Learn More about ELS
About Us
In partnership with parents and guided by the gospel, the Elizabethtown Latin School will seek to educate students to the highest standards of a classical education. This will begin in Jr. Kindergarten and continue through the elementary school years. Enrollment for the 2026-27 school year will be for any child in grades Jr. Kindergarten through 3rd grade and will continue each year as a grade is added. We seek to form students intellectually and spiritually through a love of Goodness, Truth, and Beauty so they may grow in wisdom, virtue, and the love of our Lord, and may more ably use their gifts in the service of others and for the glory of Christ and His church.
School will be in session three days a week, Monday-Wednesday. Each student will have a list of assignments to complete at home on Thursday and Friday which will practice and reinforce the skills taught at school that week.
Elizabethtown Latin School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, or any other school programs.
Sheila Larkin and Gayla Routt
Meet Our Staff
My name is Mrs. Heibert! I grew up in Elizabethtown and attended Eastern Kentucky University where I received my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. Teaching is a true passion of mine, and I look forward to getting back into the classroom this year! My husband and I have a three-month-old baby boy and three cats. I love to read, go thrift shopping, make crafts, and spend time outdoors!
My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 16:11- "Thou wilt show me the path of life: In thy presence is fullness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
Hi there! My name is Melissa Porter, and I am so excited to be the Junior Kindergarten teacher at Elizabethtown Latin School (ELS)! I have a BS in Behavioral Science from Wilmington University and an AS in Early Childhood Education. My background has always centered around children, from infant care and private nanny positions to teaching two-year-olds and kindergarten. For the past 10 years, I have served as an Instructional Assistant at Hodgenville Elementary and Lincoln Trail Elementary.
Returning to the classroom as a lead teacher is a new and exciting challenge for me—one that I am truly looking forward to! My teaching philosophy is rooted in treating every child with respect and dignity while helping them discover the joy of learning. I hope to create a classroom filled with encouragement, laughter, joy, and lots of smiles as we explore letters, sounds, numbers, and so much more!
Outside of school, I am married to my husband, Tim, and we live here in Elizabethtown, just a few miles from Cracker Barrel. We have seven children and almost 10 grandchildren, with our newest grandson, James Martin, due in October! I am originally from Delaware but have called Kentucky home for nearly 20 years. A few of my favorite things are crowns, lemons, yellow, my Cricut machine, resin crafting, growing herbs, making spice blends, and—most importantly—coffee! I am a self-proclaimed coffee snob and even make my own creamers and flavor extracts. I am so excited to be apart of the start of ELS and look forward to a wonderful year together!
Proverbs 2:6 “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Deeply rooted in Kentucky agriculture, Mrs. Riggs grew up on a family crop and cattle farm in White Mills, Kentucky. She turned her passion for the land and education into a career by earning a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Education from Western Kentucky University. She began her teaching journey in Nelson County, inspiring grades 6–8 as a middle school agriscience teacher. Driven by a desire to work closer to home, she transitioned to public service, working for the USDA Farm Service Agency. After several impactful years with the USDA, her enduring passion for teaching and a clear calling from God led her back to the classroom at the Elizabethtown Latin School. Today, she resides in Upton, Kentucky, with her husband, Troy, and their two boys, Riley and Sawyer.
Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” It describes God guiding and comforting the faithful, even “through the darkest valley,” and it ends with the promise to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Mrs. Havlock will be teaching 1st grade here at Elizabethtown Latin School. Mrs. Havlock graduated from Warner University with a Bachelors in Agriculture, a Minor in Education, and a second Minor in Biblical Studies. This will be Mrs. Havlock's first year teaching, and she is very excited to lead her own classroom this coming year. She has completed multiple classroom internships and has experience teaching various age groups. In 1 Peter 4:10-11, Peter discusses the importance of stewarding our gifts (which are received from the Lord) to serve one another, so that in all things Christ would be glorified. It is Mrs. Havlock's hope to glorify the Lord by serving her students well, helping them to grow both academically and in their relationship with Christ.
