A frequent contributor to the podcast, Travis Grulke, Superintendent of Schools for the Michigan District, is also a frequent conference speaker where he provides education and training on a variety of topics including the difference between balance and harmony in our lives, what it means to be a Lutheran educator, decision making and the seven habits of highly effective educators.

Kyle Chuhran is the Elementary Education Coordinator at Concordia University Ann Arbor and Act Money Coaching. In this podcast we talk finances and help our teachers better use their God-given resources. He loves teaching and helps students become teachers and ultimately get placed in their student teaching positions.  Seeing his students grow academically and spiritually is the most satisfying aspect of his career. He talks about the financial challenges teachers face as they embark on their careers and the services he offers to help them make sound financial decisions.

While the sun was rising behind Doug Grove, the Head of School at Concordia International School in Hanoi, Vietnam, we were recording our first international podcast the evening before. In this engaging conversation, Doug talks about his path to accepting the call to work internationally. Always interested in learning and experiencing new things, Doug and his wife took a major leap by studying the Asian culture and acclimating themselves to a whole new world; first in China and now Vietnam. He talks about the challenges and benefits of working internationally and encourages those who may be interested in working abroad that it may not be as difficult as one may think.

Dr. Kim Marxhausen, a frequent contributor to the podcast and a teacher in the honors program at the University of Nebraska, shares her insights with special education educators and in this episode covers the topic of learned helplessness. Learned helplessness occurs as a result of a set of circumstances that students face, including trauma, that can cause learning challenges. It became prevalent during and following the Covid pandemic. Parents and teachers can learn from this episode on how not to enable learned helplessness in their children and students.

Karin Freeland, a life coach, speaker and author, joins the podcast for an inspiring conversation with LSEM’s new Director of Special Education, Dr. Tracie Salgado. Karin, a self-proclaimed recovered corporate workaholic,  talks about the challenges teachers face in and out of their classrooms and what they can do to create the best version of themselves.  She touches on focusing more on what’s important, self-care and setting goals so you can take control of your day, put God first and be more present in your life.

In this podcast, we introduce Dr. Tracie Salgado — LSEM’s new Director of Special Education. Dr. Salgado has taught for over 25 years, both here and internationally in New Zealand, China and Mexico. She knew she wanted to become a teacher at a young age  when she playeed the role with her siblings and friends growing up. She talks about the importance of building positive relationships with her students, the lessons she learned about edcuation on an international level and chats about her new responsibilities at LSEM. This is the website Dr. Salgado was referring to: https://www.wrightslaw.com/

Ted Neitzke makes a return visit to the podcast and shares his insights on developing good leaders in our educators and helping teachers embrace the idea of being a leader and how administrators can support them in their roles. Neitzke has an extensive background in education and leadership. The former teacher, principal and superintendent is currently the mayor of Port Washington, Wisconsin and is also the CEO of CESA 6, an educational service agency focusing on the current education landscape and the changing needs of educators.

Dr. Julian Petzold, president of Lion Safety Consulting, joins the podcast to talk about safety in our schools, churches and buildings. He sheds light on the many things school administrators may not think of, but need to consider in today’s educational environment. After 28 years in education he earned his doctorate degree and did his research in best practices in school safety and started to present at conferences. He’s helped many schools and their families in developing their safety procedures and training programs.

Trip Rodgers is the Education Executive with the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. In this role he specializes in education and congregational life and talks today about trauma and trauma response in our schools. During the discussion, Trip discusses how the pandemic has affected students both socially and academically. He also addresses some of the traditional classroom tactics that can trigger a traumatic event for a student. This episode will make teachers and administrators reflect on how they can improve upon and create  a safe and resilient space in their schools.

Stacy McGhee, President and CEO of LSEM, and Nicole Legalley, LSEM's new Philanthropy Specialist, join the podcast to talk about the ministry's 150th Anniversary celebration over the course of 2023 and the exciting future that God has planned for LSEM as they look to serve even more children across the country as well as the world.

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Reverend Dr. Ryan Peterson, Vice President of Concordia University of Ann Arbor joins our podcast to discuss his responsibilities and how he landed in his role of Vice President. In this episode he recalls stories of what led him into the world of ministry, how he lives and breathes both Concordia University of Ann Arbor and Wisconsin’s mission and how that mission drives both institutions. He sheds light on the importance of finding future church workers and with that paying attention to needs of churches in order to teach their students and give them the proper education.

Ted Neitzke is CEO of Cesa 6, an influential and innovative education service agency based in Oshkosh, WI. His background consists of a life-long dedication to children; serving on all levels from middle school teacher to superintendent. Ted, who is also the mayor of Port Washington, WI, joins the podcast and talks about the ability for us all to be leaders. In this entertaining episode you'll learn about buffalo leaders and feel Ted's enthusiasm and passion for education and leadership jump right out of the speakers.

Dr. Chris Cody and Travis Grulke, education executives with the South Wisconsin and Michigan Districts, respectively, chat on the podcast about their districts' responses to COVID during these past two school years. They share how their schools and teachers have adapted to new ways of teaching that have included both virtual and in-person classrooms, the possibility of vaccination requirements and how the classroom may forever change in a post-COVID future.

Dr. Rebecca Schmidt returns to the Lutheran Education Podcast and shares how things have changed in Lutheran education over the past year. Dr. Schmidt talks about how schools have continued to keep their focus on God and the needs of their students in the midst of the pandemic.

Aaron Rohde, a third/fourth grade teacher at Trinity Lutheran School in Reed City, MI, joins the podcast to discussed brain-based education. In the second half of the episode he shares news about the release of his upcoming record, Rooted to Grow — a collection of original songs written and recorded by Rohde over the course of his career as a teacher. Stay tuned at the end of this episode to hear a track he recorded for LSEM, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.

Inclusion means a lot of things to a lot of different people. In this podcast, Dr. Kara Bratton, LSEM's Special Education Director, discusses how it relates to students with special learning needs. She talks about how these students are valued in the classroom and how their presence is felt by their teachers and peers.

Dr. John Brandt, Executive Director at Valley Lutheran High School in Saginaw, MI, joins the podcast for an entertaining conversation with host and former student, Richard Schumacher. The two share stories as Brandt reflects on his rewarding and successful career in teaching, coaching and school administration.