Our Family
About Our School
Faith
Ephesians 2:8 states “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast”. This is a core tenant of our Lutheran confession. Our faith is expressed each and every day in our classrooms through specific bible study time, at age appropriate levels and is discussed within all of our subject areas. Every student is required to complete religious based memory work each week in the form of bible verses, hymns, or Luther’s Small Catechism.
We worship together during school chapel once a week, led by our pastoral staff. Families are welcome to join in the weekly time of worship with the school and are encouraged to discuss these lessons with their children. Our pastoral staff is always available for any questions you may have about the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod.
#BEKNOWN
At Our Shepherd Lutheran School, you are KNOWN by your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You are KNOWN and loved for who you are by the faculty and staff. You are also KNOWN as a friend to your classmates. Each child comes to us with a God given set of attributes and gifts.
We strive to acknowledge and encourage these gifts on each level of connection. Your child will grow in academic, emotional, and faithful maturity during their time at Our Shepherd.
Athletics
Our Shepherd offers multiple opportunities for students to be involved including cross country, volleyball, co-ed soccer, boys and girls basketball, and track.
Our programs start at 3rd grade and continue through 8th grade. Our Shepherd is part of the Central Indiana Lutheran Athletic Association.
Meet Our Staff
Rachel Miller
Interim Principal
Rachel has been in education 15 years and graduated from Concordia University, River Forest IL. She has a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Indianapolis.
Mrs. Miller has dedicated her entire career to the families of Our Shepherd over the last 19 years.
Rachel motivation for teaching is rooted in God’s greater plan. She says “Most people tell me that I am brave or crazy (or something between) to teach middle school, let alone middle school math, but for me it is a passion. Math was not something I enjoyed or even understood in middle school; I just didn’t understand the “why” behind the operations. But God knew what I didn’t, and here I am! Most middle school students have already decided how they feel about math, and for many, it is not a subject area that they enjoy. It is amazing to watch a student who didn’t feel like they were ever “good” at math learn that they really can be successful and feel proud of their accomplishments. The math classroom is an engaging place full of thinking, creativity, discourse, and problem solving.
Abby Fritcha
Early Childhood and Student Services Coordinator
Abby attended Indiana University in Indianapolis and in 2010 earned her BS in Elementary Education with a focus in Special Education.
Abby brings 10 years of teaching experience to her role at Our Shepherd.
Abby began her career in Pike Township at Central Elementary. She taught in many roles of special education from Lifeskills to Resource. Now here at Our Shepherd Lutheran as an Early Childhood teacher, Interventionist, and Early Childhood support/administration.
Abby believes that all children are created by the Lord. She loves working and serving all of the Lord’s creation and seeing children grow in their knowledge of what Jesus has done for them.
Tomi Mattick
Admissions
Tomi serves Our Shepherd by welcoming new families in for tours and helping them get set on a path for successful Lutheran education. She obtained her undergraduate degree in English from Indiana State University in 2001.
Tomi finds fuel for her endless enthusiasm from the connections that are formed by the Holy Spirit here at Our Shepherd. She considers it a gift to be trusted with guiding families to quality education covered in God’s love and grace.
Jackie Perkins
School Secretary/Nurse
Jackie has been with OSL for 3 years. She has a BSN from Marion and MSN from the University of Indianapolis.
Jackie is looking to graduate with her DNP in Family Nurse Practitioner in 2025.
Jackie’s passion is helping people overcome obstacles and conquer hurdles that truly feel unobtainable.
Lydia Everling
Administrative Assistant
Bio Coming Soon!
Danielle Ericsson
Early Childhood
Danielle has higher education degrees from M.Sc. Developmental Psychology, 2002 University College London; B.A. Psychology Hanover College 2001 that qualify her uniquely to teaching the families of Our Shepherd.
She has also shared her talents with Living Christ for Kids Lutheran Childcare Ministry. Danielle is particularly invested in emergent learning and the Project Approach. She enjoys watching her students develop literacy, science, and math skills naturally as we study our environment through the project approach.
