Weekly Missouri District School News

from Dennis Gehrke

5-29-08

No School News published over the summer months.

Missouri District Schools Directory

Professional Church Workers Conference

Schedule

Early Childhood Programs

• Early Childhood Consultants:  Cheryl Haun and Drew Gerdes are the Missouri District's Early Childhood Consultants.  They are available to provide assistance in beginning a new early childhood program, answering early childhood questions and concerns, and offering resources.  Contact The Missouri District's director of Lutheran schools, Dennis Gehrke, at (314) 317-4567 if you are interested in this service.

• LCMS Children's Ministry: For additional resources on ministry to children, check this site at: Click Here to visit site

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Elementary Education

• ASCD: The Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development provides professional research, resources, and continuing education for educators. Click Here to visit site
  
  
• LEA:  The Lutheran Education Association is a membership-based association of Lutheran educators.

• Lutheran Educator's Resources Site: The Lutheran Educator's Resource Site is designed with Lutheran Educators in mind. We are compiling a listing of lesson plans, acceptable use policies, curriculums, Internet projects, and school web sites for you to use as resources. We invite you to submit any information that you would like to share with other Lutheran Educators around the country.
  
  
• Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA):The Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA) is a resource which serves those who teach and those who learn in St. Louis metro Lutheran elementary schools.
  All schools are affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LESA promotes Lutheran elementary education in the St. Louis metro area, provides professional development opportunities for Lutheran elementary school teachers & administrators and provides tuition assistance scholarships to families struggling with the cost of Lutheran elementary school tuition through its Building Blocks Scholarship Fund division.
  
  
• NLSA: National Lutheran School Accreditation provides a standards-based accreditation and a school improvement accreditation plan. Contact them at their Web site or 314-996-1285.  
  
  
• Missouri Nonpublic School Accrediting Association: The Missouri Nonpublic School Accrediting Association is affiliated with the National Federation of Nonpublic School State Accrediting Associations, which is recognized by the United States Office of Education and CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education).  The Missouri Nonpublic School Accrediting Association is approved for purposes of teacher certification by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

• OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring: Provides volunteer opportunities for older adults in Lutheran Elementary schools. For more information, contact: Gail Carter (314-846-7473) or Gladys Schmidt (636-225-0356). More information is available on the OASIS web site: Click Here to visit site
  
  
• School Counseling Program: Judy McCloskey is the director for the Footprints Christian School Counseling. Contact Judy by e-mail: judy@lescp.org or phone: 314-814-3648.
  
  

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Secondary Education

• ALSS: The mission of the Association of Lutheran Secondary Schools is equipping and nurturing leaders to advance the Christ-centered ministries of Lutheran Secondary Schools.
  
  
• ASCD: The Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development provides professional research, resources, and continuing education for educators.
  
  
• Concordia University System: The ten colleges and universities of the Concordia University System are an educational mission of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. The two seminaries and the church vocations programs in the Concordia University System prepare professional church workers.
  
  
• Directory of Lutheran High Schools: Click Here to visit site
  
  
• Lutheran Colleges: Looking for a Lutheran college or university, this website will help connect you to the Lutheran colleges & universities across the country.
  
  
• NASSP: The National Association of Secondary School Principals provides support, research, and continuing education for middle and secondary school administrators. Click Here to visit site
  
  
• NLSA: National Lutheran School Accreditation provides a standards-based accreditation and a school improvement accreditation plan. Contact them at their Web site or call 314-996-1285.

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Special Education

• LASE: Lutheran Association for Special Education provides services to students within many of the St. Louis area Lutheran schools. They also provide tutoring locations in the St. Louis County and St. Charles County areas.  Lori Christiansen, Executive Director, may be contacted by E-mail or 314-268-1234.
  
  
• Gifted Resource Council: The Gifted Resource Counsel serves the greater St. Louis area. Its purpose is to bring together the resources of the community, the schools and parents to help bright and talented children achieve their potential.

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Professional Development

• DESE: The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has information on Teacher Certification.
  
  
• LEA: The Lutheran Education Association is a membership-based association of Lutheran educators.

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School Health Programs

• Click Here to go to the School Health Programs page.

