Timothy Mueller, MS Ed

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Tim Mueller - PictureServing 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 has been done for me,” he says.

His day at Star of Bethlehem in New Berlin, Wisconsin, starts early: “Up before the sun, a cup of coffee, me and my inbox,” he says. “Then I begin the school day in God’s Word with my faculty. I greet students and parents with a smile, handshake, or fist bump. I get into God’s Word with my upper graders and just talk about life as Christians in this world. I communicate with the secretaries and enter the office for all things principal.”

The afternoon is spent with students: lunch, recess, math, and English class; and after school he talks with faculty and staff. “I say my faculty and staff because I love them much; they are near and dear to me,” he says.

More office time follows: “emails, phone calls, or face-to-face meetings with any and all stake holders of the school.” Then it’s home briefly for supper and play time with his boys, and back to school to meet with school and church committees—lay people also busy serving the Lord. And finally, he says, “I end the day with my dear wife, without whom my service to the church would not be possible.”

Yes, a busy day, but every conversation, every effort, it seems, is laced with love and joy. “My joy,” he says, “is in knowing there is nothing I have to do, because it has all been done for me. And what’s more, I am given the privilege of telling this to others. Each day I get to tell our Savior’s little lambs about how much Jesus loves them. Each day I get to sit around a table with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and as a team, go and tell the good news of Jesus’ love. And, even more, we get to collaborate and offer an outstanding education as we prepare our students for this life and for eternity. Does it get better?”

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In a way, Tim’s choice to enter a master’s program was inevitable. “Growing up,” he says, “my father always told me I could be a garbage man, McDonald’s worker, teacher, pastor, or anything I wanted, as long as I used my abilities to their absolute fullest to give glory to our God.” As he began teaching, he realized how much he didn’t know. To use his abilities to the fullest, he says, “I knew I needed to keep learning.”

Many master’s programs were available, online and right in La Crosse, Wisconsin, but Tim knew it had to be MLC. “I went into teaching to teach kids about the love of Jesus. I wanted to know how specifically to do that. I knew that at MLC I would learn practical knowledge based in best practices, and it would be centered on the love of Jesus. At MLC I’d learn from experts as instructors and with extremely knowledgeable individuals as peers.”

While Tim was working on his program from 2007 to 2011, he was principal at St. John-Sparta, Wisconsin. “My dear St. John in Sparta took great ownership in helping me financially with master’s program costs,” he says. “They gave freely that I might learn how to serve them and their children to the fullest of my ability. I then took a call to New Berlin. It may be easy to think they’d have negative feelings over the fact that they supported the learning financially and then I went to serve in another location. However, I’m confident that they know it’s not just about the ministry in Sparta, but rather our Lord’s ministry everywhere. I pray that we all, across the United States, might share this perspective.”

Principal Mueller urges other teachers to consider pursuing their master’s degrees, remembering their high calling as Christ’s ambassadors. “Let us ‘use whatever gift [we have] received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in various forms.’ May the love of our Savior and our God’s grace motivate us to continue growing in our faith and in our abilities serving in our various callings – not because we have to, but purely out of love and thankfulness for all that has been done for us.”

Tim is quick to encapsulate the goal of further education: it’s the goal of ministry itself. “It’s all about love,” he says. “Jesus loved us so much he died to save us. It’s as simple as that: faith like a child. Now we go and serve. We serve to the fullest of our abilities out of glory and thanks to him.

“The graduate program at MLC helped me do this. It helped me expand the knowledge and improve the skills God has given me, which he allows me to use daily as I teach his little lambs about this love. Thank you, MLC. Thank you, Lord. To God be the glory.”

Tim Mueller at a Glance
Family: Wife, Megan, and two sons, Timothy III (2) and William (5 weeks)

Hobbies: Being outdoors, golfing, playing with the kids, having a glass of wine with his wife

Media: Books on leadership, communication, teambuilding, and faith; the music his middle school students listen to; kids’ movies (for his sons) and chick flicks (for his wife)

Biographical tidbit: Teaching is his second career. Before MLC, he first earned degrees in business administration and management and worked in resort management.

