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Lutheran High Westland, MI Staff 
Administrators
Mr. Steven Schwecke    (e-mail)  
   Principal, M.A.
   Teaches Religion 11/12

   

 

Mr. Daniel Ramthun (e-mail)  
   Assistant Principal , M.A.

   Teaches Religion 11/12
   Chapel coordinator

  

    

Mr. Timothy Gieschen (e-mail
 Guidance Counselor, M.Ed
  Teaches Physics, Adv Alg, and Web Design
   Coaches JV Girls' Basketball
   National Honor Society advisor
   Technology coordinator 
  Mr. Michael Unger   (e-mail)
  
Athletic Director,  M.Ed.
   Teaches Adv Alg, Trig/ Calc, and
                    A P Calculus
   Coaches men's track
  
Office Staff
Mrs. Michelle Walker (e-mail)
    Administrative Secretary
  Mrs. Lisa Haller  (e-mail)
    Athletic and Attendance Secretary
Mrs. Shelly Bahr  (e-mail)
   Part-time secretary
  Mr. Randy Baldwin (e-mail) 
   Custodian
 
Faculty
  Mr. Mike Garbarz  
Part-time, teaches Marketing and Business Managment  
  Mr. Gerlach (e-mail
    Art and Keyborading
    M.A. Eastern Michigan University 
    Student Council Advisor 
Mr. Paul Gusé (e-mail)  
      Health,  Phys Ed,  American Government
      Coaches varsity football and softball 
      BA from Concordia–Ann Arbor 
 
  Mr. Andrew Hathikhanavala  (e-mail)
     English 12,  Choirs,  Band, and Yearbook.
      BA from Concordia–Ann Arbor
Ms. Kelly Nieman   (e-mail)
   Spanish teacher 
      Drama director
      BA from Concordia–Ann Arbor 
 

 

  Mr. Ruth (e-mail)
teaches Religion 9 and 10 and Industrial Arts.
Coached Volleyball and Track
Mrs. Donna Strang (e-mail)  
    English 9, Eng 1, Psychology
     S.A.D.D. advisor
     B.S. from Concordia, River Forest
     M.Ed. from Wayne State University. 
 
  Mr. Kevin Wade (e-mail)  
      BA from Concordia–Ann Arbor
      Biology, Adv Biology, and Env Science.  
     Coaches football and baseball  
Mr. Kent Weier (e-mail) teaches Advanced Placement U.S. History, U.S. History, World History, and English.  
He is  the school photographer.  
He received his M.A. from the University of Nevada and his M.Ed. from the University of Michigan.
  
   
Kitchen
Mrs. Sharon Kelley (e-mail)  
   Head cook
Mrs. Peg Refenes Cook

   Previous Teachers

Rev. Joel R. Baseley taught German at Lutheran Westland in the 2001-2002 school year.  In 1972-1973 he attended the University of Wisconsin (Madison) in the Honors Program / Pre Med.  From 1973 through 1977 he attended Concordia Teacher's College in River Forest, Illinois, and attained the B.S. in Ed. degree.  In 1979 he attained the M.S. in Chemistry from the University of North Dakota.  Between 1980 and 1984 he held various positions: Instructor at Concordia University in River Forest,  Associate Scientist / Organic Section Supervisor at Hazelton Environmental Services in Northbrook, Illinois, and Supervisor of Mass Spectral Analysis for Hazleton Laboratories America in Madison, Wisconsin.  In 1988 he receive the M.Div. degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.  He was the pastor at All Saints Evangelical Lutheran Church in LaGrangeville, New York (1989-1994), before becoming the Associate Pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Dearborn.  He translates German as an avocation, enjoys music, and has written articles for theological journals and presented papers at pastoral conferences.  He is married and has three children.
BROOKE OROZCO AND BRENDAN KNORP: A Light in the Darkness

Brendan Knorp taught Choir, Band and Religion at LHW.  He is currently director of music at Trinity Clinton Township.  He has been back to play guitar as part of the orchestra for our musicals.

