Carroll Lutheran School is guided by a Board of Trustees that provides for the efficient management and operation of the school so that it may fulfill its mission to the community. The Board generally includes 12 members from throughout the central Maryland community, each of whom serves a 3-year term. The Board meets monthly and holds committee or additional meetings as needed to provide for the needs of the school and support its administration. Contact the CLS Board.

B.S. History – UMBC
M.S. Secondary Education – Western Maryland College

Mr. Findeisen has taught social studies at Francis Scott Key (1994-2009) and Manchester Valley high schools (2009-present) for the past 26 years. He has coached high school Track and Field for those same 26 years. More recently, Mr. Findeisen has been an adjunct professor in the Education Department at McDaniel College for the last 11 years. Mr. Findeisen lives in Westminster with his wife Robin and daughters Emma & Lara and they attend St John’s Lutheran where he teaches Sunday school. He is a fan of Ravens football, Manchester City football, Terps basketball, and whoever is beating the Yankees.

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Westminster MD

B.F.A. in Fine Art – the University of Wisconsin, Madison
M.F.A. in Visual Communication – Northern Illinois University
Maryland Teaching Certification

Ms. Pollasch joins our Board of Trustees with experience in education and business. She has spent the last 15 years teaching middle school and high school art. Most of this time has been at Gerstell Academy in Finksburg, Maryland. She also serves the school as the Chair of the Visual Arts Department and chairs a number of committees and honor societies. Prior to being a teacher, Ms. Pollasch owned and operated a small business for 23 years. She enjoys a close relationship with her daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. Ms. Pollasch has been an active member of Grace Lutheran Church, in Westminster, for 9 years and currently chairs the Christian Education Committee. In her free time, she enjoys creating art, reading, history, movies, and time with family and friends.

Grace Lutheran Church, Westminster MD

B.A. in Linguistics – Syracuse University 1972
M. Div. – Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg PA 1980

Rev. Marshall, associate chaplain at Carroll Lutheran Village, joins our Board of Trustees as one who was part of the formation of CLS back in the 1990’s while pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Harney MD and Mt. Joy Lutheran Church, Gettysburg PA. He brings 40+ years of experience in parish ministry, 16 of which were spent here in the Westminster Conference. He retired from parish ministry in September 2021, immediately accepted his current position at the Village, and volunteered to serve on the board at CLS. He enjoys leading the Wednesday Chapel service at CLS from time to time. He is a recent widower with two adult daughters (York PA & New York City). This spring he will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his college graduation. He recently joined St. Benjamin’s Lutheran Church in Westminster, and enjoys being a regular church member after all those years as a pastor.

Assoc. Chaplain, Carroll Lutheran Village
St. Benjamin’s Lutheran Church, Westminster, MD

Associate in Arts Degree, Villa Julie College
Bookkeeping Specialist Certificate, U.S. Career Institute

Mrs. McFadden is a lifelong native of Carroll County. She has many years of
business office experience in Sales & Marketing, Customer Service and Product Development at McCormick & Company, Inc. She has worked in mental health,
education, as a Post Closer in title work and she also has over 15 years of ministry experience in various church office settings; she knows how to make an office run smoothly and efficiently! She works full-time at BridgingLife (formerly Carroll Hospice) and part-time as a Bookkeeper for Wesley UMC. She has been a business owner since 2019 helping others with their health and wellness. She recently wrote a full-length book. It is her desire to help others and for God to be glorified in all things and this book puts her one step closer to her life-long dream of being a published author.

She lives in Westminster with her husband Sam and has two adult daughters
(from a previous marriage), one son-in-law and two beautiful granddaughters.
She and her husband attend church at Uniontown Bible Church in Union Bridge. In her spare time, she enjoys reading the Bible and other self-help books along with bowling in leagues and traveling to tournaments with her husband Sam.

Uniontown Bible Church, Union Bridge, MD

B.A. in Religion, Minor in Parish Education – Thiel College
M.A.M.S. – Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg

Rev. Helfer joins our Board of Trustees with her experience as a Pastor, Youth and Family Minister, and Preschool Teacher and Director. For 10 years, she served as the Director of Music and Youth and Family Ministries at Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Westminster. She then served as the Youth and Family Minister at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westminster, where she now serves as Pastor. Rev. Helfer has served as a Teacher and Director of Trinity Christian Learning Program as well as a Teacher at Little Friends of Grace. She also serves as a member of the Communications Team for the Delaware-Maryland Synod. She is married to Don and they have 2 children, ages 16 and 13. She enjoys music, reading, and crocheting.