(Article written by Laurie Gauger)

Kurt Rosenbaum, MS Ed

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rosenbaumprocess-closeBS 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 he gained from his coursework in the leadership emphasis transferred seamlessly from a K-8 school to a 9-12 school and from a single-parish ministry to a federation of parishes.

After his graduation in 1984, Kurt served as a principal at three different elementary schools: Good Shepherd – Burnsville MN (1984-1993), King of Kings – Maitland FL (1993-1999), and Ascension – Sarasota FL (1999-2009). “For 25 years,” he says, “I had the pure joy of serving in a parish ministry. I loved the opportunity to get involved in all aspects of the congregation’s ministry and the intimate person-to-person interactions that it provided.”

An accreditation team visiting Sarasota told Kurt’s congregation it was essential that he pursue his master’s degree. The congregation agreed. “So I began with their blessing and encouragement, and the rest is history,” he says.

Kurt had actually started his master’s twice before, but the demands of ministry had made it impossible to finish. MLC’s program was a different story. “I liked the online approach for its flexibility. That was probably the main reason I could finish it.”

A move from Florida to Arizona is no small thing, but Kurt was able to continue working on the master’s program. “I love the fact that the work applied so directly to my ministry and that my classmates were like-minded in their backgrounds and ministries. The fact that the instructors were able to relate quickly to our special needs and our unique ministries was a big plus. I’ve taken some graduate courses at other institutions, and I admit that having some ‘outside of the WELS’ paradigms and approaches has great value too, but when it comes right down to it, I think this program offered much more in my ministry. I feel that the instructors made great efforts in keeping our classes pertinent and current.”

He finished his program at Christmas during his second year at Arizona Lutheran Academy. “I have been extremely pleased with the coursework and applications and how easily these things transferred from my LES ministry to the ALHS world. My degree has allowed me to enter a new world of ministry (LES to ALHS) feeling more competent than I would ever have felt otherwise.”

On a personal note, Kurt has eclectic tastes. He loves travel and has visited all 50 states. He likes gardening, landscaping, reading, cooking, baking, and playing and watching tennis. A social studies concentrate back in 1984, he continues to enjoy history and calls himself a bit of a political junkie, especially in an election year like this one. When not tuned to political talk shows, his radio plays swing, Christian contemporary, or Broadway. And church music has always played a big role in his ministry.

When he retires, he may look into a bed-and-breakfast, maybe in a place like Virginia where he could also offer his services as a historical tour guide.

But for right now, he says, “I’m living my career dream! Since first grade I’ve never wavered on being a teacher as a career, and I’ve enjoyed my years immensely. This is coupled with the fact that I always desired to play a role in missions and in ministerial education, and I’ve been blessed to serve on governing boards of three of our ministerial education schools as well as the Board for Ministerial Education, and I served about eight years as school counselor in Antigua. I’m humbled by both experiences.”

To those who may be on the fence about pursuing their master’s degree, Kurt offers his encouragement: “I waited until I was in the ministry 25 years to complete my program. I now wish I would’ve completed it earlier for the benefits I’ve received. I would encourage others to jump at it to gain the maximum benefit. I would encourage congregations and calling bodies to make it possible—both in time and in finances—for called workers to continue their education and pursue advanced degrees. It’s essential for our treasured WELS school system to remain current and our teachers to be experts in the arena in which we serve. I consider it a privilege to have served now for 28 years in this kind of work, where God’s Word and people meet.”

(Article written by Laurie Gauger)

Jenny Johnson, MS Ed

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Schopper, JenniferJenny 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 full-time ministry, which necessitated taking three credits to renew her certification.

That’s where Jenny’s love for God and children, as well as her love for learning itself, rose to the forefront and asked the question: Why just take three isolated credits? Why not make them count toward something bigger? Why not learn more about the science of education so I can better serve children?

