Dr. James Carlovsky graduated from Martin Luther College in 2002 with a degree in elementary education and secondary math education. He is married to Kathryn Knickelbein, and they are blessed with five children, aged 10-19. In 2010, he received his Master of Science in Education from Martin Luther College with an instruction emphasis. He completed his PhD in math education from the University of Minnesota in 2019, where his study was particularly focused on moments of student thinking in the classroom.
James gained teaching experience from his years as a principal and upper-grade teacher at St. John-Sparta WI and as the curriculum coordinator, math instructor, and coach at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School in Jackson WI. He currently serves at MLC as a professor of mathematics and instructional technology. He is a Minnesota-licensed elementary and middle school math teacher. James feels that education begins with relationships in the classroom between instructors, students, and our Savior. He has a love for expert teaching that he prays is contagious to his students-in-training. He feels that math needs to be experienced and explored.
Read James’ blog: Saxon Math Is Going Away—What’s Next?
Michael Plocher, MS Ed – Educational Technology, is a middle school STEM educator and director of technology at St. Paul Lutheran School – New Ulm MN. He also is an adjunct instructor at Martin Luther College, where he teaches the education course Teaching with Technology. He promotes the need for STEM education in schools and is an advisory team member of the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) which has a goal of increasing more tech jobs in rural America.
Michael enjoys sharing with teachers how to incorporate technology into their teaching to enhance student learning and lighten their own workload. He also strongly believes in fostering students’ creativity guiding them to become better at critical thinking, collaboration, and communicating. He does this by integrating science, mathematics, and engineering concepts in the courses he teaches. For 30 years, he has promoted the inclusion of technology in instruction at the local, district, and synod levels and is a regular presenter of educational technology topics.
Read Mike’s Blog: ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence in Education
Ryan Kirchoff serves as the instructional coordinator at Fox Valley Lutheran High School. He also teaches two writing courses in the English department. Ryan has a passion for helping teachers gain a stronger sense of confidence in what they teach and how they teach in order to increase student learning. He serves on several committees related to curriculum and instruction, and he hosted a webinar in February on how faith-based schools should respond to AI programs like ChatGPT.
Brad Gurgel serves as principal at Mt. Calvary-Waukesha WI. As part of his master’s degree in educational administration completed in 2022, Brad enjoyed working on a field project where he designed and implemented an organization-wide family devotion program at his former congregation and school that successfully assisted many families with beginning a devotional routine at home. Brad enjoys connecting individuals and families to the truths of the Bible and helping parents gain an appreciation for the many blessings of being a family centered around the Word of God. When not busy at school, Brad enjoys spending time with his wife, Bethany, and their five children, using technology, and playing soccer.
Read Brad’s Blog: Empowering Parents as Family Spiritual Leaders
Pastor Alex Groth has been serving at Beautiful Savior-Cincinnati since his graduation from the seminary in 2011. He has served as the chairman for the district Commission on Youth and Family Ministry for the last ten years. He and his wife, Carrie, have been serving as foster parents for the last year and a half, which has opened their eyes to some of the urgent needs in the area of family ministry.
