Meet our Sunday School teachers!

Front row, L-R: Laura McGuire, Bill Hunnex, Kristi Schneider, Amy Grunewald-Mattison (Sunday School coordinator)
Back row, L-R: Sandra Bertics, Katie Branscomb, Ryan Mattison
Not pictured: Shirley Crary, Dorothy Haaland, Angelika Neiztel, Bevi Haimerl

All of our teachers from last year are returning! They may be serving in different classrooms, and we are still looking for substitutes and assistants (once/twice per month). We welcome all of them (and possibly you)!

Sandy Bertics (Ms. Sandy) teaches the 3-4 year old class where she has served for several years. She will return from a trip to Norway just before the school year begins. Sandy does research at the university, primarily with dairy cows.

Kristi Schneider (Ms. Kristi), who has taught in the elementary classes for several years, will teach once a month in the 3-4 year old class and teach/assist elsewhere as needed. Her husband is Jon, and her son Devin will be in 6th grade this year. Kristi is a nurse practitioner at the UW in transplant research, and she likes to travel, swim and bike. Kristi is excited to teach the younger kids this year!

Dorothy Haaland (grandmother to Emma, age 4) will join the teachers of the 3-4 year old class, assisting twice a month. She taught preschool for many years in Billings, Mont.

Amy Grunewald-Mattison (Ms. Amy) enjoyed a summer playing with her three sons, while finding time to swim/bike/run, travel and adventure in the northwoods on a family canoe camping trip. She teaches the k-1 class using a storytelling curriculum modeled after the Godly Play Resources.

Angelika Neitzel (Ms. Ang) assisted last year in the k-1 class and will teach once a month and assist again this year. She works at the Monona Public Library teaching early literacy skills through storytimes and interactive library programs. Her focus includes ASL (American Sign Language) for babies and toddlers. She also works with dementia and Alzheimer’s clients at a local adult day center and has a background in the molecular sciences and healthcare.

Shirley Crary (Mrs. Crary) teaches the 2nd-3rd grade class. She has been teaching at LM throughout her life and enjoys working with elementary-age children. This fall she will spend several weeks teaching communion culminating in a Saturday morning class where Sunday School students of all ages will bake bread, tour the sacristy, and become more familiar with the Lord’s table.

Katie Branscomb (Ms. Katie) is from Atlanta, Ga., and has enjoyed making her home in Madison for the past 5 years. She loves reading, running, playing board games, and spending Sunday mornings with the LM Sunday School.

Bill Hunnex (Mr. Bill) retired five years ago from a career in human resources. When he was young he attended seminary but did not pursue a ministerial calling. He taught Sunday School when his children were young and started teaching last year at LM in the 4th-6th grade class.

Laura McGuire will teach and get to know the students in the 4th-6th grade class, in preparation for a new middle school class in 2017. Laura most recently served on the call committee and is the organizer of game night at LM. She is mother to Ben, age 2 1/2, and has a lot of experience with teenagers as a high school chemistry teacher in Sun Prairie.

Ryan Mattison (Mr. Ryan) enjoyed a summer traveling with his family, to Pennsylvania and to the northwoods where he swam from Bayfield to La Pointe. Ryan also enjoys reading, searching the night sky, and his short bike commute to work at UW Health. Ryan will organize curriculum for the 4th-6th grade class and occasionally teach.

Bevi Haimerl will teach handbells to the 4th-6th grade class once a month. We are excited to add this musical element for the older children. The class will also continue their study of lectionary texts, especially as they relate to our theme of “Welcome,” as well as an introduction to the ways in which the laity serve the church. Guest speakers from a variety of ministries at LM will visit the class. Bevi is a retired elementary music teacher, including handbell choirs. She and her husband have been in the LM bell choir for almost 40 years.