With those thoughts in mind, Jenny decided to pursue her master’s degree at MLC. Her choice of emphasis – special education – has a rich and personal history of its own. “My oldest daughter, Corynn, was my inspiration,” she says. “She has difficulty in school. She was very late in talking, and for quite a while, she was extremely difficult to understand out of context. She is now diagnosed with ADHD (the inattentive type), an expressive speech and language disability, and dyslexia.

“She struggled to simply learn her letters and sounds,” Jenny continues. “This made reading extremely challenging, and I didn’t know how to help her. The school she attended was unable to help her either, so I decided to home-school her, praying that the individual attention would help. I was nervous, so I took every special education class MLC offered.

“My first class was probably my favorite: Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Difficulties. We were supposed to do a case study on a student and set up a plan for helping them read. I used Corynn as my student. It was invaluable finding out exactly where she was at and figuring out ways to help her.”

When Jenny was halfway through her master’s program, she was called to teach grades 3 and 4 at Loving Shepherd-Milwaukee. With the tools and confidence she received from her master’s courses, she became a resource not only for Corynn, who was in her classroom for two years, but for all the students with learning challenges. Especially helpful, she says, were Cognitive Psychology, Behavioral and Emotional Disabilities, Human Exceptionalities in the Classroom, Communication Disabilities, Diagnosis and Assessment of Students with Special Needs, and Teaching Children with Learning Disabilities.

“When my daughter was young, I could tell that she didn’t learn the same way as other students, but I couldn’t explain it,” she says. “Now, I can talk with medical professionals and representatives from the public school system and explain exactly what I’m seeing. I can also talk with the parents and doctors of other students in similar circumstances. I’m able to share my experiences and offer suggestions.”

Jenny admits that initially she had some worries about going back to school. Would a rigorous course of study fit into an already busy life? Could she manage the workload? While online courses are flexible and convenient, would the technology be too much for her? Would she even remember what she had learned about education as an undergrad?

“I need not have been so worried,” she says now. “The classes were very manageable, and the professors were extremely supportive, flexible, and understanding. Moodle was also easy to use. And the program made me remember how much I love school and learning. I looked forward to each class’s beginning!”

Although Jenny entered the program as an individual and a home-schooling teacher, she finished it as a full-time teacher at Loving Shepherd, a school where people value continuing education. They urge all their teachers to pursue it, and they also help fund it.

“Education has greatly changed since I finished my bachelor’s degree, and it continues to change,” she says. “It’s important that teachers stay current on the research behind the many different educational theories as well as the technology available to aid the lessons being taught in the classroom. When teachers further their education, they show a commitment to life-long learning and are a wonderful example for their students. MLC provides an online program that makes it convenient for participants to do their work at a time that works in their schedule. The technology is not intimidating. I appreciated the fact that the classes are taught by instructors who understand what it’s like to teach in WELS classrooms and the issues that WELS teachers face. Finally, every class is taught from the perspective of God’s Word.”

And that emphasis – on the Word of God and the ministry of the gospel – is what makes MLC’s program truly special.

Meet Jenny Schopper

Education: MLC ’98: BS-Education (STEP Parish Music), MLC ’14 MS-Education

Family: Husband Curt Schopper and daughters Corynn 12, Kyra 10, Kirsten 7

Ministry: Grade 3-4 teacher, organist, junior choir director, and senior choir accompanist at Loving Shepherd-Milwaukee

Hobbies: Hiking, biking, swimming, water-skiing, playing volleyball, and reading (favorites: The Lord of the Ring series, theHarry Potter series, and the Divergent series)

If only there were more time: She’d travel more

A small but important fact: Schopper is pronounced with a long /O/.

