Meet the Team

Dr. Jonathan Laabs, Ed.D.

Executive Director

Jon cares deeply about educators in Lutheran ministries! He’s responsible for carrying out the mission of LEA — to link, equip, and affirm educators and workers in ministry for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.

Jon works closely with LEA’s board, crafting the organization’s strategic plan and overseeing its fiscal health. He advocates for educators worldwide, reaching out a hand to any organization with parallel goals to further LEA’s mission.

Jon followed in his father's footsteps as a Lutheran teacher and administrator. He received both a Bachelor’s and Master of Arts in Education and Administration degree from Concordia University Chicago. After one year in his first call to Concordia University in River Forest, he began his first teaching position at St. Paul Lutheran School in McAllen, Texas. There, he taught seventh and eighth grade together for two years. Next, he accepted a call to St. Lorenz Lutheran School in Frankenmuth, Mich., where he served thirteen years.

Jon began his time at St. Lorenz as Assistant Principal and Media Specialist. In that role, he worked to bring the latest available technology to support the school’s teachers. He helped the school embrace microcomputers in the early 1980s, produced cable TV programming for the church, and oversaw the development of the ministry’s first television studio.

Then, he served for four more years as the school’s principal. While in that role, he helped grow the school’s enrollment and oversaw the development of its early childhood program.

Next, Jon went to work for Concordia University in Ann Arbor as their Director of Teacher Education. During that time, he earned his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Michigan, where he specialized in instructional technology.

As an educator, Jon always valued his LEA membership. When called upon, he served in a volunteer capacity as Vice-President for Public Relations and Membership for four years. Then, Jon served as President-Elect for two years and President for two more. He accepted the full-time position of Executive Director in 1997.

Now, true to his background, Jon continues to push LEA’s service to educators forward. In addition to continually adapting new technologies in service to teachers, he’s also helped bring LEA’s resources and community to educators worldwide. Jon offers his expertise to councils and boards internationally to help further LEA’s mission.

In his free time, Jon enjoys photography, golf, and travel. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife, June, also a lifelong Lutheran educator.

Edward C. Grube, LL.D.

Editor Emeritus

Ed Grube has been a valued member of LEA's staff for over 20 years, most recently serving as LEA's Director of Communications. While he formally retired in June of 2023, Ed is still helping LEA by writing weekly devotions and giving guidance to our staff.

Ed is also continuing to serve as the editorial director for LEA’s magazine, Shaping the Future.

Though Ed entered college to study business, he quickly changed his focus to teaching. He received a Bachelor of Arts in education with an emphasis in psychology, then a Master of Arts in education administration — both degrees from Concordia University River Forest. In 2006 the university honored Ed by awarding him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree (LL.D.).

Ed began his teaching ministry in 1970 in Mobile, Ala. There, he served concurrently as principal of Faith Lutheran School (where he also taught third and fourth grade) and part time principal at Trinity Lutheran School.

After two years, he returned to his hometown of Chicago, Ill., where he served as principal for Apostles Lutheran School in Melrose Park, Ill. for five years. From Apostles, he moved to St. Paul Lutheran School in Addison, Ill., where he spent twenty fulfilling years.

While there, he founded The Sunrise Players Drama Club, producing one hundred student plays. He also founded The Beautiful Feet Club, an extra-curricular group that involved students in service to the parish. At the end of his career at St. Paul, Ed led the consolidation of that school with Zion Lutheran School, Bensenville and became the “founding principal” of Concord Lutheran School.

Throughout his time at St. Paul and Concord, Ed stayed involved in special district and synodical projects. He also wrote and edited Sunday school and day school curriculum for Concordia Publishing House (CPH). He currently serves as contributing editor for Lutheran Education Journal.

Eventually, he accepted concurrent calls as Editor of Special Projects for both CPH and LCMS School Ministry. He also wrote numerous books of devotions for educators.

Ed accepted the call to LEA in 2001. He was responsible for producing LEA Monographs and various other print resources. He took over the editorial role at Shaping the Future magazine, then originated all of the digitally-distributed publications, podcasts, and webinars LEA members enjoy today. He has written more than 1,000 devotions for various publications.

Ed lives in the Chicago area with his wife, Renee, and their two dogs, Stella and Sadie—and a Russian tortoise named Flash. The couple has two children — both Lutheran church workers! — and five grandchildren.

Denise Rice

Director of Educational Resources

Denise’s motto is, “What can I do for you?” She creates resources for LEA’s educators and manages the resources side of our content platform, LEAconnects. Denise also oversees LEA’s social media, the Lutheran Junior Honor Association, our weekly News and Networks communications, our series Teachers to Teachers, and our weekly encouragement video Words on Wednesday.

