The Story of a Special Services Director—with a Few Twists
When Holly (Pearson) Dannecker MLC ’09 earned her MS-Education from MLC this spring, it was the culmination of an interesting story—a story with a few surprising twists. The first twist took place before Dannecker even began grad school. Although she started her ministry as an elementary teacher, she is now a full-time special education teacher. […]
Two Hats—One Program
Zach Seeger (’05, ’22) wears two hats. At Abiding Peace in Simpsonville, South Carolina, he carries a full load of administrative duties and teaches a full classroom of sixth and seventh graders. He’s a principal who teaches. So it was important to him that his master’s program increase his skills in both areas of his […]
Journey to a Master’s Degree—
Annie Gumm in Her Own Words Annie Gumm MLC ’03 teaches grade 6, upper-grade English, PE, and choir at St. Mark-Watertown, Wisconsin. She earned her MS Education from Martin Luther College in 2021. Here’s her story in her own words. Three reasons she decided now was the time for her master’s program: I was asked […]
The Gut Family: Master’s Degrees and Life with the Master
Kyle, Justin, and Kayte Gut (pronounced ‘goot’) went to school together at MLC about 20 years ago—graduating in 2000, 2001, and 2002. They found themselves at MLC again just a couple years ago, all of them enrolled in the graduate program. When they realized they would all graduate at the same time and could receive […]
Prepared for the Office
It took three calls and two master’s degrees before he felt ready to step into the role of principal. Phil Gustafson BS ’09, MS ’16, MS ’19 was assigned to St. Mark in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, when he graduated from MLC in 2009. In his 11 years of ministry there, he served as assistant principal […]
Joycelyn Williams-Green: Professor and Student
Joycelyn Williams-Green is proud to be both college professor and college student. Professor Williams-Green is Senior Lecturer of Educational Psychology and Special Needs at Antigua State College. She teaches teachers, mentoring them in how to do their jobs even better, especially in the area of special education. While often standing behind the podium as professor, […]
Ted Klug
Because Technology Revolutionizes Education An interview with Ted Klug BS ’97, MS ’18 When Ted Klug was considering a master’s degree program as the next step in his professional development, he knew what field he wanted to explore: technology. As Lakeside LHS director of technology, Ted had already seen major changes in classrooms because of […]
Meet Kate Krieger
For Kate (Hieb) Krieger (BS ’10, MS ’17), relationships mean everything. That belief has guided her teaching, her master’s studies, and now the new courses she’s developing as an MLC continuing education adjunct instructor. Maybe relationships are so important because Kate’s a third-culture kid. Born in Japan in 1987, where her parents were WELS missionaries, […]
Tom Plitzuweit
Effective Leaders Make Others Better In both his words and his ministry, Tom Plitzuweit captures a foundational premise of leadership: “A big part of being a leader is to help those around me get better.” In all the leadership calls he has filled, he has devoted himself to making those around him better. That’s why […]
Duane Vance: Public University Grad Thankful for MLC Master’s Program
Duane Vance can’t say enough good things about the Martin Luther College master’s program. “I never imagined what kind of impact the graduate studies program would have on our ministry here,” he says.
