Board of Trustees

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.

PASTOR CHARLIE MARSHALL

President

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

Rev. Marshall, 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 (1990-2001). He brings 40+ years of experience in parish ministry, including 16 years in the Westminster Conference. He retired from Immanuel Lutheran Church, Manchester in September 2021, immediately accepted his current position at the Village, and volunteered to serve on the board at CLS where he has served as secretary, treasurer and now president. He enjoys leading the Wednesday Chapel service at CLS from time to time. He is a widower with two adult daughters (York PA & New York City). He recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of his ordination. He is a member of St. Benjamin’s Lutheran Church in Westminster and lives two miles from CLS.

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

PASTOR ANDY CARR

Vice President

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Hampstead, MD

 

SHANE WEEKS

Treasurer

Shane Weeks has been a resident of Union Bridge, Maryland all his life. Upon completion of High School, he went on to get a degree in accounting, is a certified bookkeeper, graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, and then from Mid America College of Funeral Service with a Bachelors in Funeral Service Management. Shane currently works as a licensed funeral director, and owns and operates a school bus company. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, cooking, baking and music. He is a member of Union Bridge Church of the Brethren, where his family has been active for years.

Union Bridge Church of the Brethren, Union Bridge, MD

ELLEN LICHTFUSS

Secretary

Master of Divinity Degree, United Lutheran Seminary

Pastor Ellen Lichtfuss is a 2021 graduate of United Lutheran Seminary where she received a Master of Divinity degree in Word and Sacrament. She is a graduate of McDonogh School (1981) and Randolph-Macon College (1985). Ordained in January 2022, she served one year as a vicar-pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Broadway in Hanover, Pennsylvania, nine months as a visitation pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Westminster, Maryland, and 17 months as a pastor with Resurrection Lutheran Parish (five congregations) in Carroll County. Prior to ordained ministry, Pastor Ellen worked at Towson University as an overseas study advisor and program coordinator for international education, served Lutheran congregations in administrative capacity, and worked as a marketing assistant for architectural and engineering firms.

Since July 2024, Pastor Ellen has been on leave from call to help care for her 90-year-old mother.

She resides in Westminster with her husband Robert Lichtfuss. They have two grown daughters, Madeline (29) and Grace (22).
Pastor Ellen enjoys playing pickleball (sometimes with her husband), riding her bike, gardening, spending time with family, reading, playing board games, hiking, walking, and just being outside delighting in God’s creation.

Her heart for ministry lies in serving the elderly, homebound, hospitalized, and those who are often forgotten.

Grace Lutheran Church, Westminster, MD

JOHN OLSH

Member

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

BARB CROFT

Member

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

Diane Beatty

DIANE BEATTY

Member

Diane was not only a former parent here at CLS, but also taught here for 9 years. She graduated from Towson State with a bachelors degree and has taught for a total of 40 years. In Houston, she taught for 10 years in the public school system. She came back home to Baltimore where she continued to teach in local Lutheran schools.

She has 4 adult children and 4 grandsons.  Last year she retired so that she could watch the youngest grandbaby who was born on October 10th. She lives in Manchester with her husband and her dog, Bailey.

Diane’s hobbies include spending time with family and friends and being outdoors. 

Greenmount Methodist Church, Hampstead, MD

SANDY BABER

Member

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 Dept of Planning & Land Management. She and her husband Charles have been married for 34 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, Upperco, MD

Dr. Nicole Roop

DEACON NICOLE ROOP

Member

Deacon Dr. Nicole P. Roop is an ordained Minister of Word and Service in the DE-MD Synod, serving as a mission developer for the Westminster Area College Ministry. Deacon Nicole previously served as Coordinator for Youth & Family Ministry in a joint role under the DE-MD and Metro D.C. Synods. When called upon, Nicole is a supply minister in the DE-MD and Lower Susquehanna (PA) Synods.

Dr. Roop has worked in the University System of Maryland for over 25 years and serves as a program director in the Division of Undergraduate Students’ Affairs at the Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. She is a member of the Directing Committee for The Humble Walk: Lutheran Campus Ministry at UMD, and previously served on the executive councils of both the Maryland College Personnel Association and ACPA-College Student Educators International. Her doctorate in higher education was earned at The George Washington University, with her dissertation focused on undergraduate student leadership. Nicole earned a BA in government at Shippensburg University, an MS in counseling education at McDaniel College, and an MA in ministerial leadership (with academic honors) from United Lutheran Seminary.

