Filling a Special Ed Need in WELS Schools We’re pleased to introduce Dr. Alanna Lienig ’05. She’s teaching two courses in the special education emphasis of our MS-Ed program: Teaching Children with Learning Disabilities and The IEP Process and Professional Practice, a course she developed herself. Dr. Lienig is filling an important need—for MLC and […]
It was volunteering at homeless and domestic abuse shelters that really fueled Julie Sallquist’s passion for early childhood education. Her graduate work and early career at Arizona State University had been focused on promoting children’s positive development through research. But applying that research to education settings is what really motivates her. As a volunteer with […]
It’s all about the books. As a grade 1-8 teacher for 13 years and a college education professor for eight years, Professor Jon Roux DMLC ’95 has loved teaching and talking about books. But books are just the start. Really, he loves language arts in general—that broad content area containing everything from reading comprehension to […]
At the helm of MLC’s burgeoning Master of Science in Education program is Dr. John Meyer.
As director of graduate studies, John’s goals are about boosting communication and building community. “I want to get the word out about the benefits this program can bring to ministry,” he says, “and I want to increase the connectedness and collaboration of the online community.”
John has a heart for the teaching ministry. “I have a great appreciation for teachers’ dedication, sacrifice, and zeal for the sake of their students, their schools, and the gospel of Jesus. The Lord has prepared me to relate to our teachers by putting me in a wide variety of ministry joys and challenges. I have walked in their shoes, and my goal is to ensure that the program works for them.”
He also understands and appreciates the value of continuing education, having been enrolled in programs from the day he was first assigned in 1987.
His excitement for MLC’s M.S. Ed. is perhaps best encapsulated with this thought: “I wish this program had been in place when I was working on my master’s.”
Upon assignment to St. John-Wood Lake MN, John Meyer immediately embarked on a 21-credit DMLC certification program for principals, School Administration and Supervision. He completed his M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction at UW-Madison in 2002. He was enrolled in MLC’s post-baccalaureate licensure program when he was called as director of graduate studies. At that time, he entered a Ph.D. program in Educational Administration at UM-Twin Cities, for which he is in the dissertation phase right now.
Dr. Meyer is excited about the way MLC’s program is an ideal fit for WELS teachers, in both course content and delivery. “The program is specifically designed to meet the needs of WELS teachers, no matter how or where they serve,” he says. “We have women and men in the program who are high school teachers, preschool teachers and directors, principals, elementary teachers, stay-at-home moms, and even a pastor teaching at a high school. They all bring their insights and experiences to the classroom and help one another grow.
“And they work under the guidance and direction of seven respected MLC graduate faculty members with experience in ministry and doctorates in their fields as well as 12 adjunct professors who bring their experiences and expertise from beyond the MLC walls.
“What’s so exciting,” he continues, “is getting to see how these educational leaders are impacting the work and future of Lutheran schools. At a time when it is tempting to look at the Lutheran school landscape and feel helpless at the forces that buffet it, this program offers something real that teachers can do to make a positive difference in themselves, their students, their ministries, and, ultimately, the future of the church.
“Teachers tell me it energizes their ministry and gives them ideas to put into practice no matter how or where they serve. I wish this program had been in place when I was working on my master’s program.”
A New Ulm native and DMLC grad, John served as teacher and principal in four Lutheran elementary schools:
• St. John-Wood Lake MN
• Zion-Hartland WI
• Pilgrim-Minneapolis MN
• Salem-Stillwater MN
The variety of settings—small and large; rural, urban, and suburban—gives John a healthy understanding of the different areas of ministry in which (D)MLC grads work.
John and his wife, Heidi Keibel Meyer, have five children, age 12 to 27.
