Administration
Monte Knetter
Headmaster
Mr. Knetter is honored and excited to serve at Charis! Mr. Knetter grew up in the Madison area where he attended a Christian school. After graduating high school he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he majored in History and Political Science. After working for a year in state government, Mr. Knetter went on to attend the University of Wisconsin Law School. Mr. Knetter practiced law for a couple of years before transitioning into education. He taught History and Literature in Madison before moving to Baldwin, Wisconsin where he served as Headmaster and taught Omnibus and Latin at a classical Christian school. Mr. Knetter and his wife have five children, all named after great literary or historical figures. Mr. Knetter believes that education is a life-long endeavor, so when he isn’t teaching he enjoys learning new things. Additionally, he likes being outdoors and active with his family, traveling, and reading.
Kim Nielsen
Director of Curriculum & Teacher Development
Mrs. Nielsen served as the founding headmaster of Charis Classical Academy and is currently the Curriculum/Teacher Development Coach. She received her undergraduate degree from University of Northern Iowa and her Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies at University of Iowa. She practiced for a number of years before accepting faculty positions at two different PA programs, where she realized her true love of teaching. After being introduced to classical education and the university model, she and her husband helped found Oak Grove Classical Academy in Albuquerque, NM. In 2010, they moved to Madison with their four children to plant The Vine Church. Kim’s passion for education, for seeing the gospel displayed in every aspect of life, and for her own family came together once again in the birth of CCA. She loves spending time with her husband and four kids, investing in their church community, reading, gardening, and re-purposing furniture (nothing better than seeing something old revitalized!).
Jen Pohl
Director of Grammar Curriculum & Teacher Development
Mrs. Pohl is also teaching 4th grade. She lives in a small community north of Madison with her husband, Travis, and their two children: Mac and Maisey. Mrs. Pohl received her undergraduate degree in Archaeology (it hasn’t yet come in super handy!). She began her teaching career as a Teach For America corps member teaching in Charlotte, NC and has been engaged in the field of education for nearly twenty years. She is eager to join the vibrant Charis community and to partner with parents to build each student’s capacity to know God and his supreme creation by exploring, wondering, and pursuing all that is good and true. The Pohl’s are members of Grace Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. Pohl enjoys reading (and collecting!) great and living books, nature jaunting, bird watching, camping and playing any and all games!
Katie Tuck
Co-Teacher Coach
As founding board members, the Tucks have been involved in the life of the school since the beginning. Katie is married to Jay, and they have three kids, Trey, Phoebe, and Junia. Katie supervises Charis events and programs ensuring an aesthetic experience across all marketing materials. The Czar of Cash, she also balances the books, monitors the money, and finances the funds. In her free time, she enjoys living dangerously and can be found sky diving, alligator wrestling, or designing dress code standards.
Tiffany Betz
Office Administrator
Tiffany Betz is the school office administrator. She will be the main contact for office calls, bandaids, and cough drops. Tiffany is married to Dr. Adam Betz, and has two children: Bella and Eli.
Maren Katsihtis
Logistics Coordinator
Mrs. Katsihtis loves all of the miscellaneous creative and organizational tasks involved in her job as Logistics Coordinator, from assisting with day to day flow of classes and scheduling, to organizing school field trips, subs, and volunteers, and helping with special events. She is married to Jimmy and they have two daughters, Ruby and Tula. The Katsihtis family worships at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, where Jimmy serves as Parish Council President. In her free time Maren enjoys cooking, reading, singing and playing music, watching movies, and spending time outdoors with her family.
Todd Henreckson
Director of Development
Todd is grateful for the opportunity to support Charis’ mission of providing families in Dane County the opportunity to choose a classical Christian education for their children.
Todd and his wife Janice feel strongly about Christian parents taking responsibility for the raising and education of their children – for them that meant homeschooling their 5 children while living in rural Wisconsin. They further value the importance of educational institutions keeping free of government entanglements and are grateful for the opportunity for several of their children to have graduated from Hillsdale College, a school that like Charis refuses to accept government funding to maintain its independence.
Todd has enjoyed a 30+ year career in sales and marketing, both in the corporate sector and over the last 20 years as a business owner. He loves Christ’s church, including Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Madison where he is a member and where several families are thrilled to have their children enrolled at Charis. He also is grateful to serve on the board of Classically Christian 89.5FM, a radio station located in Baraboo, WI.
