In pondering the story of my journey into the teaching ministry, I have been reminded of the words of writer William Arthur Ward, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” My family, the Lutheran Church, and Lutheran schools have influenced my development of character and have called me into teaching. The values and morals that I possess were acquired in a variety of ways, but the most effective method was through modeling. I was constantly shown, through family members and teachers, positive conduct in all facets of life. Each have communicated aspects of right and wrong, respect and responsibility, and love. I have to conclude that the people of my life have influenced me the most and have pulled me into ministry.

My parents, being strong Christian people, modeled this behavior and supported me before and during my teaching ministry. Positive communication, constant worship at church, and giving the opportunity to have an education at a Lutheran grade school, a Lutheran high school, and a Lutheran university provided a fundamental and strong beginning. As a leader in the military and the corporate world, my father shared core relationship skills; my mother’s simple delight in teaching Sunday School demonstrated the joy of sharing Christ with youth. Aside from my parents, educators have provided the strongest influence.

Junior high and high school can be such a difficult and wonderful time for children, and my experience was no exception. The constant in this time was my teachers. They were the moral rocks on which I stood during a storm of emotions and individual challenges. It was Mr. Doug Wagner and Mr. Edmund Staude that motivated me to think about the teaching ministry at a young age. Their dedication to their craft, to Christ, and to their students was amazing! Being able to see this modeled for me everyday impacted me enough that I wanted to become just like them. I felt that if I could live my life, through my vocation, like them, then I was doing God’s work and, most importantly to me at that time, helping kids who might be like me. This was only solidified in high school, where Mr. Staude continued to impact my life and Dr. Bernard Tonjes motivated me and shared the personal joy of being a Lutheran teacher. I have been blessed to be able to teach with many of these leaders from my youth and experience — model with them — the strength and love that exists in teaching. It did not end there.

This joy and support of teaching was deepened at Concordia University, Nebraska (where all of these strong Christian teachers attended) with individuals like Dr. Jenny Mueller-Roebke and Dr. Bruce Creed, whose strong academic and Christian witness helped me believe that I was prepared for teaching.

Lutheran schools offer unique opportunities for individuals to live out what they see modeled. Teachers are always going to be confronted with situations that will enable them to model these morals, whether it be in the classroom, on the athletic field, on the drama stage, or simply in the hallways. These individuals challenged and inspired me to teach. These “great teachers” — both parents and school instructors — have inspired with their lives, with their actions, and with their words. All have influenced; all have provided; all have given their time, their support, and their belief. All still believe, still provide, and still inspire. As I am in the classroom, they all still pull me toward becoming a “great teacher” just like them.