Mrs. Jocelyn Benson- Head Teacher, Paideia, Psychology

Jocelyn grew up in Fort Dodge, Iowa, attending Lutheran school through 8th grade. She has a B.A. in English-teaching and an M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa. She also completed 3.5 years of doctoral work in Educational Psychology with emphases in Technology and Education and History/Foundations of Education at the University of Iowa. She loved teaching English and coaching many sports at the high school level before returning to school full time. Jocelyn lives on a farm outside of Chatfield, MN, with her husband, Justin, and their 3 boys- Asher, Malachi, and Ephraim.

In her free time, Mrs. Benson enjoys spending time with her family, reading, watching sports (especially college football), and spending time outside.

Contact Mrs. Benson

Pastor David M. Juhl- Chaplain

Pastor Juhl grew up in Du Quoin, Illinois. He has a B.A. in Radio and Televison from Southern Illinois University. Before attending seminary, Pastor Juhl was a radio disc jockey, working for WDQN Radio in Du Quoin, IL and volunteering at WSIU/WUSI/WVSI Radio in Carbondale, IL while a student at SIU. Pastr Juhl has a MDiv from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.

Pastor Juhl shepherds Our Savior Evangelical-Lutheran Church, Momence, Illinois.

Pastor Juhl lives in Momence with his wife, Rebecca, daughter, Catherine, and two sons, Matthew and Christopher. His hobbies are reading, the Internet, listening to music, as well as golf and bowling (when time and money are available).

Mr. Justin Benson- Physics, Chemistry, Personal Finance

Mr. Benson grew up on a farm near Hurley, SD.  He has a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering with a Chemistry minor from South Dakota State University.  He and his wife, Jocelyn are raising their family, Asher, Malachi, and Ephraim, on a farm near Chatfield, MN.  They are members of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chatfield, where he serves on the Board of Elders.  Mr. Benson is employed on the management team with Hormel Foods.

In his free time, Mr. Benson enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, church activities, and watching sports.

Pastor Jesse E. Krusemark- Music

Pastor Krusemark grew up in Pittsfield, Illinois. He has a B.A in Music and Physics from Luther College, he studied Music Theory at the graduate level at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he was also a visiting lecturer in Music Theory, and he received a MDiv from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, with part of his instruction taken at Westfield House, Cambridge, England.

Pastor Krusemark shepherds Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stockton, Minnesota. He lives in Stockton with his wife, Elizabeth, son, Jude, and son, Ian.

In his free time, Pastor Krusemark enjoys his family, fishes, gardens, cooks, hunts, and watches Big Ten basketball and football. As a teacher for Wittenberg Academy, Pastor Krusemark is excited for the opportunity to teach young Lutherans something about their music.

Pastor Heath R. Curtis- Latin and Greek

Pastor Curtis grew up in southwestern Nebraska and received his BA in theology from Concordia - Seward. While attending Concordia Seminary - St. Louis, he also attained his MA in Classics at Washington University. During his last year of seminary, he also taught beginning Greek and after ordination he served as an adjunct professor of theology at Concordia University - Chicago.

Pastor Curtis keeps his Latin and Greek sharp by translating and editing for Concordia Publishing House's efforts to get more of the works of Martin Luther and Johan Gerhard into English.

Pastor Jason M. Braaten- Logic

Pastor Braaten grew up in New Lenox, Illinois, a small community southwest of Chicago on I-80.  He has a BA in Theological Languages and Philosophy from Concordia University Chicago, an MDiv from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, with part of his instruction taken at Westfield House, Cambridge, England, and is working toward a STM in Historical Theology from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.

Pastor Braaten shepherds Immanuel Lutheran Church, Tuscola, Illinois.  He lives in Tuscola with his wife, Lauren, and three children, Oliver, Jonathan, and Wilhelmina (Willa). 

In his free time, he enjoys gardening and reading.  When asked why he is excited to teach for WA, he said, “It’s exciting to be part of an opportunity to give Lutherans both Classical and Lutheran education at the high school level via the Internet.”