Martin Luther College welcomes Adjunct Instructor Richard Bakken, PhD, who comes to our graduate faculty with a rich and eclectic background encompassing music, technology, education, travel, and leadership. Dr. Bakken’s studies began in Wisconsin, took him around the world to Qatar, settled him in San Diego, and gave him a place on the adjunct faculty in New Ulm, Minnesota.Rich earned his BA in music education from Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2000 and holds Wisconsin licenses for teacher, administrator, and principal. After graduation he worked as director of media services at WLC until 2006, earning his MA-Ed from the University of Phoenix while working.
Jobs at KVL Audio Visual Services in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and 620 WTMJ Radio in Milwaukee followed. At TMJ, he was both a producer and on-air news anchor. Since 2007 he’s worked at San Diego State University in the instructional technology services department, supporting classroom technologies across campus.
In 2013, he received his PhD in leadership studies from the University of San Diego. His dissertation research took him to Qatar, where he worked with students and administrators at Education City in Doha.
Rich comes by his interest in education and leadership naturally: both his parents DMLC graduates and teachers. His dad is currently principal at St. Paul-Tomah, Wisconsin. Music runs in the Bakken family as well; all of them sing and play instruments. Rich still sings, plays for church, and enjoys directing choir when he can.
We feel blessed that Dr. Bakken has joined our graduate faculty as adjunct instructor, teaching Multimedia Technologies this spring. “I’m looking forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with students who are interested in technology and using new tools for instruction,” he says. “We have so many more opportunities to make use of these tools than at any other time in history!”
A Closer Look: Instructor Richard Bakken, PhD
Dr. Jeff Lemke is looking forward to sharing his expertise with graduate students in MLC’s new course, School Business Administration. This course is an elective for all Master of Science in Education students and a requirement in our new Master of Science in Educational Administration program, a degree designed specifically for WELS principals and early childhood directors—and those willing to prepare themselves for such a role.Dr. Lemke explains that this course will lead the graduate students through several crucial elements of administering a Lutheran school: financial management, recruitment, marketing, fundraising, and developing entrepreneurial schools.
Some of these topics touch on areas that are sensitive, perhaps even controversial. Lemke wants to discuss them all openly and honestly.
He explains: “It’s commonplace in today’s world that the topics of finances and belief are not to be discussed. I’m continually drawn to both these topics because they’re of critical importance in building schools that can be great tools for ministry. I believe other WELS principals and childhood directors believe the same.”
Lemke comes by his knowledge through both education and experience. His credentials include a BA (psychology) from Wisconsin Lutheran College, and an MA (organizational leadership) and PhD (educational administration) from Bethel University-St. Paul. He feels blessed to have received a broad education across several disciplines: psychology, communications, theology, business leadership, and education.
His experience includes his current ministry at St. Croix Lutheran Grades 6-12, where he serves as director of admissions, marketing, and international programs. He contracts with both international partners and local marketing firms to project St. Croix’s brand, and he regularly shares the blessings of a St. Croix education with families as close as St. Paul, Lake City, and Rochester, Minnesota, and as far away as South America and Asia.
Prior to his St. Croix call, he directed a St. Paul Family Center program that assisted new immigrants with the transition to life in America, a role that included extensive grant writing and community partnership development.
An eclectic early education also adds color to Dr. Lemke’s CV: He started elementary school at a rural school, Grace-Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and finished at an urban school, Atonement-Milwaukee. He continues to support Atonement enthusiastically because of the “incredibly formative experience” he received there. He’s also a proud graduate of St. Croix Lutheran, from which he immediately stepped off to a European backpacking trip with his sister. “Thus began a life-long journey of experiential learning,” he says.
Lemke is looking forward to joining MLC as an adjunct instructor. “Every time you teach,” he says, “you learn so much and see the fruits of it in your ministry. I have learned much already from the instructors who have guided me in developing the course and look forward to the many things I will learn from my students.”
Grad students will enjoy both Dr. Lemke’s knowledge and also his passion for excellence in Lutheran education. “The Lord has blessed each one of us with a passion for excellence in a unique realm of his created world,” he says. “May the Spirit guide us all in fully developing our area of excellence so that he may use us as an instrument of his will.”
