Meredith Arldt graduated in 1997 from Concordia University Irvine with a multiple subject degree, grades Kindergarten through eighth, and a concentration in child development. She has spent the last eleven years teaching primarily middle school students. Mrs. Arldt holds a Master's Degree in School Administration from Concordia University Seward, Nebraska.
Mrs. Arldt enjoys interacting with her students while teaching 6th grade Theology. In addition to teaching Mrs. Arldt is the Middle School Academic Director. As Academic Director, Mrs. Arldt works with the students and staff of Prince of Peace in a variety of roles involving the academic programs and the many opportunities open to Prince of Peace Middle School students.
The most important message Meredith desires to share daily is the love the Lord has for each one of us, and the awesome gift of salvation He has graciously given to us. Meredith believes that this message is not only meant to be shared with her students, but also with the families that she serves.
Mrs. Arldt lives in Plano with her husband Mike, and their two boys, Will and Sean, who both attend and love POPCS. Mrs. Arldt and her family attend Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
Mr. Austin graduated from Concordia University, Texas with degrees in Middle School Education and Broad Field English/Language Arts and Social Studies. Mr. Austin grew up in the DFW metroplex and even competed against Prince of Peace in middle school when he attended St. Paul Lutheran in Fort Worth. He credits his 8th grade teacher at St. Paul for inspiring him to teach. He joined the Prince of Peace staff in 2009 to teach both Middle School History and English.
Mr. Austin welcomes the opportunity to impact lives at such a vital age in the students’ lives. He believes that no matter the age of the students, God can use them to do amazing things.
Mr. Austin’s favorite Bible verses:
Matthew 6:33-34: 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Habakkuk 1:5 - 5 "Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.
Mrs. Lisa Baker grew up in Carrollton and graduated from R.L. Turner High School; she has a BSW from the University of Texas at Arlington, and earned her teaching certification from the University of New Mexico.
She has been the sixth and seventh grade science teacher at Prince of Peace since 2002. Before teaching at POPCS, her previous experience included: two years of teaching 5th grade in Santa Fe, four years of teaching 5th grade math and science in Euless, and three years being a stay-at-home mom. Mrs. Baker encourages her students to be independent thinkers, to discover their own learning styles, and to never stop asking "Why?" She frequently uses cooperative learning groups and authentic assessments frequently in her classroom.
Lisa has been married to Kenny for 13 years and together they have two amazing boys, Austin and Nicholas. The Bakers are active members of St. Andrews Christian Church in Carrollton.
Mrs. Barnum’s educational journey began with a desire to teach kindergarten and then advanced through the grade levels as her own children grew. She received her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from Texas Tech University, majoring in Home and Family Life with an emphasis in Child Development. She also received her Texas Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education with a Kindergarten endorsement. Five years later, she completed her Masters of Education from Texas Tech with a major in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Multicultural Education. Mrs. Barnum has also received her A.C.S.I. Professional Certification and has taken Biblical Studies courses at Dallas Christian College. With thirty plus years of teaching experience, she hopes her own life will be an example to her students as they venture on in their own journeys of lifelong learning.
Mrs. Barnum believes that life is a journey filled with learning all along the way. This summer, as in previous summers, she has continued studying, attending advanced training sessions, and preparing for the four courses she will be teaching during the 2010-2011 school year.
High School students take Technology Applications as a graduation requirement. Mrs. Barnum teaches the semester long Technology Applications Part B during the regular school year and also during the summer. (Mrs. Rogers teaches Technology Applications Part A during the opposite semester or summer school session.) Tech App Part B focuses on design and composition elements using Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop software. Students apply many of the techniques in designing graphic projects to include personal logos and magazine covers about themselves.
Also in the technology field, Mrs. Barnum will be teaching the newly restructured class, Communication Design and Photography. Formerly called “Digital Imaging and Publications”, the reworked class will expand its base to include a strong emphasis on photography and composition. These students will still design and produce the new Athletic Media Guide, programs for sporting events, drama productions, special event school t-shirt designs, and other school related publications.
