New Faith and New Vocation

We really have little Aria to thank for all of this.

Aria is the daughter of Harley Kujak, and it’s because of Aria’s faith and encouragement that her mom is now enrolled in MLC’s first Competency-Based Education (CBE) cohort.

It started when 3-year-old Aria got a gift from her Oma: a Bible. “Ever since then,” her mom said, “she’s wanted to go to church. She loved learning about the different stories of the Bible and how they are still relevant to today’s society.”

Harley, however, wasn’t quite ready at that point.

“I just didn’t know at the time how much I needed Jesus.”

A New Church: Fast-forward several years. Aria was going into third grade when Harley and her soon-to-be husband, Tyler, decided they did not want her in a public school. At the recommendation of a friend, they toured nearby St. John’s Lutheran School in Sparta, Wisconsin—and loved it. “It was a smaller school, and there was a family feel to it.”

They visited the church as well and began taking classes with Pastor Jonathan Hackbarth MLC ’96, WLS ’01, who, they say, has had a profound impact on their lives. Aria, of course, could not have been happier.

As their spiritual journey continued, Harley and Aria were baptized, Harley and Tyler were married, and all three are now happily involved members at St. John’s.

A New Career Direction: God had new career plans in place for Harley as well. She’d been working as a social worker and was pursuing her master’s degree when she was suddenly let go. But what a blessing it turned out to be. She began working as an aide at Bright Beginnings, the early childhood ministry at St. John’s, and found it a wonderful fit.

“I started falling in love with teaching the children,” she said. She worked also as co-lead teacher for 3K and 4K at another early childhood ministry—First Light Learning Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin—and she taught Sunday school at St. John’s. All of it led to a realization: what she really wanted to do with her life was be a Lutheran elementary school teacher.

“I have always loved the idea of being a teacher,” she said. “When I was originally in college at Viterbo University in 2012, I took a test that indicated I would be good as an elementary education teacher, social studies teacher, or early childhood educator.”

The idea seemed farfetched at the time, but as she was working with kids at both preschools, sharing the gospel with them and nurturing their intellectual and spiritual development, she realized how much she loved it.

With the full backing of Tyler—“he was extremely supportive and loving, like he always is,” she said—she decided to pursue the vocation of WELS elementary school teacher.

“The thought of teaching regular arithmetic, English, and history sounds like exactly what I want to do, but additionally I can teach about our Lord’s love.”

A New College: Where does someone like Harley go when she’d like to change careers as an adult, but she doesn’t want to move her entire family so she can go to college? She calls MLC. Specifically, she talked to Dr. Nichole LaGrow about the new Competency-Based Education program—and it fit her situation perfectly.

It allows her to study online, which means her family can stay right where they are. She can keep teaching in the WELS preschools, Tyler can stay with his employer, and her daughter can continue in the dance, cheerleading, and drama activities she loves so much.

It’s also a much less expensive option than a traditional college. The entire program, she says, will cost less than just one year of her education at Viterbo.

And her work in the preschools will help her achieve competency faster.

“I’ve learned so much in the few years I’ve worked in a school. I know there’s more to it than just that, but the competency program does recognize some of the work I’ve done.”

Harley will certainly apply her knowledge in some courses and may earn credit by experience for other courses.

A New Path to Ministry: Harley is now enrolled in the first cohort at MLC, working hard on the required theology courses. Her congregation recognizes the value of her contributions to their school and is lending financial assistance.

It’s early, but so far she loves it, and she’s very excited about what lies ahead. “I really am going to enjoy learning more about education. I’m also excited to learn more about our Lord and Savior. That is probably something I am most looking forward to.”

For Harley, it’s not just a program. It’s the beginning of a whole new life.

“I can finally find a career that makes me happy,” she said. And as she shares the Word with children in her WELS school, she remembers that it’s Aria’s love of Jesus that led her here. “Have faith like a child,” she says—“that’s a statement that really resonates with our family.”