Tamarack School Leadership

Heads of School

MARTHA FLORES

Pedagogical Director

After 20 years of service to Tamarack Waldorf School as an early childhood teacher, Ms. Flores is now excited to serve the school in a new capacity. Her efforts will now focus on ensuring the highest quality of education for the children at Tamarack. She has a deep appreciation for our faculty and is looking forward to supporting the teachers in any way possible. Ms. Flores grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In her free time she enjoys sewing, hiking and camping.

Education: Waldorf teaching certificate, West Coast Institute for Studies in Anthroposophy (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada). B.A. in Elementary Education with support in Early Childhood, Alverno College.

“I love the imaginative and gentle approach to child development in the kindergarten. This approach is what sets the tone for a child’s success at Tamarack. Tamarack Waldorf School is like a second home to me, every time I walk in the doors, I find children I love, adults that I respect and a spirit that lifts my heart.”

 LORA POULOS

Administrative Director

Ms. Poulos has worked in the Tamarack administrative office since 2003. She grew up in Milwaukee and is a parent of three Tamarack alumni students. In her free time she enjoys sewing, reading, planning parties and time with her daughters.

Education: M.A. Architecture and Painting, Cranbrook Academy of Art (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan). B.S. Architectural Studies, University Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Waldorf Administration and Leadership Certification through Leading with Spirit, Sound Circle Center for Arts and Anthroposophy

“Waldorf education awakens the child to the beauty of the world around them. It allows children to engage all their senses and to breathe in each moment of learning whether it is a math problem, a Greek myth, a knitted project they have created, or a classmate with a different background than their own.”

Additional Members of the Leadership Team

HALLE LUKSICH

Early Childhood

Teacher Halle grew up in Milwaukee, and in her spare time, she enjoys Irish dancing with the Milwaukee Irish Dance Company, hanging out with her dog Frankie, playing in a band, and crafting.

Education: B.A., Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin Madison, Certificate, Scandinavian Studies, University of Wisconsin Madison, pursuing Waldorf Teaching Certification through Great Lakes Waldorf Institute

"The fun we have in the Waldorf kindergarten brings so much joy to the children and me. There are so many opportunities to build confidence in these young people through play and real-life experiences. There's nowhere else I would rather teach!"

MICHELE PETERSON

Lower Grades

Ms. Peterson is a Wisconsin native and enjoys cooking, crafting, reading, the arts, history, and mathematics. She has been at Tamarack since its inception. Ms. Peterson has taken two of her own classes from 1st through 8th grade, worked at the Tamarack Waldorf School High School for two years, and was in the Firefly Garden kindergarten as an assistant for three years.  

Education: She received her Waldorf Teacher certification from Arcturus Rudolf Steiner Teacher Education in Chicago, Illinois; is certified in the Lifeways Early Childhood Program, and has her B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in writing and editing and a minor in Art History from Alverno College.

ELIZA KLUNK

Upper Grades

Eliza grew up in and around the Milwaukee area. She first came to Tamarack as a parent and volunteer. In addition to handwork and woodwork, she enjoys reading, baking, games, hiking, biking, and movies.

Education: B.S., Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison. M.A. Education with Montessori Certification, Loyola University Maryland. Pursuing completion of the Applied Arts Training Program, Threefold Educational Center, Chestnut Ridge, NY.

“Applied Arts in a Waldorf school reaches something within the student that few other subjects can - it shows them the strength they have within themselves, both spiritual and physical, to work towards the creation of something beautiful and useful. It is a therapeutic and joyful experience.”

Tamarack Board of Trustees

MICHELLE SKELTON

Board Treasurer

Michelle Skelton began her board service with Tamarack in the Summer of 2022. Education is especially important to her. She has a strong desire to ensure every person receives a meaningful education. The Waldorf Education mission and guiding principles are appealing to her as she thinks critical thinking and social responsibility are two important characteristics to possess. She received her bachelors and masters degree in taxation and has spent her professional career working in various tax positions around the Milwaukee area. She is currently the Tax Director at Baird, a firm that has instilled the value of community involvement. She has three teenage children with whom she spends a majority of her free time with watching them play sports, traveling and just spending time together.

