Lutheran Education Podcast

Angela Swazey, the 2025  Charles A Winterstein Administrator of the Year award recipient and principal at St. Michael Lutheran in Wayne, MI, joins the podcast to share her feelings on being nominated and winning the award. She talks about her philosophy behind the special needs program at her school and the benefits that her families and students gain from having LSEM in their school. She also has some words of wisdom and encouragement for up-and-coming teachers starting out in their careers. 

Chris Singer, president and CEO of Lutheran Church Charities Canine Comfort Dogs program, joins the podcast to talk about the importance and role of comfort dogs in their ministry. They'll help in the wake of a disaster or emergencies and get an opportunity to respond and help people deal with trauma and tragedy. They currently have 128 teams in 30 states. 

A teacher for over 28 years, Larry Sand joins the podcast to talk about teacher unions and government's involvement in education. Sand, who writes about education issues, founded the California Teacher Empowerment Network in 2006 to help teachers get information that they may not be able to obtain from their unions and districts. 

Trip Rodgers, Education Executive for the Central Iliinois District returns to the podcast to talk about the latest research on trauma as well as some of the residual effects as we look back on the Covid pandemic.

In this episode Dr. Lisa Joyner, from Veritas Baptist College, and Dr. Bunnie Claxton, founder and CEO of Dissertation Research Specialists, talk about individualized education plans in private school settings.

Patti Bartsch, PhD.,, founder of Naturally Unbridled Wellness, a holistic therapy center in Onalaska, WI, and Tori Yocum, a Biophotonic and Brainergy Specialist with Naturally Unbridled Wellness talk about nutrition and food choices in our schools and how they affect learning and brain development in our students. 

Pastor Todd Bentz, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hamburg, MN, and Pastor Rich Steensma, senior pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Jefferson City, MO, join the podcast to talk about how they each made a significant change in ministry and what went into those decisions. Both pastors shifted from education to a pastoral role and chat about how God pressed this change upon their hearts.

 Three LSEM teachers from across the country — Erin Muth (Minnesota), Rebekeh Symank (California) and Kasey Mathews (Illinois) — join Dr. Tracie Salgado for a roundtable conversation and talk about and share their journeys and paths in becoming special education teachers. They discuss some of the challenges in their profession as well as their successes and their unique approaches in working with their students. 

Mick McCoy is the creator of Holidays in Scriptures (HIS) Songs, a curriculum of scripture songs for children. In this podcast, McCoy, who goes by Grampa Ralph in his songs, talks about how he came to Christ in 1971 while working at a coffee house in Hawaii. He left everything behind to follow Christ but soon came back to music when he realized that music was one of his gifts from God. You can find his curriculum at scripturesong.org.

Travis Grulke, assistant to the president in education and superintendent of schools at the Michigan District, and Sean Martens, assistant to the president in education at the Minnesota South District, join the podcast to talk about the state of education in their respective states.  Each touch on the amazing growth they're experiencing in their districts as well as the importance of the local Concordia Universities in their regions.

Kevin Creutz, Executive Director of the Lutheran Schools Partnership in Fort Wayne, IN, is a former teacher and principal. While he didn't always envision working on the administration side of education, Kevin talks about how his professional journey was encouraged by fellow administrators throughout his career. The Lutheran Schools Partnership provides services and resources to Lutheran schools.

Richard Schumacher, Senior Director of Operations at Lutheran Special Education Ministries and host of the podcast, recaps the year, talks about the state of the ministry and what's ahead in the coming year at LSEM. Richard also reflects on some of 2024's podcast highlights.  

Dr. Drew Gerdes, Assistant Professor of Education, Early Childhood Education Program Director, Director of Student Teaching, Department of Education at Concordia University Nebraska, has served as an Early Childhood Teacher and Administrator at schools in the United States and Asia for nearly three decades. Noted as a professional who loves to share and develop other educators, Dr. Gerdes has been a sought-after speaker on a variety of topics in Early Childhood Education and Lutheran School Ministry.