Miss Christina Harman- Paideia

Miss Harman grew up in the great state of Iowa. She received a B.A. in Music with minors in Religious Studies and Sociology from Bethany Lutheran College. She lives in Mankato, Minnesota and attends The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in North Mankato, Minnesota.

In her free time, Miss Harman enjoys laughing with her family and friends, enjoying God's creation, reading non-fiction, and composing random songs. As for teaching for Wittenberg Academy, Miss Harman says, "I've enjoyed teaching online and in a Lutheran school, but I am now excited and humbled to get to teach for an online Classical Lutheran school - what a great combination!

Vicar David Buchs- Mathematics

Mr. Buchs grew up mostly in southern Minnesota, though he did spend time in St. Louis and northern Minnesota. He currently lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana with his wife, Jessica, and their two sons, Nathaniel and Theodore. They are awaiting news of his vicarage placement!

They are members at Zion Lutheran Church in Lewisville, MN, but Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne has been his field work church while at the Seminary.
Mr. Buchs graduated from Bethany Lutheran College with a B.A. in Music, Mathematics, and Liberal Arts.

In his free time he likes to play with his sons, go hiking, running, or biking, and visit with family and friends.
When asked why he is excited to teach for Wittenberg Academy, Mr. Buchs said, "I am looking forward to sharing my enthusiasm for mathematics! I am also excited about being a part of the life-long formation that takes place in a classical Lutheran education -- it will be great to see students learning and growing not only as sound thinkers but also as faithful Lutherans!

Mrs. Emily Olson- Grammar, Rhetoric, Speech/Debate

Mrs. Olson grew up in Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio- a child of the Midwest. She now lives in Pipestone, Minnesota with her husband, Pastor Jon C. Olson, sons, Paul and Samuel, and daughter, Clara. Pastor Olson shepherds Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Pipestone. Mrs. Olson graduated from Valparaiso University with a B.A. in English and Music with a minor in Humanities through Christ College (Interdisciplinary Honors College). In addition, she studied abroad in Cambridge, England, where she met her husband, who was also studying abroad. Mrs. Olson earned a Master's Degree in English with emphases in literature and rhetoric from South Dakota State University.

In her free time, Mrs. Olson likes to read, bake (she can be bribed with brownies!), take walks, and talk on the phone. She is excited to teach for WA because "WA offers what I hope to give my own children: an education in how to pursue life-long learning under a Classical model with a specifically confessionally Lutheran emphasis.

Mr. Jeremy Staub- Biology

Mr. Staub grew up in Woodburn, Indiana.  After graduating from Concordia University in Seward Nebraska, he received his first call to Emmanuel Lutheran School in the fall of 2009, where he teaches middle school science and music. He attends Emmanuel Lutheran Church on Maui. In December of 2010, he was married to his wife Becky.

In his spare time he enjoys being active outdoors, whether it is landscaping, hiking, surfing, snorkeling or anything else. He also enjoys following Cubs baseball, playing games, reading books and watching movies. He is thankful for the opportunity to share his faith in Jesus with his students in science, music, and everything else in between. He is very excited to take part in this teaching experience. He looks forward to interacting with students across the country in a unique and interactive way. He also looks forward to growing from this experience as the students also grow in their knowledge of science and their Creator.

Mr. Adam Barkley- Theatre

As a pastor's son, Mr. Barkley grew up all over- he was born in Arizona, later moved to Oregon, and spent his middle and high school years in a north Chicago. He now lives in Clinton, Iowa with his wife, Sarah, and son, Seth. They attend St. John
Lutheran in Clinton. Mr. Barkley received his Theatre degree from Concordia, Ann Arbor, he studied characterization and speech at Eastern Michigan University, and studied Shakespeare, art, and British political science at The London Center in England.