Mrs. Barnum will continue for the sixth year as the yearbook advisor, working with her students to incorporate the skills taught in the two previous courses to produce the POPCS yearbook. Over the past five years, her staff’s productions have been recognized with state and national awards, earning First in State this past school year.
Mrs. Barnum is returning as the teacher of the Career and College Preparation class. Building off of her years of experience working in a major university admissions/freshman orientation office, owning her own business, and from being married to a professional human resource manager, Mrs. Barnum helps her students prepare for their futures. Her students explore career options, investigate their educational options, research scholarship opportunities, and prepare to move out into the world of independent living after graduation. The Career and College Preparation class has direct application to each student’s journey into their future.
Always involved in the school she loves, Mrs. Barnum also serves as the Junior Class Advisor. When she is not involved in school activities, she enjoys spending time with her husband Jim, being involved in her church, First United Methodist of Carrollton, and playing with her dogs. Megan, her daughter, is a graduate of POPCS’ first graduating class. Her son, Trevor, lives in Lubbock.
Mrs. Beckham was raised in Holmen, Wisconsin, a small town along the Mississippi River. Much of her family still lives in that area. Throughout her childhood and in some of her young adult years, she attended the New Amsterdam Presbyterian Church; she also enjoyed attending Holmen Lutheran Church youth group activities with many of her Lutheran friends.
Mrs. Beckham graduated from Holmen High School and attended Luther College in Decorah, IA, where she learned to love the Humanities. She graduated from Luther with a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis on education. Currently, she is working on a Masters degree in Humanities at the University of Dallas.
Her first job out of college was as a counselor at a treatment center for children ages nine to eighteen. This job taught her many of the skills she uses in the classroom today regarding respectful and honest communication, discipline and accountability, and ways to understand the issues that many young people face as they grow into adulthood.
Mrs. Beckham has been in the academic classroom for ten years, nine of which have been in the state of Texas. In that time, she has taught every grade from seventh to twelfth in all levels from remediation to Advanced Placement. She continues to enrich her education by participating in classes at The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture’s Teachers Academy, attending conferences conducted by the College Board, such as the AP Institute, and attending seminars conducted by Region 10 and Region 11. She has also benefited from mentoring programs as mentee, mentor and facilitator.
Mrs. Beckham was recognized as “Teacher of the Month” at Westwood Junior High and “Teacher of the Year” by the Mansfield Wal-Mart. Her greatest sense of accomplishment, however, comes from the accomplishments of her own students who have benefited from her classes and who recommend her classes to other friends and siblings. Her reputation as a teacher has been that she has high standards and that her classes are difficult, but that her personality makes it bearable and that what she teaches is useful to her students in future academic classes. Mostly, she just loves teaching and tries to bring that attitude to the classroom every day.
She has been happily married for seven years and has beautiful twin boys who will attend Preschool at Prince of Peace this fall. They are truly a blessing to her and her husband. Because of them their faith in God is renewed, their hope for the future is reshaped, and each day they are reminded of the gifts they have been given.
Her life in Texas has been filled with friendship, love, and wonderful opportunities. She is very optimistic that her years at Prince of Peace will bring more of the same. She looks forward to working with you and is thankful for welcoming her into your community.
Mr. Blackerby teaches high school physics and chemistry. He earned his B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Arlington, and earned his teaching certificate from Texas Tech University. He taught Biology and Chemistry for eight years at Frenship High School, just outside of Lubbock, TX. For eight years he was a stay at home dad.
He lives in Carrollton with his wife Sharon, who is an RN working as a Senior Clinical Analyst for Baylor Health Care System. They have 3 boys, Aaron, Kenan, and Jason. They are members of Farmers Branch Church of Christ.
Mrs. Calatozzo teaches middle and high school choir. She is pleased to work with Lori Hill, the drama teacher, when classes join for musical/drama productions. Mrs. Calatozzo and her husband, Frank, have two beautiful daughters, Samantha and Caroline.
Mrs. Calatozzo was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and grew up in Tallahassee, Florida. She has one sister, Teri. Her favorite childhood memory was playing piano in church. When she was little, she dreamed of becoming a musician, and she got her wish. She went to North Florida Christian School for high school and enjoyed participating in choir and cheerleading. She was also a church accompanist and pianist during her high school years. She then went on to study at Belhaven College.