Andrew Monkmeyer, Principal at Concordia Lutheran School in Peoria, IL, joins the conversation with Dr. Tracie Salgado and talks about the relationship between his school and Lutheran Special Education Ministries. After 14 years as a teacher at Concordia, Andrew became principal last year and stepped into the role of navigating the special education needs in his school. He talks about challenges that all Christian schools face in regards to social and emotional learning and well-being as well as other needs of their students.

Dr. Thomas Wrege, a frequent contributor to the podcast, joins this episode and talks about his new endeavor as a School Funding Executive at DAST Consulting. A former teacher and principal, Wrege recently earned his doctoral degree in innovation and continuous improvement from Concordia University. In his new role, he helps school administrators find and access funding that they may not have realized is available to them.

LSEM's Dr. Tracie Salgado talks with Annie Palmer, owner and literacy coach at Annie Palmer Consulting, about the importance of being proficient in writing. A parent and teacher, Annie knows what it takes to work with parents and educators in better equipping them to guide their children and students to become better writers. 

Matt Dery, a sports radio broadcaster turned teacher, joins the podcast for a conversation about how he took a non-traditional path to becoming an educator and the ways he was able to connect with and bring a different perspective to his students and parents in the classroom. He talks about some of the approaches he used in getting on his students level and come across as equals. There are some great points in this podcast for anyone considering a career change and venturing into teaching.

Rebecca Friedrichs, author of Standing up to Goliath, has spent her career fighting within the school system to protect her students and parents from the darkness and grief that the teachers' unions have caused. Friedrichs wrote an editorial that was featured in her local newspaper. That piece started the wheels in motion in challenging the union and eventually led to their case appearing before the U.S. Supreme Court. By sharing her story and experiences, Friedrich wants to ensure that the issues that affect our public schools don't creep into our private school curriculum.

Rev. Joel Kaiser, Associate Pastor at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, MI, talks with Richard Schumacher on the role he plays in welcoming new students and families to their Lutheran school. With enrollment increasing during the pandemic, a wonderful opportunity presented itself to evangelize to these new students and families. Kaiser is involved with the school in working with staff and faculty on how to maximize the opportunity to welcome and bring the news of Jesus to these new families and what it means to be part of the Lutheran church.

Dr. Danisha Keating  joins the podcast and shares her story about growing up in an environment of abuse within a foster care environment. From homelessness and taking care of her siblings, to earning her Ph.D. Dr. Keating tells her story to help other children who are in foster care as well as foster parents. A research psychologist, Dr. Keating's traumatic upbringing gave her the passion and tools to help others through her books and speaking engagements. 

LSEM's Dr. Tracie Salgado and Richard Schumacher are joined by Dr. Tanya Calendo, Principal at Christ Greenfield Lutheran School in Gilbert, AZ and Angie Schiller, Principal at Yuma Lutheran School in Yuma, AZ. In their conversation they talk about how each principal made their respective schools so large and successful. Each has a larger vision for their schools and are prepared for continued growth. Both principals talk about how they incorporated special education and the services of LSEM as one of their biggest differentiators. 

A frequent contributor to the podcast, Travis Grulke, Superintendent of Schools for the Michigan District, is also a frequent conference speaker where he provides education and training on a variety of topics including the difference between balance and harmony in our lives, what it means to be a Lutheran educator, decision making and the seven habits of highly effective educators. 

Kyle Chuhran is the Elementary Education Coordinator at Concordia University Ann Arbor and Act Money Coaching. In this podcast we talk finances and help our teachers better use their God-given resources. He loves teaching and helps students become teachers and ultimately get placed in their student teaching positions.  Seeing his students grow academically and spiritually is the most satisfying aspect of his career. He talks about the financial challenges teachers face as they embark on their careers and the services he offers to help them make sound financial decisions.