In his free time, Mr. Barkley loves to sing. He recently joined Riverchor, a community choir in Clinton. He also enjoys watching movies and playing with his son. Mr. Barkley, when asked why he is excited to teach Theatre for Wittenberg Academy said, "Many times, educational institutions are bound by two-dimensional instruction that leaves no room for students to critically think and process the material they are learning. I'm excited to instruct with a Christ-centered approach that will allow students to retain and hopefully apply their knowledge of the arts beyond their years at WA."

Mrs. Sharon Meyer- Physical Education

Mrs. Meyer grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has a B.A. in Elementary Education and minors in Athletic Coaching and Social Studies from Concordia University Wisconsin. She lives in rural Spring Valley, Minnesota with her husband, Duane, stepson, Jeffrey, stepdaughter, Alyssa, and daughters Kylie and Jessie. They attend St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chatfield, Minnesota.

In her free time, Mrs. Meyer likes to run (especially in local road races), read, spend time with her family (especially playing games, hiking, fishing, ice skating, sledding, and playing hockey, football, and softball), garden, can, and bake.

Mrs. Meyer is excited to teach P.E. for Wittenberg Academy for several reasons: "First, the school excites me for my daughters' sakes. I know they are only 3 and 5, but they will need this school. Second, believing so strongly in what this school will accomplish, I would like to be of service to it and its students. This school and what it sets forth to do is desperately needed today. Finally, in the last couple of years, I have worked hard to accomplish and have accomplished many physical goals in my life. I wish to share what I have learned with WA students. My hope is that WA students learn to stay in good physical shape or get into good physical shape at a young age. It enriches one's life so much when they are physically healthy."

Mr. Ken Spirduso- Art

Mr. Spirduso grew up in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He has a BFA from the University of Kansas and studied at Atelier Lack School of Fine Art. Mr. Spirduso has worked in animation for over twenty years, including twelve with Walt Disney Feature Animation. He also paints book covers, illustration,s and gallery art. Mr. Spirduso and his wife, Caroline, have two children, Ian and Katherine. They also have a black lab, a dachshund, and a large thoroughbred horse. They belong to Crown of Glory Lutheran Church in Orlando, FL.

In his free time, Mr. Spirduso likes to play with his children, work out at the YMCA, ride horses, travel, read, and paint.

Mr. Spirduso says, "I am excited and honored to be working with Wittenberg Academy, where students will receive a classical Lutheran education that will help them to glorify God and serve others."

Pastor David Kind- Liturgical Theology and Sacramental Piety

Pastor David Kind shepherds University Lutheran Chapel, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Pastor Jeffrey Kuddes- Paideia Theology

Rev. Jeffrey M. Kuddes is servant to Christ and His church, and to his wife and family. Pastor Kuddes was brought up in Independence, MO. He received his BA in history and pre-sem degree at Concordia Teachers College in Seward, NE. He is currently in his 20th ordained year of the Holy Ministry. He received his M.Div. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He serves Trinity Ev. Lutheran in Waltham, MN and St. Paul's Lutheran in Hollandale, MN. He was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the Minnesota South District of the LCMS. He is a founding member and overseer of the Malagasy Lutheran Mission Society and a frequent traveler to Madagascar. He is enlisted with LCMS World Relief-Human Care as a short-term medical mission team leader, again, focusing on work in Madagascar.

Pastor is also husband to his dear bride of 30 years, Michele. Michele is a director at the Austin, MN YMCA, and a wonderful wife and mother. Together they are blessed with three children. Caleb is married to Chelsea and they reside in Fremont, NE. Don't speed through Dodge County for he is a deputy sheriff there. Chelsea teaches music in the public school. Jacob, their second child, is in his last year at Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN, a gifted artist and writer majoring in Graphic Design. Naomi, the baby, is entering her sophomore year at Concordia, Seward and she will God-willing be teaching English in Lutheran schools some day.

Pastor enjoys riding his bicycle often and far. He golfs when he can afford it. He reads theology persistently. He also is a fair-weather fan of the Mizzou Tigers.

Mrs. Michelle Venteicher- German