Mrs. Calatozzo now enjoys doimg what she loves, teaching. She earned her Master's from SMU for accompaniment and vocal coaching, and has taught at Dallas Theatre Center. When asked what she likes best about teaching, she says, "Flunking my students! Just kidding! I love the kids!" Her favorite thing about POPCS is "The loving, Christian spirit of the teachers and students."
She also credits Jesus and her parents for having the biggest impact on her life. She was asked what one thing that students should learn from her as a teacher and she responded, "to love and appreciate good music and to have self-confidence." Her plans for next year's choir include "Bluegrass, Polka and Gregorian Chants for our fall concert. Just kidding!"
Ms. DuBose attended the University of Memphis and the University of Texas at Arlington. She has her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English and a minor in Dance. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, she taught English and dance classes for ten years – mostly at Mansfield High School, but also at the Tarrant County JJAEP and in Guatemala.
Angela is mother to three year old extraordinaire, Gabriela, whose name means “woman of God.” Their church home is Trinity Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth, where God has blessed and enriched both their lives.
Angela feels blessed to be a part of the Prince of Peace family; especially so because Gabriela will be in the pre-school program and looks simply fabulous in her little school uniform.
Ms. Fine is a native New Yorker who grew up in New York City. Ms. Fine always knew she wanted to be a teacher and an artist when she grew up. She remembers sitting at her front door steps as a child handing out pencils to other kids in the neighborhood and pretending to be their teacher.
After high school, Ms. Fine attended the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York, where she majored in Fine Arts and Illustration. Later, she went back and got her degree in Advertising and Computer Graphics. She worked at the University of New Mexico in continuing education classes. She also ran arts and crafts programs in Connecticut and taught for a short time at the Art Institute of Dallas.
When asked what she enjoyed most about teaching at Prince of Peace, she said "seeing a student enjoying the work and developing. I like the teachers' commitment to students and their desire to see them develop academically and spiritually." Then chuckling, she continued, "Oh, and the kids aren't bad either." The one thing she would like all of her students to take away from her as a teacher is integrity and a love and appreciation of art. She hopes all of her students will be able to create or at least learn to appreciate and enjoy art.
Her current hobbies and interests include making jewelry, painting, sketching, traveling to new places, going to museums, and just hanging out with her friends and family. Ms. Fine is a single parent with one daughter named Catherine (Cat) who shares her mother's passion for art.
Mrs. Grant attended Southwestern Oklahoma State for three semesters before transferring to Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska where she received a B.S. in Education in December of 1994. She completed her Master's degree at Texas Wesleyan in 2001. She taught one semester of full-day Kindergarten at St. Paul Lutheran in McAllen, Texas before coming to Prince of Peace in the fall of 1995 to teach 4th grade. In 2003 she moved to Delray Beach, Florida to teach 4th grade followed by a year at Cross of Christ in DeSoto, Texas. Mrs. Grant returned to POPCS in 2005 to teach 8th grade Literature and Language Arts.
Mrs. Grant is the daughter of a Lutheran Pastor; her parents reside in Dumas, Texas. She has a younger sister in Amarillo and a younger brother serving as a United States Marine.
Mrs. Grant has seven years of experience at Lutheran summer camps. She served as a counselor, program specialist and adventure director. Mrs. Grant incorporates the team building activities and ideas gleaned from her camping experiences into her teaching. She encourages her students to give 100% and to always keep trying to do their best.
In the classroom Mrs. Grant works with the students on respect, accountability and organization. She keeps in close contact with parents and works hard to develop trusting and lasting relationship with each family. Having fun in class is also important to Mrs. Grant. She wants her students to get as much from their education as she did from hers! Smiles, laughs, and growing together in the Lord are a part of her classroom teaching.
Mrs. Grant enjoys being with the students daily and watching them grow spiritually and academically.
Louanne Grimes taught in the public school system for more than 25 years while living in the Richardson/ Garland area. She taught at Apollo JHS, in the Richardson ISD, and also at Sachse HS, in the Garland ISD.
