle School Endorsement through Viterbo University. She is married to Shawn and has one son, Ian and one daughter, Aubree.

Favorite Bible Passage: Psalm 25:4-5 




Mrs. Jennifer Lane, Title I Teacher

Mrs. Jennifer Lane received her B.S, in Early Childhood Education from Iowa State in 1997.  She taught infants, toddlers, and preschool for 13 years and was the director of W4C's for 5 years.  She received her Reading Endorsement from Viterbo University in 2013 and will graduate with her Master's in Literacy Education from UNI in May 2022.  Jennifer and her husband John have lived in Williamsburg since 2005.  They have a daughter, Annalissa who is a senior at St.Olaf College, and a son Sam, who is a freshman at Iowa State.  She is the Colorguard coach for the Raider Marching Band and sings in the Praise Band at St.Paul UMC.  In her free time, she loves to read, run and do jigsaw puzzles.




Mrs. Laurie Thompson, Student Support

Mrs. Laurie Thompson has started as a student support teacher for the 2021-2022 school year.  Her position is funded through the statewide EANS I Grant as a part-time instructor through Lutheran Special Education Ministries.  Mrs. Thompson has worked for 16 years doing reading intervention/and one on one with students.  She also worked for 4 years teaching first grade in Iowa City at Faith Academy.


She is married and her husband Blane, is a farrier.  They live outside Parnell and have one daughter, Haley who is married to Brian. Haley is a high school teacher in Iowa City.  Laurie enjoys the outdoors and she loves walking in the fields with their crazy dog, Bixi and caring for their horses and chickens.  She enjoys bicycle riding and cooking with her husband.



Mr. David Johnson, Band Teacher


Mr. Johnson is happy to be joining the LIS staff.  With over 35 years teaching instrumental music in Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky he is excited to get to know and work with LIS students.  Recently retired he and his wife live in Tiffin, they have one married daughter who lives in North Liberty.  He and his wife enjoy gardening, golf and travel.   




Mrs. Megan Finnegan,  Food Service Director


Megan attended Kirkwood College and received her certification from the American Culinary Federation in 2009. She has worked in the food service industry for 28 years as a line cook, Kitchen Manager, Sous Chef, baker and wine consultant. Some cuisines she has worked with are Indian, Spanish, French-Chinese Fusion, American, and Italian. Before coming to LIS, Megan worked at the Williamsburg Community Child Care Center as an Assistant Teacher and Kitchen Manager. She feels passionate about making sure every child gets a healthy meal at least daily and doesn’t go hungry. 

Megan is the mother of 3 girls, Piper, Evelyn and Bristol, that attend Lutheran Interparish School. She enjoys photography, hiking, reading, and spending time with her dog Odie.  


Favorite Bible Verse: 1 Peter 4:10

Mrs. Kristen Leib,  Cook

Mrs. Kristen Lieb is a graduate of NW Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. After volunteering in the kitchen for a year she became an assistant cook in 2019. She is married to her husband Josh. They have two children, Charlie and Katie. She enjoys reading, traveling, and volunteering.

Favorite Bible verse:   Matthew 7.12 





Mrs. Angie Reed,  Cook

Mrs. Angie Reed has been helping cook at LIS beginning in the 2016-2017 school year. She grew up in Mount Vernon, IA and presently lives in rural Parnell. She and her husband, Chad, have 3 children: Amelia, Colin, and Abigail. Her children attend LIS and she enjoys working at the school because it gives her a chance to see her kids throughout the day. She enjoys watching football and basketball games with her family. Angie grew up a Hawkeye, but attended college at ISU, so she roots for both teams.

Favorite verse: Matthew 6:27