Employees

Whether you are a current family, a prospective parent, or an alumnus, I invite you to explore our community of learners. 

As a kindergarten through eighth grade independent school, we feel we are an important choice in education. Independent school graduates enroll in more advanced courses in high school and complete undergraduate and graduate degrees in higher percentages than public and parochial school students; independent schools are accountable to the families they serve; and independent schools provide families with the opportunity to choose a school whose mission and values they share.

Armitage students engage in a challenging and relevant curriculum. Students are participants rather than observers in learning. They have a voice in their education. Their development into scholarly and caring human beings is honored. 

Our teachers are exceptional and while most have advanced degrees, it is their energy, commitment and creativity that make the school a place where children and young adolescence want to be.

The families, too, are in covenant with Armitage to bring forth the best of each child’s gifts. Children deserve to be surrounded by people who take joy in them as complex human beings. We believe this and so we seek to understand who they are and how they best learn. We guide them through their one and only childhood and nurture their characters and their minds. In this school, there is love.

Enjoy your virtual tour, but then please visit our school, a place where you will discover endless possibilities. You will discover children who positively influence our world.

I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Soon after the birth of my son, I decided to leave the insurance/financial industry after 12 years. Becoming a stay at home mom led me to pursue my dream to go into the education field and obtain my Montessori Degree through the United Montessori Association. One of the finest experiences I had during this time was having one of my developed lesson plans published by UMA. This plan is currently in the teacher’s manual that is distributed to graduates.

Upon obtaining my degree and the completion of my internship at various schools, I started my education experience as a teaching assistant in a primary Montessori school in Kenosha. Within 3 years I became the lead teacher and mentor to various faculty members. I developed a 5 year old kindergarten program that is currently being used by the school. After an additional 4 years of teaching, I was given the responsibility of handling the administration and marketing of the school. This led me to the golden opportunity that was available at Armitage Academy, and I was thrilled to be offered the position of Admissions/Marketing Director.

I have been working for the finest school in Kenosha for 5 years. My son is now a graduate of Armitage. In my spare time I enjoy the company of my family and reading. My philosophy in education is that every child should be educated to become an independent, confident thinker. Every child given the proper environment has the ability to achieve their highest goal. To educate means to learn. The more you learn – the more you can learn.

I began working at Armitage Academy in 1989.  I have a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Business Management concentrating in the area of Administrative Management & Operations.  Before coming to Armitage Academy, I worked in the Banking Industry for ten years in customer accounting.  I have a daughter who graduated from Armitage Academy in 2001 and I have been married for 23 years.  
I enjoy traveling, camping, animals, and spending time with family and friends.    
My number one rule in life is:  “Don’t stress out over anything you can’t control!”  I also believe in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which are taught at Armitage.

Mr. Lanning Carr began teaching math at Armitage in 2007 after his thirty-two year career with Whirlpool Corporation. He brings an extensive business background as the former Director of Operations for Whirlpool’s international division. Mr. Carr engineered the systems and process infra-structure of Whirlpool’s global expansion into Europe, Asia and Latin America through business unit start-ups and joint ventures. His long-held passion for teaching and youth development is exhibited through his philosophy of building the student’s whole character; his teaching emphasizes citizenship…creating an enriched learning environment; leadership…making others around you better; and scholarship…developing the art of learning.

I come from a long line of teachers, all the way back to my great grandmother “Grace”. Teaching is my passion. I am grateful to have the Armitage community in which to carry on the legacy. Before finding Armitage, I stayed home with my two boys for five years. I taught middle school for 10 years, prior to that in the Chicago area. I taught 7th and 8th grade classes at The Latin School of Chicago and Ancona School. I received my Bachlor’s Degree from Lawrence University and a Master’s in Health Education and Promotion from The University of Illinois at Chicago. I look forward to coming to work each day to learn with my students and colleagues. Who could ask for more?

Growing up on a small farm in Michigan with a graduating class of 59 students gave me a sense of community and strong work ethic. I worked my way through college while achieving a BS in Microbiology and Chemistry. During this time, I was a captain and 4 year member of the Central Michigan University Judo Team. After college, I entered the corporate world as a polymer chemist in DuPont’s Automotive Coatings group, and over a 20 year span worked with many different chemical companies on innovative ‘green and lean’ development projects. During this period I collaborated with businessmen, scientists, salesmen and customers throughout the emerging global market place on numerous patents, publications and new product introductions.

