Staff

"The high school years are a time when students desire and learn independence. It is essential that at the very same time, they are trained to fully depend on the promises God has in his Word. There is nowiser investment than that of a Christian education."

Chad Marohn

Principal

Chad Marohn has served in the WELS school system as an administrator and educator for the past 24 years. After graduating from Martin Luther College in 1999, he was assigned to St. Mark Lutheran School in Eau Claire. In 2010, he took a call to St. John's Lutheran School in Lannon, WI where he served for seven years. In 2017, he moved to Howards Grove, WI to serve as principal and teacher at St.Paul's Lutheran School.

Throughout his ministry, Chad has treasured each student, parent, and ministry partner. He is indebted to the many gifted and faithful individuals he has served with and learned from through the years. He is most thankful to his Lord for the privilege of sharing the gospel through Christian education.

Chad and his wife, Ann, have been blessed with six children and a wonderful son-in-law. Their two youngest children are current students at Cornerstone! 

At CLHS we do more than just focus on academics. We focus on building Christian Character and Service with our students. Teaching at CLHS is special because we are preparing our students for the rest of their life, and more importantly, for eternity with their Savior in heaven.

Phil Gustafson

Assistant Principal

Phil Gustafson has served as a teacher or administrator in WELS schools for the past 15 years. After graduating from Martin Luther College in 2009, he was assigned to teach middle grades and serve as Assistant Principal at St Mark Lutheran in Eau Claire. Phil served at St Mark until 2020 when he was called to serve as Principal at Trinity-St Luke's in Watertown, WI. After 4 years as principal, Phil accepted a call to teach at Cornerstone and serve as Assistant Principal starting in the 2024-2025 school year. Phil has two Master's degrees from Martin Luther College, one in instruction, and one in educational leadership. 

Phil and his wife, Sarah, have been blessed with 5 children. They have 3 children enrolled at St Mark (Hannah, Aiden and Isaiah), and two more at home (Hailey and Harper).  The Gustafson Family moved to Chippewa Falls in June of 2024.

Phil is excited to teach Language Arts, Geometry and PE this school year. After spending 11 years in the Chippewa Valley teaching middle school at St Mark, he knows the need for quality high school Christian Education in the area. Phil looks forward to working with the students and families at CLHS!

"I am honored to participate in this important endeavor of Christian secondary education as a religion instructor at Cornerstone Lutheran High School. Passing the torch of God's Word in its truth and purity to the next generation has never been more important. May the Holy Spirit bless our labors for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Lord, and Savior."

Roy Hefti

Religion Teacher

Pastor Hefti retired in September of 2020 after 41 years in the pastoral ministry. Five of those years he spent in Toronto, Canada, and 36 years as pastor of St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church & School in Bangor, WI. He is a graduate of Northwestern College, Watertown, WI (BA) and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, WI (MDiv). His vicar year was spent at First Ev. Lutheran Church in Racine, WI.

Pastor Hefti served for several years as the chairman of the Luther High School Board of Control and as interim principal of Luther High for one year (1995-1996). He also served the Western Wisconsin District as Chairman of the Board of Appeals and Chairman of the Constitution Committee. He has presented various papers at local and district pastor and teacher conferences over the years. During the past decade, he has been honored to participate in the production of the Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV) translation of the Bible and the EHV Study Bible by the Wartburg Project. He currently serves on its Editorial Board. In retirement, Pastor Hefti occasionally fills in for pastors in our area WELS churches and engages in various writing projects.

He married Alice (nee Harbach) in 1979. They have been blessed with six grown children (all blessed to be married to Godly spouses) and 19 grandchildren. Roy & Alice currently live in Lake Hallie and attend St. Mark Ev. Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.

"I feel humbled and honored to serve as a teacher at Cornerstone during its first year. In all the teaching positions I have held, across the various ages and grade levels and years, the Lord's hand guiding, supporting, and helping has been the one constant. With Him at the center of what is said and what is taught, I believe our students and our school will thrive. It is my prayer that we keep Him there, at the center, the cornerstone of all we do."

