Lutheran Education Podcast

 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...

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 fin...

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 Con...

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...

Andrew Monkemeyer, 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...

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 real...

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 gr...

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...

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...

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 too...

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 gro...

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 as...

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...

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...

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 im...

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 st...

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 i...

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 pre...

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 class...

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.