My Story – God’s Plan for Terry L Schmidt
I would describe myself as a non-compliant student during most of my grade school career at Trinity Lutheran School in Edwardsville, IL. I loved the social aspects of school. Recess was my favorite subject. Conversations with friends during class often resulted in punishments that ruined my handwriting. I often looked for the way around or easy way out. I believe that I was quite a handful for my teachers grade 3-6.
Things began to change in 7th grade. My principal, Aldo Schnack, became my teacher. He seemed to like me. That was quite a change. Despite that fact, I continued to do things in unconventional ways, and spent a significant amount of time on the wrong side of the principal’s desk. Mr. Schnack always encouraged me and gave me opportunities to lead. One day, as I was being counseled by Mr Schnack he stated, “I think you would make a good Lutheran school teacher.” Could it be true or was he just pulling my leg? Could I become a good Lutheran teacher? Early in my high school career, I determined set my pathway in the direction of becoming a Lutheran educator and never looked back.
I attended Concordia Teacher’s College, River Forest, continuing to do things in unconventional ways. I was not a great athlete but loved competing in intramural sports and cheering for the Cougars. In college, I determined that I wanted to teach and coach at a Lutheran school. That became my one and only goal.
My first Call was to the foreign mission field of Papua New Guinea. I worked in a public school, at Karkar High School in the Madang District. I taught English and Science to 7/8th graders and served as the school’s athletic director. I loved the challenge of teaching and coaching. I felt that with teaching, I had found my sweet spot and was happy sharing the good news about Jesus with the students and teachers at Karkar High School.
Our two-year stint in Papua New Guinea was an amazing growth opportunity for my wife and me. We learned to be man and wife. We learned to teach and share God’s word, relying on the Lord for all our provisions. There was still an intense desire to teach and coach that directed this juncture in my life. Upon returning from PNG we landed at the school where we started, at Trinity Lutheran School in Edwardsville, IL. My principal became my principal. I was upper grade science teacher and athletic director, coaching every sport I could. I loved teaching. I loved coaching. I loved the opportunity God gave me to interact in a Christ-centered way with the students I taught and coached. But God was not finished with me. There was a yearning to lead that led me to enroll into a Master’s program in Educational Administration and Supervision at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. My principal encouraged me to move in that direction. I eventually completed my Masters and upon Mr. Schnack’s retirement, became principal (still teaching and coaching) at the school I attended as a child.
Moving away from full-time teaching into the world of part-time school administration was a change and a challenge. Eventually, I had to give up coaching. That was a struggle. Each move that I made required changes in the way that I conducted myself and related to students and co-workers. The changes took me further and further away from direct contact with children But God blessed and Trinity grew.
As I served I was finding it more and more difficult to balance teaching and administration at a school. I struggled with the question of am I a teacher or am I a principal? The call that I accepted to Our Redeemer in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, in 1990, ended that dilemma as I entered the work of a full-time principal at a large Lutheran school. It required less work with students and more time serving teachers and parents. That required a whole new learning curve. One of my most lasting contributions to Lutheran education lies in the fact that during my tenure at OR, 3 of my teachers participated in SLED and became principals of other Lutheran schools. One succeeded me when I left Our Redeemer. Mary Irish has had a long and successful stint as principal of Our Redeemer.
Finally, in 2003, I was issued a call to become the Associate Director of Schools for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. This was an entirely beau acratic position with no direct involvement in schools or with students. This was another adjustment. In 2013, I succeeded Bill Cochran as the Director of Schools for the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.
Each segment of my life in school ministry is filled with incredible stories of God’s amazing work in Lutheran schools. That God would take a non-compliant grade school student and turn him into a Lutheran educator is a remarkable fact. For 44 years, the man who only wanted to coach and teach has been led through remarkable adventures in classrooms, gymnasiums and offices and finally into a cubicle at the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. God is indeed great, and to Him belongs all of the glory!
