New faculty faces this fall

With a growing student body comes the need for a few more faculty members to serve them. We have five new faculty this year, but they aren’t all brand new. One is an alum, one is the grandson of a beloved former teacher, and one is the dad of a current teacher. There’s a reason we call Lakeside “family.”

John Dorn

John Dorn is in his 29th year of teaching. Before joining our family, he taught for 13 years at Illinois Lutheran High School, Crete. A 1992 grad of Dr. Martin Luther College, Dorn teaches Physical Science, Environmental Science, and Anatomy and Physiology. “I love teaching science because there are so many ‘Yay, God’ moments that give evidence of a creator and all powerful designer of this world,” he says. He’s also assistant coach with JV2 football and girls JV soccer. John and Mary have also been married 29 years. She teaches kindergarten at St. John, Waterloo. Blessed with five children, their eldest, Nicole, lives in Oak Creek with husband Jason, and daughters Leah and newborn Mara. Eric (also a Lakeside teacher) and his twin sister came next: Alli and her husband, Luke, teach in Beverly Hills, Fla. (Fun fact: Eric’s twin sister Allison married a guy with the same last name, Luke Dorn. Wedding hashtag? #Dornagain) Eric recently became engaged to Sophie Birner. Next daughter Emma is a senior at MLC and Elijah, the youngest, a sophomore at MLC. The Dorns enjoy riding their bicycles, cooking, and watching the Packers. He also admits that he’s “a bit of a tech geek. The more gadgets the better.”

Erin LaPointe

Erin LaPointe has joined the Extended Learning Center as a full-time ELC assistant. “I’m excited to be able to work with students who need a little extra push in their studies while getting to know them on a more personal one-on-one basis,” she says. LaPointe grew up in Hustisford and graduated from MLC in 2001 with a B.S. in education and a concentration in English. She taught in Monroe, Mich., from 2002-2018. She and husband David were married in 2007 and moved to Fort Atkinson about three years ago. They are members at St. Paul in Fort. In her spare time, she enjoys “wandering through cemeteries to admire the art of the monuments and the history behind each person,” she says.

Catherine Meier

A ‘95 LLHS and then Wisconsin Lutheran College grad, Cathy Meier is enjoying her new role at her high school alma mater. “I am most excited to get to know students, learn about their dreams, and help them pursue those dreams. I don’t want them to ever stop dreaming of the possibilities. I desire to see students successful not just in academics but also in life skills! I pray they all stay close to Jesus and turn to him for guidance their whole life,” she says. Meier, who also loves playing and coaching volleyball, has been married 21 years to Bill; they have four girls: Elise (soph at WLC; LLHS ‘20), Audrey (‘22), Maria (‘24) and Ruby (in K at Trinity-St. Luke, Watertown). In addition to visiting many African and European countries, “my family and I lived in Malawi, Africa from 2001-2007. We then lived in Portugal for 18 months. I still miss Malawi even though we have been back in Wisconsin since 2009. Maybe someday I’ll move back—or move somewhere else exciting and different!”

Nicholas Trebesch

Nick Trebesch joined the Lakeside family to teach geometry and algebra. He also assists in coaching girls JV basketball and JV boys baseball. A 2011 MLC grad in secondary ed in math, Lakeside is the third high school where Trebesch has served. Previously he was at Evergreen Lutheran High School, Tacoma, Wash., for six years, then Luther Prep in Watertown for four. “I am excited to join a growing ministry and be able to get to know the students and their families and work side-by-side with such dedicated servants of Christ. I have heard only positives about Lakeside!” he says. “I am also excited to be able to continue coaching girls’ basketball and am excited for the opportunity to give baseball a try.” He and his wife, Nicole, have been married eight years and have been blessed with a son, Logan (5), and two daughters Emily (2) and Charlie (6 months). The family continues to live in Watertown and remain members at St. Luke. In his free time, Trebesch is an avid Minnesota Vikings, Twins, and Timberwolves fan and enjoys playing outside with his children.

Jacob Ziel

Jake Ziel moved from the Miami area to join the Warrior family this summer. He teaches science and algebra 1, as well as serving as assistant JV boys basketball coach and varsity baseball. A Martin Luther College graduate, he served at Nebraska Lutheran High School in Waco for three years after MLC before his years at Divine Savior Academy in Doral, Fla. Jake “loves watching and cheering for all the Wisconsin sports teams and playing golf.” Fun facts: Lakeside’s Guidance Director, Andy Rosenau, was Jake’s 6th grade teacher. And his grandpa, Bill Ziel, taught Government and Driver’s Ed at Lakeside from 1978-1988.