Congregations and Christian day schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod operate more than 1,100 early childhood centers and preschools, and they serve more than 81,000 children ranging from infants and toddlers to five-year-olds. Early childhood education is provided in the Missouri District for infants and toddlers through our early childhood centers that are connected to elementary schools as well as many free-standing early childhood programs. The Missouri District is blessed to have 51 early childhood education centers serving over 3,000 students.

To assist the early childhood education centers, their programs, as well as their directors and teachers, the Missouri District offers the services of Education Executive Alan Freeman, as well as two Early Childhood Consultants, Lee Wagner and Cheryl Haun.

Lee Wagner is an experienced early childhood educator who is ready to share her expertise with directors and staff of any early childhood program. Lee frequently works with the LCMS National Office of School Ministry consulting during national formal and informal meetings of Early Childhood Directors and is a frequent presenter at early childhood conferences. Cheryl Haun often writes for the National Office of School Ministry’s monthly Early Childhood Education newsletter, serves as an Adjunct Professor at Concordia University Nebraska in their Early Childhood Department, and frequently presents nationally and regionally on early childhood related topics. Both Lee and Cheryl have served many years as Early Childhood Directors and have a passion for Lutheran Early Childhood Education. Lee, Cheryl, and Alan are available to answer questions about curriculum, staffing, budgeting, accreditation, parenting classes, and more. In addition, the Missouri District provides an annual Conference for Early Childhood Directors, an annual Conference for Early Childhood Educators, and an opportunity for Early Childhood Directors to meet monthly via Zoom.

Al, Lee, and Cheryl are available to consult with congregations regarding start-up of a preschool or problem solving for existing early childhood programs. Please contact Alan Freeman at alan.freeman@mo.lcms or 314-590-6209 if there is anything that the District Early Childhood Consultants can provide to assist in your ministry to parents, teachers, and young children.