In 2006, I made the decision to change career paths and enrolled in Carthage College’s Accelerated Certification for Teachers program. Since then, I have instructed math and chemistry at St. Catherine’s High School, and freshman science and chemistry at J. I. Case High School. Upon completion of my master’s degree in June 2008, I joined the adjunct faculty at Carthage College where I instruct graduate level courses in education as needed.

Teaching in the Sciences at the Armitage Academy is affording me the opportunity to share my ‘real life’ experiences and help students to achieve at the highest level while developing essential life skills. I am very impressed by the staff, administration, students and their families and look forward to becoming an integral part of the Armitage community in the years ahead.

My name is Jennifer Golwitzer and I have been the fourth grade teacher at Armitage Academy since August of 2000. It has been my honor to be a member of a most incredible faculty ever since and it truly is a humbling experience to work with a particularly dedicated and experienced group of people who have such high expectations for educational excellence. My educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education (1999) and a Master of Education (2002), both from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. Before coming to work for Armitage, I was a teacher’s aide and a long-term substitute teacher for schools in Illinois. In addition, I have had the privilege of working for the Center for Gifted summer programs for several years. Through connections at the Center for Gifted, I have a sampling of work published in a book entitled Igniting Creativity in Gifted Learners, K-6: Strategies for Every Teacher, which was released in October of 2008. In addition, an article I wrote was published in the Illinois Association for Gifted Children’s yearly journal in 2009 and focused on strategies for reaching learners of varied abilities. Lastly, I have had the privilege of teaching graduate courses for Cardinal Stritch University for the last year. Education is of the utmost importance. As a teacher, I am responsible for providing and encouraging learning opportunities for all students. In turn, my students are expected to take advantage of the challenges presented to them and make the most of every learning experience.

I’m Nancy Kollman, the third grade teacher. The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis is where I earned my BS in Elementary Education, and a minor in Swedish. In 1987, I was hired by Pat Johnson to start the kindergarten program here at Armitage. I had “hit the jackpot”! Not only was I given the opportunity of a life time (teaching at the best school in Kenosha), but I also met my husband to be who was the art teacher here at the time! After 3 years in the kindergarten room, I moved into the parenthood phase of my life and stayed home with my 2 children for a number of years. When the thought of reentering the work field again came along, I knew in my heart that Armitage was the only place I’d ever want to be. I came back in 1999, and have been here since. My philosophy about education is this: choice. Everything we do, be it in the academic arena or in our personal lives is always about the choices we make. I do my best to instill that idea into my students. They’re encouraged to take an active part in their education, and become responsible for it. Armitage Academy has been a part of my life for a long time, and I am grateful for it at so many different levels. It is my pleasure to be here and be a part of your child’s life. Some of the things I enjoy doing are primitive camping (yes, in a tent), biking, and canoeing. I also enjoy traveling, taking a lot of pictures, reading, and catching up with friends.

Rachel Lochtefeld holds an MA in Dance and Dance Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a BA magna cum laude in South Asian Studies from the University of Washington. She is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Mrs. Lochtefeld was born in India to parents who are first generation immigrants from Europe. Perhaps this unusual beginning explains her eclectic interests! Her hobbies range from the domestic (needle work, cooking, and gardening) to the intellectual (intercultural artistic, linguistic, and societal dialogues). Above all, though, Mrs. Lochtefeld is passionate about her family - her husband Jim and their three children, Fiona, Vera, and Gavin. When asked to give a quote on teaching, Mrs. Lochtefeld replied, “Take joy in being all that you can be and doing all that you can do.”

I have been a teacher at Armitage since 1993 and have taught kindergarten through second grade. I have a BA in communication from UW Parkside and an elementary teacher certification through the state of Wisconsin. I have a masters degree in professional development from Cardinal Stritch University. I am married to my husband, Dean and we have two children. Both of my children attended Armitage and are currently in high school. In my free time, I enjoy vegetable gardening, old movies, fellowship with friends, cooking and baking. One thing I have discovered is that life is better with a bit of chocolate.

Tamera Steele had no idea that an after-school part-time job would someday guide her to Armitage Academy. As a teenager, she had the opportunity to work for the Alcohol and Other Drug Council of Kenosha as a childcare specialist for at-risk youth. This amazing experience sparked her desire to continue working with children, which led to a variety of youth-oriented jobs, such as resident and day camp director, after-school program coordinator, nature/science program leader, low-ropes course/teambuilding facilitator, and most recently, a teacher. Ms. Steele has studied at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, University of Wisconsin – Parkside, and Western Governors University.  When she is not working or volunteering at Armitage Academy, Ms. Steele can be found reading books that her students have recommended, working on her newest crafting obsession, hiking, camping, and finding other ways to interact with the natural world around her.