Mrs. Grimes has also taught various levels of Spanish and English in the RISD and Spanish in the GISD. She was the English department chairperson as well as the foreign language chairperson at various times throughout her teaching career.
She graduated from Lake Highlands HS in the RISD, and received a B.A. degree in Spanish and English and an M.A. in Secondary Education with an all level reading certification from Texas A &M Commerce. Mrs. Grimes has also received other various training and teaching certifications, such as ESL certification and Advance P Placement training.
Mrs. Grimes and her husband John have three daughters, Monica, Stephanie and Rachael and one granddaughter, Katie Beth.. Monica is a graduate of Texas Tech University and Stephanie is a graduate of the University of Texas. Rachael is attending Angelo State University.
Mrs. Grimes is very happy and excited to have the opportunity to teach Spanish at Prince of Peace and she looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm for the Spanish language and the Hispanic culture.
Mrs. Weiss graduated with high honors from Concordia University Wisconsin in 2005 with a BA in History and Secondary Education and a minor in Political Science. She hopes to begin work on a Masters degree in Renaissance History.
Mrs. Weiss completed her AP College Board certification for U.S. History and has worked to develop a dynamic curriculum for her Advanced Placement students. Her passion for current events led her to the design a Current Events course where students explore global events, analyze their impact and determine their relevance to our daily lives. In addition, she teaches World Geography, Government, and serves as the advisor for Student Council.
Intrigued with politics at an early age, Mrs. Weiss has worked in several campaigns for elected officials in both New Jersey and Wisconsin. She spent a summer as an intern for a U.S. Congressman in Washington, DC and worked for a semester as an intern at a presidential campaign. She loves sharing her stories of working in the nation’s Capitol because she hopes to inspire her students to be involved in the political system as well, seeing their democracy as something tangible.
It is her goal that every student know and trust that “no insignificant person was ever born”, and that they each grow in mind and in spirit, and understand that life’s experiences are those that form us into the servants God would have us be. Her prayer is that her students gain an appreciation of history and contemporary issues and be inspired by the work of God’s hand throughout the centuries.
Mrs. Weiss grew up in the great state of New Jersey and remains fervently loyal to it. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe including participating in a UN-sponsored environmental project in Wales. Mrs. Weiss loves traveling, reading, hiking, camping, and is enthusiastic about service work both locally and internationally. She is a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church where her father serves as pastor.
Mrs. Henke is the math department head and teaches high school Algebra 2, College Algebra and AP Calculus. She came to Prince of Peace at the beginning of the 2001-2002 school year after teaching two years of Algebra II and Calculus at Lutheran High North in Houston. She was the Senior Class sponsor for the first graduating class of POPCS, assisting them with many important decisions about high school traditions and working with seniors to established Eagle pride in high school academics, sports, dances, mission trips, and other various competitions. Currently she is the senior sponsor and the Varsity Volleyball Coach. She is proud that her team earned the state runner-up title in 2007, as well as making it to the state final four in 2009.
Born in Austin, and after a few years living in Houston, Mrs. Henke moved to the Metroplex where she graduated from Plano East Senior High. After attending Collin County Community College, where she played volleyball, she transferred to Concordia University in Austin. There she graduated with a degree in Secondary Education, specializing in math and physical education.
Heidi is married to Chad Henke, POPCS MS Athletic Director. They both joined the POPCS faculty in 2001. They welcomed their first child Kaley in 2002, Karli in 2004, and Payton in 2007. Contact Information phone: 972-447-0532 ext. 396
Lori Hill is the founder of the North Texas Arts Project and a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. She also holds a B.S. in Education and a M.S. in Theatre from UNT in Denton. Lori has a passion for creating and teaching educational arts programs. Her experience includes many years as a Master Teacher at Shepton High School in Plano. In addition to serving as Fine Arts Chairman, Ms. Hill also taught Speech, Drama and Radio/TV/Film classes as well as co-authored the district drama curriculum. Several of her former students can be seen in national commercials, films and Broadway productions. Ms. Hill was recognized as “Rookie Teacher of the Year” by her peers and “Favorite Teacher” by students. She has served as Artistic Director at Plano Children’s Theatre, Lakeside Community Theatre, and has extensive performance credits in stage, TV and film including working professionally with Jason Robards, Winona Ryder, Jane Alexander, Rob Lowe and others. A commissioned playwright, Ms. Hill’s credits continue to include producing and performing with a professional adult touring company.