Meet Dr. Jeff Lemke
Family: I have wonderful women in my life. My wife has her master’s degree in philanthropy and development and works with our local hospital. She’s a tremendous resource regarding fundraising and financial management and is an outstanding mother, especially during my weeks out of the country. My daughters Ava and Lucia revel in their friendships and learning opportunities at Salem Lutheran in Stillwater, Minnesota. Their little sister, Mikaela, is 7 months old and makes sure we are awake and giggling all of the time. We all love dance parties and exploring nature.
I’ve been raised in good company with three older sisters and two sisters-in-law. My mother taught at the grade school level for over 25 years and provided me with a sense of creativity shown via photography endeavors.
My father is a lifelong friend and mentor. We talk daily about financial management and how to build great schools. We continue to utilize God’s gift of football as a tool for ministry with young men and have been fortunate to build two statechampionship teams together.
Church: Salem-Stillwater MN
Professional Organizations:
Personal interests: dance parties with my girls, international movies, skiing, investing, football
Dr. Carrie Pfeifer DMLC ’81 has a passion for good teaching. She knows good teachers aren’t merely good with math or English, nor are they merely good with kids. Good teachers connect the learner and the subject matter—but there’s more. Good teachers understand that each child learns in a different way, and it is the teacher’s job to figure out each child’s instructional needs and meet those needs.
In many ways, Dr. Pfeifer has made this her life’s work. “Every student is unique,” she says, “and I enjoy finding out what helps each student experience success in school.”
When the school is a Christian school, the importance of solid teaching and learning is even greater—and so is Pfeifer’s passion. “A Christian education is such a special blessing for our children,” she says. “My passion is to be able to offer that blessing to as many children as possible.”
Pfeifer’s passion has been fed by experience. She has taught at almost every grade level, PK to high school, in her ministries at St. Matthew-Niles IL, St. John-Sleepy Eye MN, Minnesota Valley Lutheran HS-New Ulm MN, and St. Croix Lutheran Schools-West St. Paul MN.
At both area Lutheran high schools, she not only taught courses, but she also served as learning resources director, which affirmed to her the importance of differentiating instruction to meet each learner’s needs.
Many WELS teachers are familiar with Pfeifer through the continuing education courses and webinars she has taught through MLC the past several years, including the courses Human Relations and Understanding Autism, and the webinars on brain-based strategies for students who have learning issues and attention issues. Pfeifer created these webinars herself, and they are available this semester. She hopes to create more webinars on autism and literacy disorders. She also offers a one-credit online course in differentiated instruction, which is part of the Teaching that Works series.
Carrie and her husband, Gene, live in Inver Grove Heights MN and attend Good Shepherd-Burnsville MN. They have three adult children, Jesse, Nicole, and Jordan; and one new granddaughter, Makinley Mae, born in June to Jesse and his wife, Naomi.
Nicole and Jordan were adopted from South Korea. On a trip back there last March, Carrie and Gene found the agency where Nicole came from. “It was a pretty special day for us,” she says.
In addition to her work as Learning Resources Director at St. Croix Lutheran, she is also Director of Student Residences and teacher of English 4 and College in the Classroom Advanced Writing (in partnership with Bethany Lutheran College).
Carrie likes snowshoeing, bicycling, and playing with little Makinley. Another “hobby” is teaching speed reading and ACT/SAT/TOEFL test prep classes in her spare time.
As an English teacher, she will stick with the classic To Kill a Mockingbird as her favorite book. And her favorite music is that produced by her daughter, Nicole, who is an indie-rock singer and songwriter with one album made and another in the planning.
MLC continuing ed and graduate students are grateful that Carrie is willing to share her passion for good teaching with them, and Carrie is grateful to be their instructor.
“I think it is vital that teachers continue to learn and grow,” she says. “MLC’s continuing education program and graduate programs offer high-quality courses from a Christian perspective. I feel very blessed to be a part of such an outstanding program. I enjoy working with such a high level of students—our synod is blessed to have such talented teachers in our schools.”