 

Written by Laurie Gauger DMLC ’87

Minori Yamaki, MS Ed

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Minori Yamaki MS

Minori Yamaki Preschool Director St. Matthew-Niles ILMinori 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. But in 2006 her role was changed to the director and teacher at St. Matthew’s Japanese Preschool. “This includes promoting my school to Japanese families in the greater Chicago area,” she explains. “It is a great honor to reach out to these families with the gospel. I also coordinate community events with the local Japanese families. Finally, I teach the 5- and 6-year-old students in the Japanese program.”

Minori’s day is very busy. “It starts with a faculty Bible study,” she says, “and continues with welcoming the students and their families to school. Once the students arrive, everything is done in Japanese: the Bible study, the guided play, the ongoing learning, and everything else too! After school, I meet with the families again before making notes in the parent’s language about the student’s progress during the day. Finally, I update our website so that Japanese relatives living far away can see the students’ daily growth too.”

Minori loves the connections she makes with her students and their families. “I get very emotional when my graduated students show up at school with their old grade cards in their hands,” she says. “They still feel they have a place to come back home to.” These relationships are especially valuable because she deeply misses her own family back in Japan.

She also notes another distinct joy: “Since most of the families I’m serving aren’t Christian, they look up to me for my faith. I’ve been invited into homes and asked to lead the table prayer—moments like these are humbling opportunities to share Him with the whole family!” She shares the gospel with some urgency because many of the families are only in this country for a limited time due to business.

Although Minori is very busy, she still finds time to take pictures, listen to music (Simon and Garfunkel, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin), go thrift shopping, socialize with her friends, and read Japanese novels. “I can’t remember the last book I read in English,” she says. “Maybe To Kill a Mockingbird. I am a big fan of Atticus.”

Her interest and expertise in education for Japanese children has expanded into other areas as well. “I write articles about school and children for a midwestern Japanese newspaper and a monthly magazine. I also teach traditional Okinawan dance to a local group of Japanese children between the ages of 3 and 8.”

Her busy schedule did not deter Minori from pursuing her master’s degree, with a leadership emphasis, at MLC.

“I wanted to be a professional,” she says. “To me, to be professional is a verb—it is to keep moving forward, to continue seeking to be the best one can be. Being involved in the master’s program has definitely helped me as a professional as I work with families, lead the Japanese program, and work with the Illinois Department of Child and Family Service. I also have a much greater appreciation for how to make a healthy school culture at St. Matthew’s.

“I still feel uncomfortable with calling myself a ‘professional’ educator,” she adds, “so I keep trying to improve.”

Lynn Jungen – Early Childhood Director

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“I’ve Been Waiting for This” Lynn Jungen Is Enjoying MLC’s New MS-Educational Administration “I believe my job is to help children use and develop their God-given abilities to serve their Lord, their family, their neighbors, and their congregation.” So says Lynn Craker Jungen DMLC ’80 of St. Peter-Mishicot, Wisconsin. As the sole faculty member—both teacher and […]

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Dr. John Meyer, Director

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Meyer2014-croppedAt 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.

Valerie Fischer

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Introducing Our New Office Assistant, Val Fischer!

Fischer, ValerieWhen you call or email our Graduate Studies & Continuing Ed (GSCE) Office, Val Fischer is the nice person you will most likely talk to first. Val is the new administrative assistant for this office, but she’s hardly new to MLC. For 11 years, she worked in another MLC office as the assistant for the Congregational Assistant Program (CAP) and the staff ministry program. We’re thankful she will now be bringing her skills and experience to GSCE.

“My job with the Congregational Assistant Program was similar to the job I have now, only on a smaller scale,” she says. “We had between 100 and 200 students, and continuing ed and graduate studies has about 920.”

In just her first two weeks here, Val’s already connected with many of you, whether you realized it or not. “The day I started was the day after summer semester enrollment was opened,” she says. “So I learned a lot of things rather quickly. I’ve processed course registrations, sent out invoices, paid instructors for teaching courses, worked with people hosting satellite courses, and processed applications for the graduate studies program.”

Val comes to us with other experience as well. Before her service at MLC, she leveraged her bachelor’s degree in mass communications/graphic design into graphic design positions at three different agencies. Those skills will come in handy as she updates the GSCE website.