Ms. Hill came to POPCS 5 years ago to start the theater program. She resides in Lewisville with her husband Bunker and their three daughters who all attend Prince of Peace.
Mrs. Cindy Higginbotham graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education with minors in both Math and Reading. She is certified to teach 1st-8th grades. She also earned her Master’s Degreefrom Texas Woman's University in Education, specializing in Math Education.
Mrs. Higginbotham’s experience includes teaching Middle School Math in Irving ISD and General Math at the Art Institute of Dallas. She currently teaches Middle School Math here at Prince of Peace Christian School
Mrs. Higginbotham is married to Bob and they have two children, Lori, a senior at Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, and Sara, a freshman at Prince of Peace Christian School.
Mr. Isbell graduated from UT Arlington, with a BS in Mathematics with a minor in Physics. He taught and coached football and track in Texas public schools for the first 16 years of his teaching profession. He and his wife Linda then moved with their children to Vail, Colorado where they have resided for twenty years. During that time Bob taught Math and coached for seven more years in the area public schools. In 1998, Bob and Linda helped start a Lutheran high school in the Vail Valley where he taught Math and Theology, coached football and track, and served as interim Principal and Athletic Director. He completed his Colloquy at Concordia Irvine in 2000. From August 2008 to June 2009, Mr. Isbell served in Uganda as a missionary from his church in Colorado. His duties were to finish building an elementary school and to train the teachers.
Bob and Linda have been married for 39 years and have two children, Chris and Travis. They also have two grandchildren, Andrew and Maddy.
Mrs. Isbell is back in her native state of Texas with her husband Bob, continuing their teaching adventures at Prince of Peace Christian School. Linda has both a BA and MA in French with certifications in Spanish and English from the University of Texas at Arlington and UT Permian Basin. She has taught in public schools in both Texas and Colorado. Most recently, she served at Vail Christian High School in Vail, Colorado, a Lutheran high school which she was privileged to help start in 1998. At Vail Christian, Linda taught Spanish, French, Music, Drama and Theology, in addition to serving as Director of Development for two years. From August 2008 to June 2009 Mrs. Isbell was in Uganda as a missionary from her church in Colorado. She trained the teaching staff and supported the construction project at an elementary school in the village of Kicuna.
Linda’s philosophy of teaching language is wrapped up not only with the academic demands of the classroom, but also with sharing the passion she has for Christian outreach through missions in the world. She seeks to instill a heart for service into her students through using the Spanish language in their own backyard or throughout other Spanish-speaking countries.
Linda and her husband Bob have two sons. Their oldest son Chris graduated from the University of Notre Dame and lives in the Midwest with his wife Abigail and their two children, Andrew and Maddy. Their son Travis attended Baylor and Texas A&M Medical School and now is a physician at Scott and White Hospital in Temple. Away from her ministry at Prince of Peace, Linda enjoys serving in missions and spending time with family.
Mrs. Kennedy is a native Texan. She graduated from Austin College in 1983 with a Bachelor in Science degree in Psychology and later earned a Master's degree in Education. She is certified to teach Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. Mrs. Kennedy taught in the Dallas ISD from 1983 to 1998 in various subjects and grades. She stayed home for five years to spend more time with her family, and in 2003 began a part time position at POPCS, teaching math.
Mrs. Kennedy and her husband Tim have been married for twenty years. They have one son, Jackson, who will be in 11th grade this year at POPCS. She and her family attend Fellowship Church in Grapevine. Her hobbies are reading and traveling.
Mr. Knotts is the Science Coordinator and Biology teacher at POPCS. He obtained his B.A. from Concordia College, Ann Arbor and M.Ed. in Science Education with an emphasis in Biology from the University of Minnesota. He taught fifteen years at Lutheran High School in Bloomington, Minnesota and five years at Concordia University, Ann Arbor in the Department of Biology and the School of Education. He has led numerous workshops and sectionals in the area of Science Education including the National Lutheran Educator Conference. His current projects include working with Dow Corning in designing lab manuals for classrooms, doing workshops for Population Education, and working with NOAA in environmental research.
