Carmen Smith grew up in Appleton, WI. She was baptized, attended K-8 school, and was confirmed at St. Peter Lutheran in Freedom. She graduated Fox Valley Lutheran High School in 2000, and then attended Wisconsin Lutheran College, graduating with a degree in Communications and a minor in Biology.

A few weeks after graduating, she moved to Orlando, Florida, to complete the Disney College program. She then returned to Wisconsin to enroll in EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) courses at MATC in downtown Milwaukee. She worked as an EMT on the north side of Milwaukee for three adventurous years.

Carmen married her husband, Dan, in 2007 — and by 2014, they had five children. Last year they all attended Zion, and the oldest graduated in May 2022. Carmen has worked as Zion’s second grade teacher, as part-time secretary in the office at Zion for a few years, and she also enjoys assistant-coaching the Zion cross-country team.

She graduated her online course work in Classroom Management in 2021 through the University of Phoenix, and is eager to teach this year.

In her free time, Carmen enjoys camping, yardwork, and all outdoor activities, helping others, family time, organizing, and seizing the day — each and every day!