At her home congregation of Keysville Lutheran Church, Nicole serves as newsletter editor and website manager, and is an officer for the Keysville Union Cemetery Association. She previously served on Keysville’s church council and as an officer for its ladies’ auxiliary, the Key Women. Her favorite titles though, are as a proud aunt to her nephew and nieces, a cat mom, and a history geek.

Keysville Lutheran, Keymar, MD

CELENE STECKEL

Member

Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in Sociology – Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Graduate coursework in Public Administration – Pennsylvania State University.

Celene Steckel has worked in the field of Human Services for over 25 years, with 20 years in the public sector which includes work in Pennsylvania State Government as well as 2 local governments in Maryland. Celene is the Director of Citizen Services for Carroll County Government, a position she has held since 2020. Celene manages the overall direction, administration and evaluation of the Department of Citizen Services (DCS). Oversight includes directing the overall operations of the Bureau of Aging & Disabilities, Senior & Community Centers, Veterans Services, the Bureau of Housing and Community Development and the Local Management Board, ensuring compliance with appropriate federal, state, and local regulatory and reporting requirements.

Celene received her Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in Sociology, from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and completed graduate coursework in Public Administration at Pennsylvania State University. Ms. Steckel has also earned the designation of Fellow from the University of Maryland in the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance. (2023)

Ms. Steckel currently serves on the Carroll County Department of Social Services Board of Directors (2017-Present), the Human Services Programs of Carroll County Board of Directors (2020-Present), the Westminster Rescue Mission Board of Directors (2024-Present) , and serves as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Carroll County Continuum of Care Homelessness Board (2020-Present), and the Vice Chair of the United Way of Central Maryland, Carroll County RUN Board (2023-Present).

Celene began her faith journey in her home church, Messiah Lutheran in Halifax, Pennsylvania, where Celene was baptized in 1974 and went on to be a confirmed member there. In 2006, Celene and her husband Andrew moved to Carroll County and later welcomed son Tate in 2010. Tate attended CLS in 2020. Celene, Andrew, and Tate are members of St. Benjamin’s Lutheran in Westminster, MD, where they remain active parishioners. Celene has previously served terms on the church council, assisted as substitute organist and Sunday School Teacher, as well as serving as the Musical Director for Vacation Bible School for over 10 years (and counting.)

In their spare time, Celene and her husband can be found traveling across the county, state, and country cheering on their son in numerous sporting events.

St. Benjamin’s Lutheran, Westminster, MD

ANGELA WORLEY

Member

Keysville Lutheran, Keymar, MD

Penny SEgessenman

PENNY SEGESSENMAN

Principal, Key Staff Member

B.S. in Elementary Education, West Virginia University
Masters Degree in Elementary Education, West Virginia University
MD Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education

Mrs. Segessenman is excited to be in her fourteenth year at CLS in her new role as principal. Before teaching at CLS, she taught in Prince George’s and Carroll County Public Schools. With 37 years of experience in education and school leadership, she believes our school is a place where faith, character, and academic achievement come together to prepare students for a life of purpose and service.

Mrs. Segessenman is very active at Barts Centenary United Methodist church, where she teaches Sunday school, cleans, and is in charge of Children’s education. She has three adult children and resides in Littlestown, PA. She truly enjoys spending time with her family, hearing from former students, taking long walks, crafting, gardening, and relaxing on the river in WV.

She is thrilled to work with our dedicated faculty, staff, families, and most importantly, our students, as we continue to foster a supportive community centered on Christ’s love. She is committed to nurturing students in a loving safe environment where Christian values guide our learning and growth.

Barts-Centenary United Methodist Church, Littlestown, PA

Margaret Arnoult

MARGARET ARNOULT

Bookkeeper, Key Staff Member

B.S. in Accounting, University of MD University College
Certified Public Accountant

Mrs. Arnoult joined the CLS staff in October 2019. She has worked for various non-profit organizations, including schools and churches during her 35+ year career. Mrs. Arnoult has a heart for helping Christian organizations and enjoys serving them with her administrative and number knowledge. She and her husband, David, have three children, including Elizabeth Gordon, the art teacher at CLS and two granddaughters, Hannah and Abby, and a new grandson, Noah.  She enjoys numbers and doing puzzles in her spare time.