Emily Fictum

English and Music Teacher

Mrs. Fictum is excited to be blessed with the opportunity to teach at Cornerstone Lutheran High School during its first year. After graduating in 2007 from UW-Eau Claire with dual degree in special education and general education, she taught 4th-8th grade language arts, reading, music, and art during the first years of Risen Savior Lutheran School in Mankato, MN. She then taught at Jesus' Lambs at Peace in North Mankato and at Manz Elementary in Eau Claire, where she was a special education teacher for students with learning disabilities. She has spent time substitute teaching in many different schools and has homeschooled her own children for a number of years. No matter where she has had the opportunity to teach, she has always found sharing in her students' learning and watching them grow in knowledge and faith to be one of life's greatest joys.

Mrs. Fictum attended Immanuel Lutheran in Eau Claire for high school and college. She finished her degree at UW-Eau Claire and obtained state licensure. She also obtained her WELS synod certification through Martin Luther College.

Mrs. Fictum lives in Fall Creek with her husband, Mark, and six children: Leah (20 and a junior studying elementary education at MLC), Aidan (15 and currently a freshman at Luther Prep), Holly (14 and in 8th grade at St. Mark), Maggie (12 and homeschooled), Katie (2), and Emma (11 months). Mrs. Fictum enjoys spending time with her family, reading, writing, playing piano, and traveling (or at least dreaming about traveling). Her heart has always been for teaching and researching how children learn best.

"I am honored to be asked to teach biology at Cornerstone Lutheran High School.  I have always loved science and look forward to teaching the students about God's wondrous creation and his creatures in the light of His Word."

Ron Gross

Biology Teacher

Ron taught for 27 years in Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod schools. He began his ministry in Cibecue, Arizona, where he served as principal and taught the Apache Native Americans as a part of the WELS mission to the Apaches. He continued his ministry at Zion in Columbus, Wisconsin, and finally at St. John's in Watertown, Wisconsin. 

For over 20 years, he taught upper-grade sciences and math. He is a graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, and holds a bachelor of science degree in education.

Ron and his wife, Rhoda, had been married for 47 when God called her home to heaven in May of 2016. They were blessed with three children and eight grandchildren. His children and their families live in Port Washington, Watertown, and Eau Claire. For the last 25 years, he has lived in Eau Claire and has been a member at St. Mark Lutheran Church.

"I look forward to sharing my passion of art with the Cornerstone students."

Cyndi Kortbein

Fine Arts Department

My husband Chris and I went to grade school at St Paul in Tomah, WI.  I graduated from UWEC in 1994 and worked for Holiday Vacations/Travel for 16 years.  Chris and I have been members of St Mark in Eau Claire since 1997 and we have three kids Cullen, Camy and Cierra who all attended St Mark grade school.  In 2013, I started a painting party business called The Paint Shack LLC.  In January of 2016 we moved into our studio space at 2524 Golf Rd 2C.  We have expanded our products, materials and techniques like shattered glass, canvas, wood, mosaics, screens and resin crafts.  In the summer of 2023, we doubled our space and added a second party room featuring our splatter room.  My time is spent teaching painting and art classes at birthday parties, family gatherings, art camps or at open paint sessions.  I love a creative approach to art and praise the Lord for the talent he has given me to teach!

"I wanted to teach at Cornerstones because I feel students should have the opportunity to learn technical skills if they so desire."

Rick Schauss

Applied Sciences

My name is Rick Schauss. I live in Eau Claire with my wife Dawn. We have been blessed with two boys, Kurt and Shane. They also live in Eau Claire. I have a degree in Electronics and I went on to get a Masters in Career and Technical Education from U.W. Stout. I recently retired from CVTC in Eau Claire where I taught in the Automation Engineering program.  I will be teaching Electronics this semester, and possibly other technical courses in the future!