School Leadership

Education:

• I obtained a Bachelor of Science from UW-La Crosse, majoring in math and physics in secondary education. Over the following six years I taught math and science and coached football in high school. During those years I completed a Master's of Education, Professional Development at UW - La Crosse. In 1982 I decided to change careers. I enrolled in law school at UW-Madison, graduating in 1985.

How did you connect to St. Marcus?

That is a long story. Both my wife, Mary Jo Brown, and I, are very committed to education. For five years before going to law school, I was a high school math and science teacher and a football coach. Mary Jo is a Spanish teacher at Wisconsin Lutheran College. She started there as an adjunct professor many years ago, and converted to a full time faculty position in the fall of 2006. During my 31 years as a practicing attorney at Quarles & Brady, including the last nine years serving as the firm's managing partner, my community involvement increasingly focused on urban education in Milwaukee. That interest was sparked by my service on the Wisconsin Lutheran High School Board (where I came to know Henry Tyson and Pastor Mark Jeske) and as a member of the Board of Schools That Can Milwaukee from its inception to the present time. Much of that work seemed to connect me more and more with St. Marcus School and the school leaders. The more I came to know about St. Marcus, the more passionate I became about its mission and the more inspired I was by the terrific work St. Marcus was doing and the exceptional people who were doing it. Over that same time, my sister and her husband and several of her children and her children's families became members at St. Marcus. My daughter-in-law accepted a position teaching at St. Marcus. Mary Jo and I finally followed, having joined St. Marcus in January of 2014. Thereafter, I seemed to get pulled in deeper and deeper, to the point where I was asked to serve as the chair of the cabinet for our Courage to Commit Campaign. From that point, there clearly was no turning back.

What do you love about what you do?

I love that I am able to spend my time every day immersed with strong Christian's to help spread God's word and help Milwaukee children gain access to quality education while learning about their Lord and Savior. 

If you had a Bible passage/quote for your life and ministry what would it be?

Mark 10:14: When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

Tell us about your family…

Spouse - Mary Jo Brown
Son - Dan Lautz (29), married to Morgan (Dittmar) Lautz, a sixth grade teacher at St. Marcus
Daughter, Carly Jo Lautz (26), engaged to be married this fall (2017) to Nate Meyer.

“When I have free time, you will find me…”

Reading or doing anything outdoors, including fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, watching football or working in the yard.

What’s your favorite vacation spot?

Northern Wisconsin

What’s one fun fact about you?

I grew up in an apple orchard, and I continue to raise apples in my backyard.

Anything else you would like to share?

I hope our members and school families will feel comfortable reaching out to me to share their perspectives about St. Marcus and our ministries.