School Administration

• American Red Cross Emergency Preparations: Click Here to visit site
  
  
• Private School Business Site: Click Here to visit
  
  
• SLED: The School Leadership Development Project was designed to identify future Lutheran School administrators and to help them begin their preparation for these leadership roles.

• 2008 Administrator's Conference
  

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School Board Resources & Development

• Board Manual: The School Ministry department of the LCMS has produced a document to assist boards of education in refining their structure and improving the operation of their board.
  
  
• Criminal Background Checks: Guidance for schools and childcare centers regarding criminal background checks. Click here for a .pdf file
  
  
• Financial Development Primer for Lutheran Schools: The LCMS Department of School Ministry and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans have teamed to produce this new document to assist schools in their development efforts.
  
  
• GENESIS: Congregations which are considering starting a Lutheran elementary or secondary school can now receive help from Project Genesis. The Project Genesis was established to help congregations and communities to explore opportunities to start Lutheran elementary and secondary schools. The Department of School Ministry of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has received a generous grant to provide consultants, feasibility studies, and assistance in initial organizational planning for new Lutheran elementary and secondary schools. For further information and/or application forms, please contact the Missouri District Director of Lutheran Schools, Dennis Gehrke, at (314) 317-4567 or go to GENESIS Web site.
  
  

•   Salary Guidelines for fiscal year 2008-09 or calendar year 2009

2009 Salary Guidelines for Professional Church Workers

This document combines the guidelines for all church and school employees:  ordained, commissioned and other staff.

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Professional Church Work Careers

• Teacher and Administrator Vacancies in the Missouri District
  
  
• Concordia University System: The ten colleges and universities of the Concordia University System are an educational mission of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. The two seminaries and the church vocations programs in the Concordia University System prepare professional church workers.
  
  
• District Financial Aid: The Missouri District provides financial support for students who are studying to become professional church workers. Aid is based on financial need. Application forms may be downloaded for printing. The due date for forms to be returned to the university where student is enrolled is May 1.
  
  
• For the Sake of the Church: This initiative will double the number of LC-MS students at our Concordia Colleges & Universities while raising $400 million in endowment funds and preparing future servant leaders for a strong & vibrant church.
  
  
• Teacher Colloquy Program: The Concordia online Teacher Colloquy Program provides the education needed to be eligible for a Call in The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. The Colloquy program prepares the Lutheran school teacher to carry the Lord's name and His teachings with faithfulness to the children and their families. For a Missouri District Teacher Colloquy Financial Aid Application, Click here.

• Teaching Opportunities:  School administrators who are looking for a teacher contact the district to receive search rights on the Lutheran School Portal.  Click here to download the procedures.  Lutheran school teachers need to have an updated LEIF on the Lutheran School Portal in order for their name to come up on searches.  If you are not presently teaching in a Lutheran school with access to the Lutheran School Portal but are interested in teaching in a Missouri District school you may send your resume and list of references to Dennis Gehrke, Missouri District Director of Lutheran Schools.

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Connections

• CAPE: The Council of American Private Education serves as a government contact relating to legislation and issues that impact private school education.
  
  
• Clergy Financial Services: Click Here to visit site
  
  
• CPH: Concordia Publishing House provides school, congregational, and individual materials and curriculum for use in Lutheran schools, homes and congregations.
  
  
• LCMS: School Ministry Click Here
  
  
• LCMS: Child Ministry Click Here
  
  
• LCMS: Family Ministry Click Here
  
  
• Lutheran Sports Association of Missouri: LSAM sponsors statewide tournaments for Lutheran Elementary Schools throughout the state of Missouri.

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Support Opportunities

• Missouri District Elementary School Endowment: The Missouri District Elementary School Endowment provides financial aid for students in Lutheran elementary schools throughout the Missouri District. If you would like information on gifts to this endowment, contact Dennis Gehrke at 314-317-4567.

• Click here for information on the Building Blocks Scholarship Fund and an application form or contact Sue Nahmensen, Building Blocks Director, at 314-268-1520.

• Thrivent Matching Gifts Program: Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has a program to match policy-holder gifts to students in Lutheran elementary and secondary schools, and Lutheran colleges, universities and seminaries. The Web site has information on this gift-matching opportunity.

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