Awards

In Recognition of Excellence

Every year, educators from Lutheran settings nominate their colleagues for special recognition. These are educators who are:

Active both in the local as well as the Lutheran community
Have a strong, demonstrated commitment to serve Jesus
Have shown a commitment to excellence in meeting the social, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive needs of children, youth, adults, and/or families

Awards include

Christus Magister

Christus Magister

This has long been considered LEA's premier award, and it is associated with the Board of Directors. A nominee will have demonstrated excellence in the following areas, as appropriate to their ministry:

Classroom teaching
Administration
Supervision
Parish education
Research
Publications
Educational leadership

Leader in Outreach

Leader in Outreach

This award is associated with the Board of Directors and not directly associated with any single Network. Each nominee must provide evidence of accomplishments in the following areas, as appropriate:

Infuses outreach in his or her given ministry
Dedicated to reaching the lost
Creatively incorporates outreach into ministry area
Personally witnesses and proclaims Christ’s saving message
Encourages evangelism

Distinguished Lutheran Early Childhood Administrator

Distinguished Lutheran Early Childhood Administrator

This award is associated with the Early Childhood Educators Network (ECEnet) and with the Leadership Network (LEADnet). Nominees...

are equipped and willing to profess and teach Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective.
demonstrate outstanding leadership through curriculum development, staff professionalism and morale, and family involvement.
are a member of one or more professional associations.
are committed to National Lutheran School Accreditation or other accreditation if not serving an LCMS school.

Distinguished Lutheran Early Childhood Teacher

Distinguished Lutheran Early Childhood Teacher

This award is associated with the Early Childhood Educators Network (ECEnet). Nominees...

are equipped and willing to profess and teach Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective.
demonstrate effective teaching skills.
demonstrate commitment to excellence and meeting the social, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive needs of children and families.

Distinguished Lutheran Elementary Administrator

Distinguished Lutheran Elementary Administrator

This award is associated with the Leadership Network (LEADnet). Nominees...

are equipped and willing to profess and teach Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective.
demonstrate outstanding leadership through curriculum development, staff professionalism and morale, and family involvement.
are a member of one or more professional associations.
are committed to National Lutheran School Accreditation or other accreditation if not serving an LCMS school.

Distinguished Lutheran Elementary Teacher

Distinguished Lutheran Elementary Teacher

This award is associated with the Elementary Teachers Network (ETnet). Nominees...

are strongly committed to serving Jesus.
are active in local community as well as Lutheran community.
are committed to excellence and to meeting the social, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive needs of children and families.
are equipped and willing to profess and teach Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective.
demonstrate effective teaching skills.

Distinguished Lutheran Middle School Teacher

Distinguished Lutheran Middle School Teacher

This award is associated with the Middle School Teachers Network (MIDnet) for teachers in grades 6-8 with four or more years of experience.

are strongly committed to serving Jesus.
are active in local community as well as Lutheran community.
are committed to excellence and to meeting the social, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive needs of children and families.
are equipped and willing to profess and teach Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective.
demonstrate effective teaching skills.

Distinguished Lutheran Secondary Educator

Distinguished Lutheran Secondary Educator

This award is associated with the Secondary Educators Network (SECnet). Nominees...

demonstrate strong commitment to serving Jesus.
are active in local community as well as Lutheran community.
are committed to excellence and to meeting the social, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive needs of students.
are equipped and willing to profess and teach Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective; desirable: LCMS trained, colloquized, or active participant in Colloquy program.
demonstrate effective professional skills and relational skills.
are a member of one or more professional associations.

Distinguished Parish Educator

Distinguished Parish Educator

This award is associated with the Parish Educators Network (PEN). Worthy nominees are active parish educators serving a Lutheran institution in an education role outside a school or early childhood center, who...

have at least five years experience as a parish educator,
are equipped and actively professing and teaching the Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective,
actively and enthusiastically equip others for education ministry and partner with them in the teaching of the faith,
demonstrate leadership, and
are committed to excellence in Christian education.

Distinguished Retired Lutheran Educator "EncourAGING" Award

Distinguished Retired Lutheran Educator "EncourAGING" Award

This award is associated with the Retired Lutheran Educators Network (EncourAGEnet). The award recipient…

is a retired educator in a Lutheran ministry.
has ministered in Lutheran Christian education for many years.
has been active in both the local and Lutheran communities.
continues servant volunteerism in congregation and community as God provides health and strength.

Outstanding New Lutheran Early Childhood Teacher

Outstanding New Lutheran Early Childhood Teacher

This award is associated with the Early Childhood Educators Network (ECEnet) with three or fewer years of experience. Nominees...

are equipped and willing to profess and teach Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective.
demonstrate effective teaching skills.
demonstrate commitment to excellence and meeting the social, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive needs of children and families.

Outstanding New Lutheran Elementary Teacher

Outstanding New Lutheran Elementary Teacher

This award is associated with the Elementary Teachers Network (ETnet) for teachers with three or fewer years experience. Nominees...

are strongly committed to serving Jesus.
are active in local community as well as Lutheran community.
are committed to excellence and to meeting the social, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive needs of children and families.
are equipped and willing to profess and teach Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective.
demonstrate effective teaching skills.

Outstanding New Lutheran Middle School Teacher

Outstanding New Lutheran Middle School Teacher

This award is associated with the Middle School Teachers Network (MIDnet) for teachers with three or fewer years experience. Nominees...

are strongly committed to serving Jesus.
are active in local community as well as Lutheran community.
are committed to excellence and to meeting the social, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive needs of children and families.
are equipped and willing to profess and teach Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective.
demonstrate effective teaching skills.

Outstanding New Lutheran Secondary Educator

Outstanding New Lutheran Secondary Educator

This award is associated with the Secondary Educators Network (SECnet) for teachers with three or fewer years of experience. Nominees...

demonstrate strong commitment to serving Jesus with strong potential for future service in Lutheran education.
are active in local community as well as Lutheran community.
are committed to excellence and to meeting the social, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive needs of students.
are equipped and willing to profess and teach Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective.
demonstrate effective professional skills and relational skills.
are a member of one or more professional associations.

Esther Award

This award is associated with the LEA staff and Board of Directors. It is presented...

for exemplary and dedicated leadership and perseverance on behalf of Lutheran education in times of trial or tragedy.

LEA is honored to announce the 2022 Award recipients.

Christus Magister

Mark Bahr

Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI

Distinguished Lutheran Elementary Administrator

Donna Laughlin

Immanuel Lutheran School

Batavia, IL

Distinguished Lutheran Early Childhood Administrator

Heidi Rains

Mount Olive Lutheran School

Des Moines, IA

Distinguished Lutheran Early Childhood Teacher

Anne Shearier

Forest Hills Lutheran Christian School

Cornelius, OR

Distinguished Lutheran Elementary Teacher

Julie Weil

Zion Lutheran School

Georgetown, TX

Distinguished Lutheran Middle School Teacher

Daniel Sterling

St. Paul’s Lutheran School

Des Peres, MO

Distinguished Lutheran Secondary Educator

Mark Klitzing

Orange Lutheran High School

Orange, CA

Outstanding New Lutheran Early Childhood Teacher

Michaela Wilaby

Pilgrim Lutheran School

Green Bay, WI

Outstanding New Lutheran Elementary Teacher

Maeson Lovie

Christ Greenfield Lutheran School

Gilbert, AZ

Distinguished Retired Lutheran Educator

Richard Cohrs

Lutheran Administrator

St. Charles, MO