He and BrookeOrozco released a Christmas CD in 2006

Ms. Norlean Berndt taught Biology and Advanced Biology.  She was a counselor, Student Council advisor; and member of the National Honor Society committee as well as the North Central Accreditation, Building, and Science committees.  She earned a B.S. in Science and an M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling, and she has extensively studied biology, biochemistry, and science methods.  Her home state is Minnesota.  She taught forty years in Minnesota, Michigan, Hong Kong, Concordia—Ann Arbor, and Westland.
Ms. Born (e-mail) was the World Geography teacher.  She was also in charge of Structured Learning Classes here at Westland and supervised the Structured Learning Classes at the other Lutheran high schools. Currently teaches at Lutheran North in Detroit
Mrs. Renee Brenner  taught Spanish 1, 2, and 3, as well as directed drama.  She had a B.A. and was working on her Masters Degree at Wayne State University.  She taught 8 years at LHWL.  She also taught Spanish at Lutheran High School South via distance learning. Currently teaches at Saginaw Valley Lutheran High.
Mr. David Brown (e-mail) taught Pre-Algebra and 9th grade Girls Physical Education at Lutheran Westland.  He curretnly teaches Math at Lutheran High School South.  He coached women's cross country and women's track.  He attended high school at Lutheran North.  He received his B.S. from Concordia, Seward, Nebraska, and his M.A. from Eastern Michigan University.  He taught 14 years at Detroit Lutheran West and 10 years at Lutheran Westland.
Ms. Amy Eickmann taught Business Education and Yearbook.  Her home town is St. Louis, Missouri.  She received her B.A. from Concordia—Wisconsin in 1988, and her M.B.E. from Eastern Michigan in 1996.  She taught from 1988-1991 at Suffolk Lutheran School in St. James, New York.  She taught at Westland from 1991 through the spring of 2002.
Mr. Ronald Gentz taught  Algebra, Chemistry, and Geometry.  He coached  varsity women's basketball and varsity women's softball.    B.S. from Michigan State University 

Mrs. Jane Lienau taught German 1, 2, and 3, English 12, and Advance Placement English and also was the senior class advisor.  She was raised in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin; she received her B.A. from Valparaiso and her M.A. from Eastern Michigan University.  Her teaching experience included teaching at Lutheran East, West, Northwest, and Westland.  Her husband and both children have graduated from Lutheran West.

 

Mr. Frank Ollinger taught Physics and Introduction to Physical Science.  He received his B.S. in physics and his M.S. in mechanical engineering at the University of Missouri—Rolla.  Prior to teaching at LHWL,  Mr. Ollinger was an engineer at Ford Motor Company and McDonnell-Douglas Corporation (Boeing).  His wife is a former teacher at LHWL and his four children are alumni.

Mr. Dennis Prechel was Lutheran Westland's Librarian.  He also was the coordinator for Advanced Placement testing and the supervisor of the school's web site.  He received an M.M. (University of Houston), M.A. (University of Houston), M.Ed. (University of Houston), and M.S.L.S. (Wayne State University).  He came to the Detroit area in 1985 after working in Houston, Texas, for fourteen years.  He has worked at Lutheran North, Northwest, and East as well as Lutheran High School Westland. He currently works at Lutheran High Northwest.

Ms. Julie Twietmeyer taught Health, PE 9, and Women's PE 10-12.  In addition, she coached freshman volleyball and JV basketball.  She graduated from Hope College in 1999.

Mrs. Ruthann Wagner taught English 10 and all music classes (Mixed Chorus, Concert Choir, and Band) in the 2001-2002 school year .  She received her B.M.Ed. and M.A. from Eastern Michigan University and has completed twenty hours toward a D.M.A. in choral conducting at Michigan State University.  She has maintained a private music studio since 1978, taught at Belleville High School, held the position of Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church and Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Ypsilanti, and was a member of the faculty at Eastern Michigan University from 1992-2001.  Mrs. Wagner has performed extensively throughout the tri-state area as soloist and conductor as well as in staged operatic performances.  She is married to husband John and has two children, Phil (LHWL '97) and Elisabeth.

Previous Staff

Mrs. Cheri Fish was the Athletic and Attendance Secretary.  She and her husband Dale have two children, Sarah and Kathy, who both attended LHWL.
Mrs. Janet Kasten was the Guidance Secretary.  Her hometown is Chicago, Illinois.  She lived thirty-one years in Wisconsin and has taught first grade and kindergarten.  She attended Concordia College—Ann Arbor and graduated from Concordia University—River Forest.  She loves crafts and reading.  Her husband, Bob, was CCAA's Athletic Director.  They have two daughters, Christa and Julie, and a son, Luke.
Mrs. Radtke was one of the school's lunch ladies.  She received her B.S. in  Nutrition from Kent State University.  She has worked over 25 years in Food Service.  She came to LHWL in 1991.  She received ServSafe Certification in 2003.

Mrs. Rousseau worked numerous years since 1973 in the restaurant business; it has continued with her family.  She started work here at Westland in 1999 as one of the lunch ladies.