Parents get to weigh in: Lake Country Academy administrator on leave due to former employee's past

SHEBOYGAN (WITI) -- Officials with Lake Country Academy in Sheboygan say they'll allow parents to weigh in -- after the school's administrator was placed on leave. This, after parents raised concerns about someone in the classroom.

Parents in Sheboygan are wondering why someone who hid the corpse of her own child would be allowed to help teach their children. Lake Country Academy officials say a felon is now gone, and the school’s founder has been placed on administrative leave.

School officials now say they'll allow parents to weigh in. Two public input sessions were held Tuesday evening, February 24th, and two more are planned for Wednesday evening, February 25th, The sessions run from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and again from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

On Tuesday afternoon, FOX6 News learned 25 parents had signed up for the sessions.

The Lake Country Academy, just off of 40th Street in Sheboygan serves Pre-K through eighth-grade students. The public charter school is currently without one of its founders. Carla Koepp has been placed on administrative leave after parents raised concerns about someone in the classroom.

Back in 2006, in Winnebago County, 17-year-old Kristen Cleaver was accused of concealing her pregnancy — eventually giving birth in a bathtub. She was accused of letting her baby drown and then hiding the corpse in a bedroom closet. Her parents noticed a foul smell, and that led to Cleaver pleading no contest to concealing the death of a child. She was sentenced to six months in prison and two years probation.

“This individual was hired by our school initially in a cleaning role. Later she was moved to a marketing/test coordination role. She did sub recently in a Direct Instruction math group as a para-professional under the supervision of teachers.”


Parents notified school officials as to Kintopf’s past. School officials say:

“Hiring at our school is the role of the administrator.  In this case, processes were not followed.”


Kintopf has subsequently been fired. Carla Koepp will be on administrative leave for the remainder of this school year.

Below is the full statement issued by Lake Country Academy officials:

“Lake Country Academy is dedicated to Core Knowledge, Core Virtues and Direct Instruction. As a public chartered school with the Sheboygan Area School District, we understand the importance of providing information. The topics that are a part of the Sheboygan Press article posted last night and today are confidential and sensitive to all involved. However, we feel it is important to respond to inquiries to ensure we are communicating appropriately.

Hiring at our school is the role of the Administrator. In this case, processes in place were not followed appropriately. This individual was hired at our school initially in a cleaning role. Later, she was moved to a marketing/test coordination role. She did sub recently in a Direct Instruction math group as a para-professional under the supervision of teachers. When the Board was made aware of the background of this individual by some parents, we immediately directed the Administrator to remove her from any student contact and she is no longer with the school.

Our Administrator, Carla Koepp is on administrative leave for the balance of the school year.

Lake Country Academy is committed to providing educational excellence as a public chartered school in partnership with the Sheboygan Area School District. We are working hard to move our school forward, and embrace the opportunities we have to become an even stronger school.”


CLICK HERE to learn more about Lake Country Academy.



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