While the sun was rising behind Doug Grove, the Head of School at Concordia International School in Hanoi, Vietnam, we were recording our first international podcast the evening before. In this engaging conversation, Doug talks about his path to accepting the call to work internationally. Always interested in learning and experiencing new things, Doug and his wife took a major leap by studying the Asian culture and acclimating themselves to a whole new world; first in China and now Vietnam. He talks about the challenges and benefits of working internationally and encourages those who may be interested in working abroad that it may not be as difficult as one may think.

Dr. Kim Marxhausen, a frequent contributor to the podcast and a teacher in the honors program at the University of Nebraska, shares her insights with special education educators and in this episode covers the topic of learned helplessness. Learned helplessness occurs as a result of a set of circumstances that students face, including trauma, that can cause learning challenges. It became prevalent during and following the Covid pandemic. Parents and teachers can learn from this episode on how not to enable learned helplessness in their children and students.

Karin Freeland, a life coach, speaker and author, joins the podcast for an inspiring conversation with LSEM's new Director of Special Education, Dr. Tracie Salgado. Karin, a self-proclaimed recovered corporate workaholic,  talks about the challenges teachers face in and out of their classrooms and what they can do to create the best version of themselves.  She touches on focusing more on what's important, self-care and setting goals so you can take control of your day, put God first and be more present in your life.

In this podcast, we introduce Dr. Tracie Salgado — LSEM's new Director of Special Education. Dr. Salgado has taught for over 25 years, both here and internationally in New Zealand, China and Mexico. She knew she wanted to become a teacher at a young age  when she playeed the role with her siblings and friends growing up. She talks about the importance of building positive relationships with her students, the lessons she learned about edcuation on an international level and chats about her new responsibilities at LSEM.

Ted Neitzke makes a return visit to the podcast and shares his insights on developing good leaders in our educators and helping teachers embrace the idea of being a leader and how administrators can support them in their roles. Neitzke has an extensive background in education and leadership. The former teacher, principal and superintendent is currently the mayor of Port Washington, Wisconsin and is also the CEO of CESA 6, an educational service agency focusing on the current education landscape and the changing needs of educators.

Dr. Julian Petzold, president of Lion Safety Consulting, joins the podcast to talk about safety in our schools, churches and buildings. He sheds light on the many things school administrators may not think of, but need to consider in today's educational environment. After 28 years in education he earned his doctorate degree and did his research in best practices in school safety and started to present at conferences. He's helped many schools and their families in developing their safety procedures and training programs. 

Trip Rodgers is the Education Executive with the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. In this role he specializes in education and congregational life and talks today about trauma and trauma response in our schools. During the discussion, Trip discusses how the pandemic has affected students both socially and academically. He also addresses some of the traditional classroom tactics that can trigger a traumatic event for a student. This episode will make teachers and administrators reflect on how they can improve upon and create  a safe and resilient space in their schools.

Stacy McGhee, President and CEO of LSEM, and Nicole Legalley, LSEM's new Philanthropy Specialist, join the podcast to talk about the ministry's 150th Anniversary celebration over the course of 2023 and the exciting future that God has planned for LSEM as they look to serve even more children across the country as well as the world. 

Reverend Dr. Ryan Peterson, Vice President of Concordia University of Ann Arbor joins our podcast to discuss his responsibilities and how he landed in his role of Vice President. In this episode he recalls stories of what led him into the world of ministry, how he lives and breathes both Concordia University of Ann Arbor and Wisconsin's mission and how that mission drives both institutions. He sheds light on the importance of finding future church workers and with that paying attention to needs of churches in order to teach their students and give them the proper education.

Ted Neitzke is CEO of Cesa 6, an influential and innovative education service agency based in Oshkosh, WI. His background consists of a life-long dedication to children; serving on all levels from middle school teacher to superintendent. Ted, who is also the mayor of Port Washington, WI, joins the podcast and talks about the ability for us all to be leaders. In this entertaining episode you'll learn about buffalo leaders and feel Ted's enthusiasm and passion for education and leadership jump right out of the speakers.