Trinity Lutheran Church Deerpark, Westminster MD

BS Education – Concordia Teachers College (Now Concordia University) Seward, Nebraska

MS Education – Syracuse University

Mr. Kulow taught in Lutheran Parochial Schools in PA and NYC. He moved to Carroll County after receiving his Master’s Degree in 1973. He was School Counselor at North Carroll Middle School, East Middle School, Carrolltowne Elementary School, Westminster Elementary School, and Eldersburg Elementary School. He has also served as an organist at several area churches and currently is an organist and administrative assistant at Trinity Lutheran Church, Westminster. He has three daughters and three grandchildren, the center of his life! He enjoys “fixing” things including home repairs, home remodeling, and also gardening.

Trinity Lutheran Church, Westminster MD

Mrs. Resch has worked in the Marketing/Advertising field for over 34 years. She recently celebrated her 23rd anniversary at MGH Advertising in the finance department. She is a member of St. Benjamin’s Lutheran Church and previously served at her prior church for over 19 years on the Council for two terms, teaching Sunday school, participating in many youth activities such as RoadTrip, Work Camp Mission Trips, and two ELCA Gatherings. She has been married to Brian for 36 years and they have one son, Matt. She enjoys Ravens football, gardening, scrapbooking, photography, and fostering hospice animals.

St. Benjamin’s Lutheran Church, Westminster MD

B.A. in Psychology and Education, Waynesboro College (now a University)
Master of Divinity, Wesley Theological Seminary
Doctor of Ministry, Wesley Theological Seminary
Earned Certificate in Nonprofit Fundraising, Goucher College

The Reverend Doctor Errol Smith is a retired United Methodist minister having served congregations in Central Maryland for 40 years.  During his pastoral career, he was a published writer, an adjunct professor at both the graduate and undergraduate level, and for 13 years a member of a board of trustees for a retirement community in Gaithersburg, MD.  On retirement from the pastorate, he was the Planned Giving and Foundations Officer for United Way of Central Maryland; later he was the curator for the Sykesville Gate House Museum, and then was a volunteer at Carroll County Hospital with nearly 1000 hours of service.  In addition, he has been a pulpit supply preacher and did three short term interims as a church pastor.  In June 2022, he celebrated his 60th anniversary of ordination to the ministry of Word and Sacrament.  He was married for nearly 60 years to his late wife, Joy.  They have two married children, a deceased son, and six grandchildren.  He is an avid reader and bowls in a duckpin league.  Currently Dr. Smith attends and supports Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster.

Grace Lutheran Church, Westminster, MD

Sandy was raised on a farm in the Taneytown area of Carroll County. Growing up she was a member of Trinity Lutheran, Taneytown. She attended Towson University earning a degree in Geography and Environmental Planning. She has worked for Carroll County Government for 37 years, first starting as a cartographer/planner and now being the GIS (Geographic Information Specialist) Manager in the Department of Planning & Land Management. She and her husband Charles have been married for 32 years and have two adult children, Madison & Benjamin who both attended CLS from K-8, starting back when the school was housed at St. Ben’s. They reside in Westminster and are active members of St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Upperco.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Upperco, MD

John has been a resident of Westminster since 1988 when he started his studies at Western Maryland College. John retired from the Army in 2021 with over 32 years of service (21 active). Awarded 22 separate awards for excellence in leadership and achievement to include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He has a Master’s degree in Human Resources Development from McDaniel College. John currently works for Verizon Network Operations as a Field Operations Manager. John is married to Leslie Olsh and they have two children Zackery (10) and Zoey (4). During his free time John enjoys working on his home, spending time with his family and following Zack’s numerous sports activities. John is a member of St Benjamin’s Lutheran Church and also holds a position on the board of trustees of Carroll Lutheran Village.

St. Benjamin’s Lutheran Church, Westminster MD

Barbara Croft is a retired Carroll County elementary teacher.  She is an active member of Grace Lutheran Church.  She is involved with the literacy council and soup kitchen.  This is her second term on the board of trustees at Carroll Lutheran School.  She enjoys traveling, reading, photography and volunteering for many nonprofits.

Grace Lutheran Church, Westminster, MD

B.A. In Human Studies and Elementary Education – St. Mary’s College of Md.
Special Education Certification, Reading Teacher Certification, Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner
Masters Program in Reading/Special Education and
Advanced Professional Certificate – Hood College and University of Phoenix

Mrs. Gilbart joined the CLS staff in 2009. Her previous experience includes teaching first grade in Frederick County Public Schools and being the mentor teacher for student teachers at Hood College. At CLS, Mrs. Gilbart served as the Special Education Resource Teacher and the Assistant Principal for Academics before stepping into the role of Principal. Mrs. Gilbart partners with parents who are navigating the special education process, and is responsible for the implementation of IEP’s and 504 Plans. She provides Wilson reading intervention services and coordinates Fundations instruction. Mrs. Gilbart believes that well-chosen curricula paired with outstanding instruction is the key to an excellent education for students at CLS. She works with each teacher to be certain that every child’s unique needs are met. Mrs. Gilbart and her husband have two daughters who have benefited from the rigorous academic program, enrichment opportunities, and faith-based learning at CLS.

Grace Lutheran Church, Westminster MD