She’s also a crucial member of our event planning team, working on all of our conferences, including our triennial convocation.

Julie Klopke

Director of Member Services

Julie is joining the LEA staff after years of being influenced by this organization in her walk as a Lutheran School teacher and administrator. Through relationships with fellow LCMS educators in LEA, participation in convocations and conferences, and a variety of leadership and speaking opportunities, LEA has helped her grow as a Lutheran school teacher and administrator. It has also helped her develop a great appreciation and passion for encouraging and engaging fellow and new teachers. As Director of Member Services, She will work closely with Lutheran educators and schools with their LEA memberships and related services.

She is also excited to be assisting with registrations for LEA Convocations and Conferences, as well as serving as a writer and editor of some LEA related materials.

Julie began her teaching/administration career at St. Luke’s Nursery School in Montgomery, Illinois. Following her marriage to Paul Klopke, a DCE/teacher, the two served together in team ministry for several years before they moved to Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, so Paul could pursue God’s leading to become an ordained pastor. During their seminary years, Julie served at Zion, St. Louis, MO., St. Paul, Wood River, Il. and Mt. Calvary, in Omaha, NE, as a primary level, art, and substitute teacher. Upon completing these seminary years, they moved to Carmi, Illinois, where she had an opportunity to work as the Pre-K At-Risk Coordinator, Teacher, and Grant Writer for the Carmi-White County Public Schools. Following their years in Carmi, the Klopkes moved to Arlington Heights, Illinois where she served for 23 years at St. Peter Lutheran School as an Art & Early Childhood Teacher, Extended Care & Summer Camp Coordinator, Early Childhood Director, and Assistant Principal. While in Arlington Heights, she was blessed to serve the church-at-large as a conference speaker, NLSA captain & national reader, teachers conference chairperson, university student teacher supervisor, and one of NID’s early childhood consultants. She was also honored to serve as one of the writer/editors of the LCMS book IN HIS HANDS, which assists congregations and their leaders with establishing and enhancing their early childhood ministries. Before joining LEA as Director of Member Services in the summer of 2023, Julie also served as the principal at St. John Lutheran School in Indianapolis.

Julie is thankful for the variety of opportunities she has had to share Jesus’ love, care, and compassion in both Lutheran and public school settings, grade levels, and communities. She also is extremely thankful for the support of her loving husband, Paul; their son and daughter-in-law, Philip and Kyrie; daughter and son-in-law, Jillian and Matt and their three precious grandsons, Porter, Paxton, and Briggs. In addition to family and ministry activities, Julie enjoys gardening, scrapbooking, and playing with her cat, Moxie.

Paul Piel

Technology Project Coordinator

Paul’s talents make him well-suited to be LEA’s technology project coordinator. His duties include the production of webinars, WOW videos, and other technology related matters. Paul is passionate about this ministry because it assists teachers and their ministries. Paul has also been serving other LEA team members with their tasks.

Paul’s undergraduate degree is from Concordia Teacher’s College River Forest, now known as Concordia University Chicago. He earned elementary and secondary teaching degrees specializing in history and political science. He then earned a Master’s from Concordia University Chicago in administration and supervision.

Bob Ziegler, Chair

Education Executive

Nebraska District LCMS
Seward, Neb.

Dallas Lusk

Executive Director/Head of School

St. Mark Lutheran School
Houston, Tex.

Deryl Maxwell

Principal

Mt. Calvary Lutheran School
Diamond Bar, Calif.

Gretchen M. Jameson

Vice President

Versiti
Milwaukee, Wis.

Barbra Kozisek

St. Paul Lutheran School

Prior Lake, Minn.

Kelly Lamkin

Leadership Team

Good Shepherd Lutheran High School
Elk River, Minn.

Mike Schiemann

Principal

Bethany Lutheran School
Parma, Ohio

Angela Schiller

Principal

Yuma Lutheran School
Yuma, Ariz.

Thomas Wrege

School Funding Executive

Dast Consulting
Georgetown, Tex.

How We Serve

Our Mission, Vision and Values

Meet the Team

Dr. Jonathan Laabs, Ed.D.

Executive Director

Edward C. Grube, LL.D.

Editor Emeritus

Denise Rice

Director of Educational Resources

Julie Klopke

Director of Member Services

Paul Piel

Technology Project Coordinator

Board of Directors

Bob Ziegler, Chair

Dallas Lusk

Deryl Maxwell

Gretchen M. Jameson

Barbra Kozisek

Kelly Lamkin

Mike Schiemann

Angela Schiller

Thomas Wrege

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