He lives in Frisco with his wife Pamela who teaches Kindergarten, and their twin sons who graduated from POPCS, and will be attending the University of Arkansas.
GayMarie Kurdi is a 4th generation Dallas native and a graduate of Trinity Christian Academy in Addison. She earned her B.S. in Secondary Education and her teaching certification in Social Studies from The Pennsylvania State University and then returned home to study for her M.A.T. in Humanities: Studies in Literature at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is currently working on an additional Masters Degree in American Studies at The University of Dallas. She is holds Texas certification in both English and Social Studies. She is an active member in the National Council of Teachers of English and has attended multiple AP College Board teacher training institutes for AP teachers. She also enjoys taking additional courses of interest at The Athena Foundation and The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, where she sits on the Advisory Board for the Teachers Academy. She is married to Ahmad, a native of Lebanon, and has two daughters who attend POPCS. She and her family are members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Plano.
GayMarie Kurdi has taught and worked in schools since 1990. She began her career teaching Modern American History, Political Science and Law at Central Bucks East High School outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After returning to Texas, she taught Freshman, Junior and Senior English at Liberty Christian School in Denton. She was then recruited to The Kings Academy, a co-ed boarding school outside of Knoxville, Tennessee where she developed a combined History/English program. At The King’s Academy she served as the History/English Department Chair and taught Senior History/English as well as Government and Economics. She was honored to be elected Teacher of the Year at The King’s Academy. After returning home again to Texas, she taught American Literature for five years at Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth. She left Nolan Catholic in order to begin her most demanding career, a stay-at-home mother. After a two year break staying home with her young daughters, she returned to work at Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Dallas as a teacher’s aide and part-time P.R. Coordinator/Development Director. In 2004 she joined the staff at Prince of Peace Christian School. She currently teaches Pre-AP English III, AP English Literature and Composition, AP US Government and Politics and AP Microeconomics. She serves as the English Department Chair, AP Coordinator and oversees the TAPPS Academic team. More than anything she enjoys interacting with her students. She is known as a demanding teacher who thrives on watching her students achieve success and grow as thinkers.
Mr. Lang joined Prince of Peace in the fall of 2003 to provide computer science instruction to the sophomore and junior classes. Mr. Lang graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelors degree in Business Computer Information Systems. He worked as a software developer in logistics systems for General Dynamics for ten years. Mr. Lang worked for Metasolv Software in Plano for five years as a software developer and analyst. He also has completed his Masters Degree in Business Administration from University of Phoenix.
Mr. Lang has been involved in lay mission projects in Honduras, Mexico and India, preaching and playing music. Mr. Lang was involved in the ministry of the Greater Fort Worth Christmas Pageant for twenty years as an actor, vocalist and instrumentalist. He serves as lead trumpet player in the orchestra at First Baptist Church in McKinney and also teaches private trumpet at First Baptist’s School of the Arts.
Mr. Lang has been married to his wife Ruth for over fifteen years and has two children, Christina and Matthew; both attend Prince of Peace.
Mr. Lang is committed to the mission of Prince of Peace Christian School and is also committed to, and unashamed of, the Gospel of Jesus Christ believing that it truly is “… the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes”.
Mr. Lorenzen graduated in December 2008 from Concordia University, Wisconsin with his Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and Broad Field Social Studies, with a minor in Political Science.
He is now teaching high school U.S. History, World History, and Economics at Prince of Peace.
Mr. Lorenzen is originally from Pipestone, Minnesota. He grew up on a farm with an older sister and brother, and one younger sister. The farm has several hundred pigs, some cattle, horses, and Labrador dogs, along with several hundred acres of soybeans and field corn. Spending many long summer days on the farm with his dad and grandpa, Mr. Lorenzen learned the importance of working hard and doing things right the first time. From his mom, who is a Lutheran preschool teacher at his home church, he witnessed the joys of teaching children about God’s love.