As she takes on her new duties, she says she’s excited. “I’m looking forward to getting to know our GSCE students and helping them in any way I can to make sure their experience at MLC is a positive one. I’ve met some pretty terrific people over the years working with CAP and staff ministry. I have been blessed by those friendships, and I look forward to making some new ones.”

Val (nee Gerasch) has been married to Kevin Fischer for 26 years. They have two boys, Alec (22) and Jordan (15). Alec is studying business administration at Rasmussen Business College, and Jordan is a freshman at his mom’s alma mater, Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School.

Val’s parents also hail from New Ulm. She lost her dad to colon cancer in 2012, and her mom (by the grace of God) is a breast cancer survivor as of three months ago!

Val likes to hike, bike, scrapbook, rubber stamp, and watch her boys play basketball and baseball. She also loves to take pictures. “I’m always amazed at how beautifully God created this world and the people in it,” she says. “I love trying to capture that beauty in my camera. I enjoy taking someone’s senior pictures and hearing their family tell me that I captured their personality.”

Her favorite Bible passage is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

“Life doesn’t always make sense to me,” she says. “I find a lot of comfort in knowing that God has a plan.”

And we at MLC are so glad God’s plans included Val’s service first in the MLC CAP/Staff Ministry Office and now in the Grad Studies/Continuing Ed Office. Welcome, Val!

Special thanks to Lois Bode, who came out of retirement to work in the GSCE office for the last three months. Lois used her prodigious skills in data management and organization to keep the wheels turning and to train Val when she joined the team. Thanks, Lois!

Dr. Richard Bakken

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BakkenMartin 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

  • Resident of San Diego—“where the weather is always perfect,” he says.
  • Member of Risen Savior-Chula Vista CA
  • Traveler: “Flying around the world on points and miles for nothing has been a hobby for many years!”
  • Philatelist: “I started collecting stamps in fourth grade.”
  • Snowmobiler: “In winter you might find me on snowmobile trails in northern Wisconsin.”
  • Reader: “My favorites are Leadership without Easy Answers by Ronald Heifetz; Executive Orders by Tom Clancy; andTeam of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.”
  • Member and presenter for International Leadership Association
  • Member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences: “That means I can vote on the Grammys each year and attend the ceremony.”

Gretl

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Gretl—her English name—is one of the newest students in our master’s program, and she takes the prize for a couple firsts. She is our first student taking courses from her home in China, and she is also the first student—and likely the only one ever—with an undergraduate degree in veterinary medicine.

After earning her degree in 2008, Gretl worked for nine months as a lab assistant in a Key Laboratory of Preventative Veterinary Medicine at the China Agricultural University. “Like most of the Chinese graduate students, I didn’t really know what I should do. Most students will either get a master’s degree or try to go abroad to study for a PhD. I was just blindly following everybody else.”

But her life was to take a very different turn. It began when she met MLC alumni teaching English during her college years. She became close friends with them, and from them she learned about MLC.

When her job as a lab assistant was not satisfying—she remembers experiments that didn’t work, no matter how hard she tried—she realized that her calling was to teach. She enrolled at MLC to study for her degree in elementary education, but twice her application for a visa was rejected.

Undeterred, she began volunteering at an English school and orphanage. A new task was placed before her when the orphanage staff asked her to take a 1-1/2 year old boy to Israel to have heart surgery. “I was being a single mom for this orphan boy in Israel. I witnessed so many miracles happen on this baby boy. He was condemned to death by the doctor because his heart problem was just so serious; however, his life was saved! He was adopted by an American family and lives in Minneapolis!” Gretl says this experience is a mark carved deeply on her heart and her soul, and it gave her courage in her own journey.

When she came back to China, she became the official Chinese manager at the English school and soon took on teaching duties as well. She now is employed at three different schools, where she teaches second grade science bilingually, seventh and eighth grade science bilingually, and ninth grade biology in English.

