Yearly there are opportunities for the teachers of Iowa Lutheran Schools to grow professionally. Many teachers take time during the summer to attend classes and some may take classes during the school year to gain credit toward a master’s degree or licensure.
The Lutheran Schools of Iowa also organize a gathering to assist Lutheran School teachers to grow as Lutheran educators. This past October Lutheran teachers from both Iowa District East and West gathered for their 2008 conference. The theme for this conference was “Renewed” with the keynote speaker Dr. Bev Yahnke, Executive Director of DOXOLOGY: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel.
Other sectional leaders included Jon Laabs of Lutheran Education Association, Wanda Pritzel of Lutheran Family Services of Iowa, Kurt Burgdolt of Concordia University, NE, and Jane Buerger of Concordia University, Chicago.
This year’s conference was held at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Urbandale. Their facilities accommodated the needs of the conference and their staff and volunteers made for a very positive experience.
The conference is also time to award the Educator of the Year. This award is based on nominations received by the Schools Committee of the Iowa District East. Each year an educator in the district is nominated by a peer or by parent. This year’s award went to Denise Block who teaches at Central Lutheran in Newhall.
Also recognized were teachers who achieved a milestone in their teaching careers. This year Marilyn Fahrmann of St. Paul Lutheran School in Latimer and Richard Holste of Immanuel Lutheran School in Waterloo were recognized for 25 years of teaching.
Who puts a gathering like this together? This years Conference Committee was Barb Buescher, Immanuel, Waterloo, Chairperson; Jessica Gavrun, Immaneul, Waterloo; Secretary, Amy Schroeder, Trinity, Boone; Jonathan Danek, Zion, Denison; Amy Koenig, Trinity, Davenport. Serving as “Advisors” were Rev. Bob Riggert, Iowa District West, and Rev. Wayne Woolery, Iowa District East.
When is the next Iowa Lutheran Teachers Conference? October 22-23, 2009. The new committee is already at work to make this conference another professional experience for the Lutheran teachers of Iowa.