Mr. Lorenzen’s favorite Bible verse is Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” He enjoys the historical aspect of the verse that looks back on the great faith of many important Biblical figures and also how it ties into his favorite activity- running!
While at Concordia, Mr. Lorenzen was a two time NCAA DIII All-American and a several time National qualifier in cross country and track and field. Micah is passionate about running and anything related to the great sport of track and field. He holds the Concordia school records in the cross country 8k, and the 1500m, 5000m, and 10000m on the track. In the future he hopes to begin training for the marathon.
Mr. Lorenzen has been married to his wife, Amanda, for three years. They recently moved from Wisconsin to join the Prince of Peace family and are currently residing in Plano.
Mr. Lusk graduated from Baylor University in Waco with a degree in Business Administration/Marketing. Realizing his true calling was to be a teacher, he pursued his teaching certification in math. He previously taught Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, P.E., and Multimedia classes at Bending Oaks High School. He has tutored at risk students who need help socially and scholastically, helping them to learn what it takes to succeed.
“As a teacher and Coach, I enjoy the challenge of helping students succeed. Seeing a student solve a complex math problem or an athlete master a skill on the court brings me tremendous joy, knowing I played a role in helping the student achieve success.”
At Prince of Peace, Mr. Lusk teaches math and coaches baseball and soccer. He is an active member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church where he sings in the Living Praise service; assists with J.A.M., the middle school youth group; and participates in the Men’s Basketball Ministry. He and his wife, Sarah, lead a Careciple group and have a son, Noah, who is in the POPCS Preschool, and a daughter, Sophia, in the Early Learning Center. Contact Information
phone: 972-447-0532 ext. 409
Ms. Lusk graduated from Texas Tech University in 1998 with a B.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies, specializing in English. She completed her Colloquy at Concordia in November of 2002 and her SLED certification, a training program for prospective administrators in the Lutheran School System in July of 2006. She is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Christian Education specializing in Student Ministry. Before coming to POPCS,Ms. Lusk taught Kindergarten for three years. Ms. Lusk taught first grade at POPCS for two years before joining the middle school staff. Ms. Lusk is currently serving in middle school as Director of Student Life Ministries.
Ms. Lusk believes that her main goal is to spread the gospel to all, churched and un-churched, so that all can come to know Christ as their personal Savior. Ministering not just to the students, but to the whole family, the school is a “grace place” where forgiveness is modeled for everyday situations.
Ms. Lusk feels that we are to bring Christ to all so that all may come to Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. The students will carry the Gospel to their un-churched friends, bringing Christ’s light into a seemingly dark world. Through the witnessing of the students, more families will see the joy and security of knowing Christ as their personal Savior.
The students should have no doubts that they are special children of God. Through the support, modeling and prayers of their teachers, the students should further develop their self-esteem, morals and values. They should leave middle school knowing that with God on their side, they can handle any situation. It is imperative that all students know, own, and understand the words of Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.”
Mrs. Nelson attended Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education, concentrating in Math and Science. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1991 from Concordia. She then began teaching in Wisconsin and later came to Prince of Peace for the 1993-1998 school years, teaching 5th grade. Mrs. Nelson completed her Master’s Degree in Computer Education and Cognitive Systems at the University of North Texas in 1997. She then worked as a computer software trainer from 1999-2004. She is a Microsoft Office User Specialist in Word, Excel and Power Point. Mrs. Nelson returned to POP in August 2005 as the Middle School computer teacher.
Mrs. Nelson comes from a long and distinguished line of teachers. Her father was a teacher and principal, her mother has 30+ years of teaching, and her older brother is also a principal. Angela is married to Ken Nelson and they have 3 children, Kenny, Conner, and Cooper; all are students at Prince of Peace. The Nelson family attends Bent Tree Bible Fellowship where Angela is active in the Children’s Ministry.
Mrs. Rogers was born in Boston, Massachusetts, but has lived in Dallas most of her life. She relishes the opportunity to share her passion for Technology with students and to teach them to use it as an asset as they seek God’s plan for their lives in the 21st Century.
Mrs. Rogers is passionate about Christian education because it equips students with the world’s knowledge built upon the foundation of God’s Word. She comes from a family of teachers. Her father was a minister and a Christian school Headmaster, her mother taught a women’s Bible Study class for over twenty years, and her grandmother taught in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Virginia.