Amy Helmkamp
Early Childhood
Amy has been in Early Childhood Education since 2015, and is a graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Fine Art degree.
Amy is motivated and excited for her students to become independent, life-long learners and that this is accomplished best by hands-on experiences through play. She believes that relationships are key in helping them grow emotionally, academically, and spiritually.
Katelyn Dahlke
Kindergarten
Katelyn Dahlke is a graduate of Concordia University Wisconsin, Early Childhood and Special Education, in 2016.
Her employment history includes Emmanuel Lutheran School, Catonsville, MD,
St. John Lutheran School, Plymouth, WI, and
Our Shepherd Lutheran School, Avon, IN.
She is filled with joy that she is able to teach students about Jesus every single day and help nurture their faith. Katleyn is driven by students enthusiasm to learn new concepts and skills. It is extremely fulfilling for Mrs. Dahlke to meet her students in their proximal zone of development and scaffold their thinking and learning further. Being a lifelong learner she loves being able to set the foundation for her students to also be lifelong learners.
Lynette Baldwin
Kindergarten
Lynette received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Butler University for Journalism and Public Relations in 2000. Lynette brings 14 years of experience teaching Family and Consumer Sciences and Spanish at the Goddard School, and teaching Culinary Arts at the Kingsway Christian School.
Lynette loves sharing the Gospel with her students and families and helping them understand God’s gift of redeeming love through Jesus Christ. Her passion in education is helping children learn to read with hopes to ignite a lifelong love for learning and education.
Stacie Whitesell
First Grade
Amy has been in Early Childhood Education since 2015, and is a graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Fine Art degree.
She enjoys watching the preschoolers open up to build friendships with their classmates and learn about Jesus. She has worked as a live-in nanny, has taught in day cares, and also works in an emergency room.
Lisa Dubke
First Grade
Lisa graduated from Concordia University Chicago in 1993 with a degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education and obtained her Masters of Education in Counseling and Guidance in 1998.
Her 18 years of experience include teaching 2nd grade at Shepherd of the Hills in San Antonio, TX, 1st grade and 2nd grade at Prince of Peace in Martinsville, IN and 1st grade at OSLS.
It is Lisa’s desire to help children strive for excellence in all academic areas and develop skills to become more independent workers by the end of first grade. She strives to have each child to think, “I can do great things because God made me.”
Jane Lucas
First Grade
Bio Coming Soon!
Laurie McNeil
Second Grade
Laurie Graduated from Taylor University in 1992 with a BS in Elementary Education. She served as a teacher in the public school system for 4 years and the private school sector for 3 years. She taught 1st, 4th and 5th grade at Wayne Township in Taylor, MI, 3rd grade at Mooresville Christian, Pre-K at Traders Point and 2nd and 6th grade at Kingsway Christian. She also dedicated 20 years to homeschooling.
Laurie wanted to be a teacher since she was 3 years old. She enjoys building relationships with her students and making the learning environment a place that all learners can have fun and grow academically and emotionally. She struggled in math and excelled in reading so she understands both sides of learning. The fact that she gets to openly teach God’s love is very meaningful to her.
Hannah Sugita
Third Grade
Hannah was born in California, but moved to Nebraska in second grade. She grew up in Grand Island with her two younger sisters, older brother, and parents.
Since then, a sister-in-law and a baby niece have been added to her family. When she is not teaching, she enjoys reading or doing calligraphy. She earned her education from Concordia University Nebraska in Seward. After graduation, she took her first call to Our Shepherd Lutheran School here in Avon teaching third grade.
Hannah relishes providing students with authentic moments to take ownership of their learning and apply it to their current life experiences
Kathi Latzke
Fourth Grade
Kathie became a Concordia University Chicago graduate in 1982. Kathie has served as a teacher for 40 years now.