I Peter 4:10-11- "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
Hi, I’m Mrs. Wilkes and I will be teaching music at Elizabethtown Latin School! I grew up in Elizabethtown and graduated from Asbury University where I met my husband, Jonathan, in choir. We have 3 kids: Jesse, Levi and Azalea, and George the dog and Teddy the cat! I have been a professional musician in some capacity for the past 15 years, teaching private lessons and group classes, and accompanying for musicals and church. I love playing piano, painting, thrift shopping and reading historical fiction!
2 Corinthians 12:9- "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
My name is Mrs. Patterson and I will be teaching junior kindergarten at Elizabethtown Latin School. I taught in the elementary classroom for nineteen years, and for the following eight years I was the library media specialist, implementing STEM alongside literature. These summer weeks were blessed with family time, exploring Sedona and Utah, and going to church camp with our youth at my church, Upton Baptist Church. I have also enjoyed hiking, kayaking, and lots of reading. Now it is time to begin this exciting school year with our Elizabethtown Latin School family. I am eager to model and teach our students about the love of Jesus, and to read Bible stories and recite scripture. A verse that the Lord often lays on my heart is, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5
Karla M. Crayne is thrilled to join Elizabethtown Latin School as a Fine Arts instructor. Karla earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and brings an extensive commercial art background, having developed original artwork, prints, and graphics for leading brands like Nordstrom, Gap Inc., and Betsey Johnson, as well as leading her own business, Princess Orchid
An experienced educator, Karla has taught students of all ages across a wide array of settings. Her teaching journey includes serving as a college fashion design instructor at Marymount College, guiding young learners through classical curriculum frameworks, instructing cultural dance, and leading youth sports and art programs. Alongside her teaching and creative endeavors, Karla is a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve with 17 years of military service, bringing strong principles of leadership, organization, and mentorship into her classroom. Bilingual in Spanish and passionate about the fine arts, Karla is excited to share the fundamentals of drawing and painting with her students, inspiring both creative expression and artistic excellence.
This year, I have chosen an inspiring scripture for my Art classes: Isaiah 6 4:8 - “But now, O lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
Furthermore, my family’s scripture for this year is Revelation 22:13; “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the End.”
Hello! My name is Mrs. Benton, and I am very excited to teach 3rd grade at ELS this year. I've been married for 11 years and have three kids: Bristol (8), Grady (6), and Ellis (3). I studied Mechanical Engineering at Purdue (BS) and UofLouisville (MS), and started subbing for HCS last year. I enjoy reading, baking, crafting, and sports!
Matthew 11:28- "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: ye shall find rest unto your souls."
Time & Place
Located on the Severns Valley Baptist Church Campus
1100 Ring Road
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
270.734.4846
In Session Days
Monday–Wednesday
8:30 am -3:30 pm
Statement of Faith
We believe there is only one God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 16:15-15
We believe the Bible is the inspired and infallible word of God, and that it is the supreme standard and final authority for all conduct, faith, and doctrine.
Psalm 19:7-10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12
We believe that faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ through His death, burial and resurrection is the only way to receive salvation and to be free from the condemnation of sin.
Romans 10:9; John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9
We believe that marriage is exclusively between one man and one woman as defined in Scripture.
Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:5-6
We believe God created man in His own image, male and female.
Genesis 1:26-27; Matthew 19:4
We believe a Christian education is a divine gift that enriches our lives and deepens our relationship with God.
Proverbs 18:15; Romans 10:17; Proverbs 2:6
Elizabethtown Latin School will use the Memoria Press curriculum.
Why do we study Latin?
Latin is the language of one of the most influential cultures of the ancient world: the Romans. Even after the demise of their empire, their language lingered in the church, the universities, and the law courts of the infant nations of the Middle Ages. Today our culture is saturated with this immortal language.
At the Elizabethtown Latin School we begin the study of Latin in the second grade. The reason for this, in short, is that in addition to the wealth of benefits Latin gives to a student in terms of English vocabulary and the disciplining of the mind, we see Latin as the next step after phonics in the path to reading proficiency. It also sets a strong platform in math and sciences and the vocabulary that goes along with each subject.
For a more detailed explanation of the reasons why we make Latin a core of education at ELS, please refer to an article from The Classical Teacher, published by Memoria Press.