“The more I teach, the more limits I see in myself,” she says. “I know I need to be trained so I can serve better and in a more professional way. I trust MLC and know that MLC will equip me.

“I love my first course, Designing Classroom Instruction,” she continues, “because it already is starting to make my preparation for class much more efficient and easier than before. Before, I was trying hard to cover all the content in the unit; then my class plan became a meaningless mess. However, since I started to follow the thought of this course, my time used to prepare class is much less, and I am starting to focus on what students should learn and understand rather than how much I can cover. I really want to finish this awesome program. Then I can use what I learned from MLC to help more Chinese children and parents.”

Coral Cady

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Cady, CoralInternational students are not new at MLC, but Coral Cady is certainly the first WELS teacher from Vietnam to  join our master’s program.

A 1985 graduate of DMLC, she taught at California Lutheran High School for one year and St. Paul-New Ulm MN for 13 years. Then her life changed drastically, as she took a two-year leave of absence to teach at Sekolah Pelita Harapan (School of Light and Hope) in Jakarta, Indonesia, pursuing her childhood dream of being a missionary.

Although getting acclimated to the weather, food, culture, and language wasn’t easy, the people of Indonesia captured her heart: “At the end of my first year I met children from an orphanage and I fell in love! These children were pulled from Ambon (the capital city of Maluku, an island on the eastern part of Indonesia), where there had been fierce fighting between Christians and Muslims. Their parents were looking for a place that would provide safety, school, and other physical necessities until the fighting was over. These kids were traumatized, as many of them witnessed the death of family members or friends and some of the boys actually had to fight in the war. I started my work with them by bringing books to teach them English. It wasn’t long before I began staying overnight with them at the orphanage and becoming a part of their family.”

At the end of her second year, St. Paul’s asked her to return, and she did so happily. But the call of those Ambonese orphans was too much, and after one year in the States, she returned to to Sekolah Pelita Harapan, where she taught another eight years.

“What the young people of Ambon taught me and gave to me is immeasurable,” she says. By 2010, however, almost all of them had moved on to university, so Coral decided to move on as well, this time to a new school in Hanoi, Vietnam: Concordia International School, where she will teach PreK-2 phy ed and PreK-7 music next year.

With a new country, a new life, and a slightly lighter schedule, Coral decided it was time to pursue her master’s. She chose the M.S. Ed. program at Martin Luther College, focusing on the Instruction emphasis.

She admits that at first she was hesitant. Could she do this from 8,000 miles away? Would the online connection be accessible? Would she get the materials she required in hot and humid Hanoi?

After a few kinks—the books for her first classes, for instance, did not arrive on time—she is now online, on board, and on fire. Professor Gene Pfeifer’s course, Improving Instructional Methodology, inspired her. “It extended my understanding of how best to reach my students by addressing their unique qualities. I loved the instant feedback and the interaction with other WELS teachers. It was stimulating to communicate through posted responses; I think we all learned from everyone’s experience and expertise.

“I was able to take many of the things I learned and immediately implement them in my own classroom,” she adds. “I saw the effectiveness of organizing units with authentic tasks, practicing and promoting higher order thinking skills.”

She also appreciated the flexibility. “Doing this course online allowed me to work at times when it fit into my schedule. Because I live overseas, it was a huge plus to find all of my resources online. Although I did my best to complete all assignments on time, I was granted an extension when one was needed. That flexibility was greatly appreciated.”

Coral understands why some teachers may be hesitant about plunging into a program. “I remember very well the pressures of teaching in a WELS school,” she says. “Often we are stretched very thin, covering many different duties. We can get a bit bogged down in the day-to-day activities and forget how important it is to work on the craft of teaching and further our own knowledge as teachers.”

But Coral does not want to forget. She wants to work on her craft, increase her knowledge, and become the best teacher she can be. “The master’s program whetted my appetite for learning again. It reminded me of important truths about children and how best to help them as learners.”