Those 40 years include teaching 3rd and 4th grade at Apostles, Melrose Park, IL, Kindergarten, 3rd and 4th grade at Nazareth in Chicago, IL, Pre-School at St. Paul in Rochelle, IL, 2nd grade at St. Paul in Rockford, IL, 3rd grade at Zion in St. Charles, MO, 5th-8th grade at St. John’s in Chaska, MN, 3rd and 4th grade at Zion in Cologne, MN and 3rd-8th grade at Resurrection Lutheran Academy.
Kathie enjoys being able to share the love of God on a daily basis.
Kim May
Fifth Grade
Kim started her path toward Lutheran Education at Concordia University, Chicago. She has a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education with concentrations in Language Arts and Art.
She taught third grade for four years in Dundee, IL,. After having three children, she stayed home to be with her family. Kim taught middle school Social Studies for eight years before taking over her current position as fifth grade homeroom teacher and middle school Social Studies teacher. Her 25 years of teaching has been a blessing to all who have worked with her.
Providing students with authentic moments to take ownership of their learning and apply it to their current life experiences, is what brings Kim the most job saistfaction.
Alexa Riemenschneider
Sixth Grade
Bio coming soon!
Nicolette Mierow
Seventh Grade
Nikki has been in education for 11 years in both Lutheran and public schools. She graduated from Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin, with a Bachelors of Science, and completed her secondary science teaching certificate from Indiana Wesleyan.
Niki has served at Zion Lutheran Academy – Fort Wayne, 5-8th grade
Roswell High School – New Mexico , 9th & 10th grade
Our Shepherd Lutheran School – Avon (3rd) 4th & 5th – 8th grades. Currently, she serves as the 7th grade homeroom teacher, middle school science teacher, varsity volleyball, and track coach. Niki loves opening the eyes and minds of students to the wonders and awe of God’s creation through religion and science classes.
Heidi Conger
Eighth Grade
Heidi joined the Our Shepherd staff this year after lending her immense talents to Kingsway Christian School (6th – 8th English, Bible), Herron High School (9th, 10th, 11th English), Decatur Middle School (8th English), Monrovia High School (9th, 11th English) over the last 17 years.
Her undergraduate education took place at Bachelor’s of Science in Secondary English Education from Indiana University.
Heidi loves motivating students “I am passionate about helping students see that there ARE books that they enjoy reading and that they ARE capable of being good writers. I love connecting with students in class and being able to share stories with them. Ultimately, I love being able to pray with and over the students that I teach each day.”
Doug Lynch
Elementary Gym Teacher
Doug Lynch is a 2002 Indiana University graduate with a BS degree. He has 7 years of experience teaching at Our Shepherd Lutheran School in Early Childhood and Physical Education.
Doug loves helping young children learn and grow. He enjoys inspiring students to live active, healthy lives and instilling a love for physical activity.
Nancy Duigou
Art
Nanci has taught people of all ages. She has 20+ years of experience teaching adults, 1 ½ years teaching K-8 at Our Shepherd and 1 year of experience teaching preschool at Messiah Lutheran.
Nanci loves introducing the concepts of Art with ties to school lessons and how art can tie into life outside of a school setting.
Amanda Meyer
Literary Specialist and Instructional Coach
Amanda Meyer was a teacher at Ridgeview CUSD #19 in Colfax, IL for 15 years. She taught 1st grade for 10 years and taught as a literacy coach/specialist for 5 years. She gained her BA in Elementary Education with a Middle School Endorsement in 2005 and her Masters in Reading in 2013 at Illinois State University.
Her passion is to share the love of literacy with children so they can be lifelong readers and writers by motivating them to succeed in their goals. She also desires to work alongside and support teachers to reach their goals, while helping to deliver successful strategies and instructional practices within the classroom.
Meghan Forgey
Instructional Aide, K-2 Music, and American Sign Language
Meghan joined our educational staff after graduating with her degree Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education in 2022.
Ms. Forgey says “I love helping children to grow and find their passions in all aspects of life. I love having a part in students understanding and growth in learning and understanding. I feel it is most rewarding and exciting when students finally have their own ah- ha moments, and learn from their experiences. “