Dr. Chris Cody and Travis Grulke, education executives with the South Wisconsin and Michigan Districts, respectively, chat on the podcast about their districts' responses to COVID during these past two school years. They share how their schools and teachers have adapted to new ways of teaching that have included both virtual and in-person classrooms, the possibility of vaccination requirements and how the classroom may forever change in a post-COVID future. 

Dr. Rebecca Schmidt returns to the Lutheran Education Podcast and shares how things have changed in Lutheran education over the past year. Dr. Schmidt talks about how schools have continued to keep their focus on God and the needs of their students in the midst of the pandemic.

Aaron Rohde, a third/fourth grade teacher at Trinity Lutheran School in Reed City, MI, joins the podcast to discussed brain-based education. In the second half of the episode he shares news about the release of his upcoming record, Rooted to Grow — a collection of original songs written and recorded by Rohde over the course of his career as a teacher. Stay tuned at the end of this episode to hear a track he recorded for LSEM, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.

Inclusion means a lot of things to a lot of different people. In this podcast, Dr. Kara Bratton, LSEM's Special Education Director, discusses how it relates to students with special learning needs. She talks about how these students are valued in the classroom and how their presence is felt by their teachers and peers.

Dr. John Brandt, Executive Director at Valley Lutheran High School in Saginaw, MI, joins the podcast for an entertaining conversation with host and former student, Richard Schumacher. The two share stories as Brandt reflects on his rewarding and successful career in teaching, coaching and school administration.

In this episode Brett Hardecopf, Principal of St. John Lutheran Church and School in Elk River, MN, and his wife, Heather, share their personal insights for how church workers can deal with personal crisis.

Matthew Bergholt, manager of online support and services for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, joins the podcast to talk about the use of online learning technologies in these times and how we can apply what we're using today when we return to the classroom.

Lutheran Special Education Ministry's Kara Bratton and Rich Schumacher talk about the current state of special education and how the pandemic and school closures are affecting their services to children and families.

Recorded prior to the Coronavirus outbreak that has disrupted the traditional school year across the entire country, Joel Landskroener, the executive director at Mayer Lutheran High School in Mayer, MN and the Genesis Virtual Academy and, Kim Ross, Director of the Genesis Virtual Academy, join the podcast in what has turned out to be a very timely discussion about online virtual learning and the future of how we do school. They talk about the creation of the Genesis Virtual Academy — a Christian online learning program of Mayer Lutheran High School serving Christian schools and homeschool students.

DJ Schult, Assistant to the President of the North Wisconsin District, joins Rich Schumacher on the podcast to talk about his efforts in developing stronger relationships with the schools within his district and creating better opportunities to share and provide ideas to help teachers and administrators with professional development in an ever-changing educational environment.

This is part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Kim Marxhausen, a former Lutheran school teacher and current LSEM speaker. We continue the conversation around parents and self-regulation. In this episode we take a closer look at the essential interaction that needs to take place in order for a child to develop.

Dr. Kim Marxhausen, a former Lutheran school teacher and current LSEM speaker, returns to the podcast to talk about parents and self-regulation and its importance to learning. She'll discuss how students can take care of their own learning, behavior and emotions by appropriately activating, controlling and evaluating them.

Tom Wrege, principal at Zion Lutheran School, Walburg, TX, joins the podcast to talk about how to run effective meetings. With 35 years in ministry and 20 as a principal, he’s participated in all types of meetings with fellow leaders, teachers and parents. He’s seen the good and the bad and this podcast is for anyone in a leadership role looking for a few pointers on how to run a better meeting through proper planning and preparation.

In this episode we chat again with Chuck Winterstein, Assistant to the Superintendent of Michigan Schools at the LCMS. He talks about turning those parent teacher conferences away from something that's feared and, oftentimes, full of surprises, into a useful tool for teachers to grow and develop their relationships with parents and students.

Stacy Hoeft, President and CEO of Lutheran Special Education Ministries, joins the podcast and talks about her journey to LSEM. From teacher to principal to CEO, Hoeft shares how each one of those roles shaped her into the leader she is today. She also reflects on some of her career experiences and talks about the valuable mentors and teachers who helped her along the way.