Meet 2016 Graduate Jessica Zahrt
Something few people know about Jessica (Rozek) Zahrt is that she’s a twin. Jessica’s twin sister has some cognitive disabilities, and, growing up, Jessica saw how other kids sometimes picked on her. Maybe that’s why Jessica is the teacher she is today, one who not only molds little minds but also massages little hearts with […]
Benjamin Bain, MS Ed
Ask 2010 MS Ed graduate Ben Bain what makes his work as principal and teacher at St. John’s in Red Wing, MN, special, and he’s likely to say, “The people I get to work with really make this a special place, and that’s been a real privilege.” In fact, the congregation, parents and faculty have […]
Amy Bryant, MS Ed
Family comes first for Amy Schmeling Bryant(’03), but she also wants to serve her church. With God’s blessing, she has managed to balance them both—beautifully. Amy serves as a preschool aide and Sunday school coordinator at Salem – Woodbury MN. She also started an additional outreach program at Salem called Smart Start. Working as a […]
Rachel Burgess, MS Ed
July 8, 2010, was an important day for Rachel Perry Burgess ’02. She handed her comprehensive examination to Director of Graduate Studies John Meyer, marking the culmination of her graduate work at Martin Luther College. Emphasis: Of the three emphases—instruction, special education, and leadership—Rachel opted for leadership because the classes seemed most applicable for her […]
Timothy Gustafson, MS Ed
A Second Master’s Degree—Totally Worth It! Twenty-two years ago, Tim Gustafson DMLC ’83 earned a master’s degree in education from Viterbo University. Last May he earned a second master’s degree, this time from MLC. Why another graduate degree? Mr. Gustafson says he enjoyed studying for his first master’s degree and saw how it made him a […]
Aaron Hartwig, MS Ed
First MLC “Master” Aaron Hartwig was the first student to enroll in MLC’s Master of Science in Education program. A decade later, we caught up with him. Did the degree make a difference in his ministry? “There’s no doubt in my mind,” he says, “that I’m a significantly better principal and classroom teacher as […]
Chris Hintz, MS Ed
When Chris Hintz graduates this May with his MS-Ed, he’ll walk off the stage with far more than a diploma. He’s gained skills and insights that have strengthened his God-given leadership gifts and greatly benefited his ministry as principal. The office of principal has called out to Chris since his graduation from MLC in 2004. […]
Sheila Krause, MS Ed
Two brothers with learning disabilities were Sheila Jones Krause’s inspiration. “Working with children who struggle in school in a WELS setting has always been my dream,” she says. As the extended learning teacher at David’s Star, Jackson WI, she does just that, teaching children with learning difficulties and disabilities, as well as teaching grade 7-8 […]
Rebecca Lindenberg, MS Ed
As a language arts instructor in the upper grades at St. John-Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Becky Gohr Lindenberg’s days are always interesting. “I tell my students I have the best job in the whole school, because my assignments aren’t just math problems and multiple choice questions. Every time I assign a paper or essay, I get to read […]
Jeffrey Loberger, MS Ed
Jeff Loberger (MLC 2003, MLC MS 2012) believes that good schools begin with good leaders. As a leader at Good Shepherd-Omaha, he wears a number of leadership hats, but, interestingly, not one of them says “Classroom Teacher.” “I spend my day as principal of our school, development director of our building program, and member ministry […]
Timothy Mueller, MS Ed
Serving to the Best of His Ability Like most WELS principals, Tim Mueller (MLC BS ’06, MSEd ’11) is a busy man. But he feels privileged – overjoyed, in fact – to be so. “My joy is in serving my God to the fullest of my abilities out of thanks and praise for all that […]
Kurt Rosenbaum, MS Ed
BS 1984 DMLC MS 2011 MLC In 2009, after 25 years of elementary school administration, Kurt Rosenbaum was called to a different kind of ministry: principal of Arizona Lutheran Academy. Fortunately, the change did not interrupt his pursuit of his master’s degree through MLC. And he was pleased to find that the skills and competencies […]
Jenny Johnson, MS Ed
Jenny Johnson Schopper MLC ’98,’14 took a path familiar to many women who graduated from D/MLC. After teaching a few years, she got married, started a family, and resigned from teaching to stay home with her young children. A few years later, when the time was right, she wanted to make herself available again for […]
Minori Yamaki, MS Ed
Minori Yamaki MS Minori Yamaki (MLC 2002, MLC MS 2011) feels that her MS is making her even more of a professional in her unique ministry setting – a Lutheran Japanese preschool in the Chicago area. Ms. Yamaki was assigned as a kindergarten/ preschool teacher for St. Matthew, Niles, Illinois, when she graduated in 2002. […]