Mrs. Rogers earned her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education from Baylor University and her Masters Degree in Instructional Systems Technology from the University of North Texas. She is active member of Texas Computer Education Association, regularly participating in Technology Professional Development seminars and training in the DFW area. Mrs. Rogers believes that the best teacher is the one who regularly becomes a student.
With over 28 years of teaching experience, Mrs. Rogers has taught middle school and high school courses at First Baptist Academy, Highland Park ISD and Trinity Christian Academy. In addition to her work in the classroom, Mrs. Rogers has been responsible for coordinating and conducting technology staff development in utilization of software, implementation of hardware and integration of technology in the classroom. She has also provided technology training for parents who want to stay current with the technology their children use.
Mrs. Rogers and her husband Howard have been married for 24 years. They have two children, Zachary, a junior at University of Texas at Dallas, and Kaitlyn a junior at Prince of Peace. Mrs. Rogers and her family attend Prestonwood Baptist Church.
Mrs. Schnell graduated with honors and distinction from The Pennsylvania State University in 1989. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and was named the Outstanding Graduate in Political Science.
Mrs. Schnell worked in hotel management for several years before establishing a career as an insurance defense paralegal. In 2002, she joined the support staff of Prince of Peace Christian School.
Whether she was coaching athletic teams, teaching Sunday School, conducting preschool choirs, or managing Destination ImagiNation teams, Mrs. Schnell always felt drawn to teaching. While at Prince of Peace, she soon found her interest had matured into a calling. In 2004, she entered Texas A&M University-Commerce to obtain her post-graduate teacher certification.
Mrs. Schnell’s philosophy of teaching can be summed up by a Chinese Proverb, “Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.”
Mrs. Schnell and her husband are the proud parents of a daughter, Cori. Cori has been a student at Prince of Peace since the age of three. The Schnells are active members of Christ United Methodist Church in Plano.
Mrs. Swanson was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she attended Lutheran schools. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business degree from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 1985. She then received her teaching credential and Lutheran teaching certificate from Concordia University, Irvine in 1989.
Mrs. Swanson taught elementary grades for seven years in Orange County, California and taught elementary and high school for four years in Salt Lake City, Utah. She will be teaching 9th grade Theology and Psychology/Sociology this year at Prince of Peace. Mrs. Swanson also coordinates the Teacher/Student Mentor program, a part of the Success Center, and is a sponsor for the Freshman class.
Mrs. Swanson’s husband Craig is the principal of the high school, and their daughter Tessa will be in the 5th grade. She enjoys reading and decorating her home in Frisco.
Mr. Thomas completed his undergraduate degree in Biblical Studies and Philosophy at Dallas Baptist University. He went on to receive his Masters degree in the Humanities in the spring of 2008 from the University of Dallas. He is also an alumnus of the Teacher’s Academy at the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture. Over the last five years he has been tutoring Latin and the classics of the Western Tradition to individuals and homeschoolers throughout the community. He spent one year at St. Alban’s Episcopal School in Arlington teaching Latin and Film. This year he will be teaching senior English and Latin I, II, and III.
Brian has lived in the DFW area for over twenty years and is married to Stephanie Thomas and has one son, Preston, a new POPCS student.
Mr. Thomas requests that individuals not groan when hearing of his career choice as a Latin professor even if it necessarily evokes memories of that person’s own boring Latin teacher.
Mr. Weiss graduated from Concordia University, Wisconsin with degrees in Secondary Education and Broad Field Science. He joined the Prince of Peace staff in 2007. As a child, Mr. Weiss grew up on a farm in Michigan where experimentation ruled! Whether it was dissecting a deceased cow, building catapults from junk lying around, fixing a tractor, or solving one of the many problems he encountered, Mr. Weiss was fully immersed in the science of farm life. His passion in the classroom is to find an application for everything. Why learn it if you can’t use it? He believes God has a plan and purpose for every student, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, he will do everything he can to guide them.
The following are Mr. Weiss' favorite Bible verses:
Phil 4:13: I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Quentin Blackerby