Jared Levisen

Secretary

Jared joined the Board of Trustees in 2023. He is a graduate of Marquette University Law School and is an attorney in the Milwaukee Brady Street area. His law practice focuses on family succession and estate planning, real estate, trust administration, and probate. Jared earned his Bachelor of Science in Registered Nursing at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and worked in health care for more than 20 years in roles ranging from the bedside to the administrative suite. He was an officer in the United States Navy and served in locations around the world. His past volunteer work includes veteran’s and children’s organizations and as a volunteer firefighter with the City of Port Washington. Jared has an exceptional commitment to community service and believes in the power of experiential learning. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, traveling, hiking, cycling, painting, napping with his dog, and making pottery in his home studio

SELWYN JARVIS

Community Member

Selwyn is a Wisconsin native. Originally from Trinidad & Tobago he spent a portion of his childhood overseas and a portion of his childhood in Milwaukee, WI. He has an extensive background in business and management. He has served as a people manager for more than 20 years, and he owned a business in childcare for more than seven years. Selwyn is skilled at people development and budget management. Selwyn believes that instilling a passion for learning early in a child's life will surely change the trajectory for generations to come, and that is why he believes the work that Tamarack Waldorf is doing is so important to the city. He earned bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science from Marquette University.

DAN KRAUSE

Community Member & Former Parent

Dan joined the Board of Trustees in 2023. He holds both an MBA and Masters in Education Policy from Stanford University and dual bachelor’s degrees from Boston University in Elementary Education and Business Administration. Dan currently serves as CEO and General Secretary of United Methodist Communications based in Nashville, Tennessee. He formerly worked as Vice President of Marketing and Customer Experience with Frontier Airlines after serving in several marketing, strategy, and finance roles at Frontier and Northwest Airlines. Dan and his wife Liz have five children who thrive in a variety of educational settings, including Waldorf Education. They have had children attend Tamarack previously while in Milwaukee, as well as the Linden Waldorf School in Nashville and the Denver Waldorf School in Colorado. Dan appreciates the Waldorf approach to whole-child education in experiential settings. Within educational settings, he is committed to advocating for diversity and equity. Additionally, Dan enjoys volunteering in leadership roles to support schools, including serving several terms as President and Vice-President, of Parent-Teacher organizations at his children’s schools. In his spare time, Dan enjoys cheering on his children in their many activities, downhill skiing, hiking, touring ghost towns, visiting amusement parks, and learning about other cultures through immersive travel experiences.

Joe Fransee

Parent

Joe and his family have been part of the Tamarack community for over 15 years, and he strongly believes in Tamarack’s mission of developing “independent, critical thinkers with a strong sense of social responsibility.” He and his wife Liz are the parents of two Tamarack alumni and one current Tamarack student. Joe has collaborated with current and former staff and community members in Arts, Horticulture, and IT volunteer opportunities and projects. He has an AAS in Computer Networking from Milwaukee Area Technical College, a BA in Theatre and BFA in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Master’s in Information Science and Technology from UW-Milwaukee, where he currently serves as a Network and Enterprise Administrator in the IT Department. Joe is also a member of the Four Guyz in Dinner Jackets, a touring 50’s and 60’s performance group that performs regularly throughout the state. In his free time, he enjoys enjoying nature and the outdoors with his family, growing tasty things in his garden, and reading. 

RYAN PRINCER

Community Member

Tamarack’s former Fund Development Specialist, Ryan Princer, joined the board in April 2022. Ryan was raised in rural Iowa and brings in experiences from urban public and private schools in Chicago. In his free time, Ryan enjoys backcountry hiking, canoeing, basketball, and anything else involving activity and the outdoors. He holds a BS in Community Education and Engagement from UWM and has also worked as Assistant Director at Red Arrow Camp, an EMT at Bell Ambulance, and the Resource Coordinator at Pershing Elementary School. Ryan appreciates that Waldorf education encourages each student’s individuality and imagination, leading to a vibrant and authentic community.