Staff
Administration
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Sheila Nehrenz Principal
Sheila Nehrenz is a graduate of Concordia University Chicago with a Bachelor degree in Education and Early Childhood. She has experience teaching and serving at all grade levels from 3 year old preschoolers to 8th graders. She will tell you she” loves them all!” She has lead as a preschool director and was instrumental in starting the preschool at Mt. Calvary.
She currently is leading in an administrative role as principal at Lutheran South Unity and is enjoying this new experience leading faculty, staff, parents and students. She herself has 4 children who attended Unity Lutheran and Concordia High School here in Ft. Wayne. She is also the grandparent of 3 grandchildren who are also beginning their journey in Lutheran Christian education. She believes in a Christ centered Education for all and is thankful that the state of Indiana is providing School Choice for anyone wishing to come to our school, “it’s a blessing to us and to the families we serve.” Away from school she enjoys family time and any time she can get to go UP NORTH to her home away from home in northern Michigan, she calls it “a slice of heaven on earth”. -
Melanie Springer Office Administrator
Melanie has enjoyed a long history with Lutheran South Unity School. For 10 years she was the kitchen manager and enjoyed serving the children every day.
After retiring for one year, Melanie missed seeing the students smiling faces and giggles. She yearned to come in and just help them with reading or math. When a position in the office opened up and she gladly jumped at it. Melanie enjoys your students every day and looks forward to seeing them in the mornings. -
Keah Payne Financial Administrator
Keah Payne graduated Oklahoma Community College and Oklahoma State University. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Leisure Service Management, with an Associate’s degree in Graphic Design. She is currently a student at Concordia Theological Seminary working on her Masters. After her undergraduate degree Keah and her husband Bryan joined the Peace Corps and spent three years in Malawi Africa living in a village learning the culture and language and doing their best to help those who needed it.
Keah thinks of herself as a Jacky of all trades! Her past jobs have included: Graphic design, Construction, Oil and Gas, Farming, Grant Writing, Notary, Bookkeeping and Secretarial work. All of which has led her to Lutheran South Unity School as the Financial Administrator. Keah’s husband Bryan is a student at Concordia Theological Seminary studying to be a pastor. They have two young children and love to spend time outdoors together, camping and visiting family all over the US. -
Maurice King Sr. Director of Missions Advancement
Maurice L. King, Sr. is a graduate of Jackson State University with a Bachelor degree in Journalism. Maurice has served as the Director of Advancement at Lutheran South Unity School since August of 2015. Similarly, Maurice has been a member of the Association of Lutheran Development Executives (ALDE) for about the same time frame. Maurice is also a collaborative partner with The Lutheran Schools Partnership. Maurice also serves as a new member on the Northeast Indiana Neighborhood Engagement Board of Directors. Maurice also serves as the Senior Pastor of Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Additionally, Maurice serves as the treasurer for the Northern Indiana Missionary Baptist District Association. Prior to his assignment as Director of Development, he faithfully served this nation as a Police Officer in Jackson, Mississippi and a Special Agent for the Department of Justice. Maurice and his wife, Lovita are the proud parents of three daughters, one son and a grandson.
Faculty
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Cathie Wakeland Teacher - Kindergarten
Cathie Wakeland received her Bachelor degree in Education from Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebraska. She taught in the Lutheran schools for 10 years at Trinity Lutheran, Centralia, IL, Praise Lutheran, Fort Wayne, and Zion Lutheran Academy in Fort Wayne. For the last 11 years she has served as a kindergarten teacher at Lindley Elementary a Spanish Immersion school, before accepting the call to serve at Lutheran South Unity School.
Cathie is a member of New Life Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She has served as a Sunday school teacher, a lay counselor for Cross Connections (a Biblical based Christian counseling group), and a Bible study leader. Cathie and her husband, the Rev. Michael Wakeland, served as missionaries in Latin America for 15 years, working in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Mexico. She volunteers at Lutheran Life Villages in the Fort Wayne area where her husband serves as Chaplain. She is currently Vice President of Conventions for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Indiana District. -
Hannah Maresh Teacher - First Grade
Hannah Maresh is a graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelor in Elementary Education. Hannah has received training in writing with K-2 students from the Teachers College at Columbia University, NY. Hannah loves her students as if they were her own children. Hannah is able to find the individual learning needs of her students to help them succeed. Hannah is married to Zach Maresh and they have a coonhound named Cooper. Hannah’s home church has been St. Michael for the past twenty years with her family. Working out, relaxing on her patio, walking her dog, and Indiana basketball are few of Hannah’s favorite things. -
Dawn Gill Teacher - Second Grade
Dawn Gill is a graduate of Indiana Tech with a Bachelor in Human Service Management. She continued her education by pursuing the Bridge to Teaching program at Indiana Wesleyan. During 2019, Dawn completed her Colloquy through Concordia Ann Arbor. She now teaches second graders through the year, and she tutors any qualified student during the summer or other breaks for the Title I program. Dawn has a heart for teaching children. She shares her love with her students, peers, and family. Dawn has been married since August 2000 to her husband, Mike. Together, they have three children, a son in law, and one grandchild for now. Dawn has been a member of Concordia Lutheran Church since 1997 and she now regularly visits Zion Lutheran Church. A few of Dawn’s favorite hobbies and past times are quilting, canning, and spending time with her family and her grandson. -
Meredith Tourney Teacher - Third Grade
Meredith Tourney is a proud graduate of Unity Lutheran School (LSUS), Concordia Lutheran High School and Purdue University. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, with a specialty in reading. She has had experience teaching 4th grade, but is currently teaching 3rd grade at LSUS. In addition to having a passion for teaching, Meredith prioritizes her family life. She is married to Joe, and is blessed to have her immediate family in town. Some of Meredith’s favorite pastimes are taking exercise classes, reading, listening to music, and attending concerts. -
Susan Mittelstaedt Teacher - Fourth Grade
Susan Mittelstaedt is a graduate of Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebraska (now Concordia University, Nebraska) with a Bachelor in Elementary Education with a Music Major and an Early Childhood Minor. She also has an Ed in Education with an emphasis in reading from the same college. Susan has taught grades Preschool, Kindergarten, and Grades 2 to 5 in Missouri, Texas, and Indiana.
Susan is single. She loves to sing in her church choir, Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, and the Bach Collegium. She is a cat person and helps rescue and rehome cats and kittens. -
Danielle Ramsey Teacher - Fifth Grade
Danielle Ramsey graduated from Concordia University Chicago in May 2018 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education and Middle School Literacy Education with a Lutheran education endorsement. While student teaching in Chicago, she received the student teacher of the year award by the Delta Kappa Gamma organization. Danielle’s favorite thing about teaching at Lutheran South Unity School is the opportunity she has to make relationships with the students here and teach them about Jesus. She is an active member of Peace Lutheran Church, where she serves on the outreach committee. Danielle is married to Adam, and enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephew here in Fort Wayne. She enjoys hiking and reading in her free time. -
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Gene Koch Teacher - Seventh Grade
Mr. Koch graduated from Concordia Lutheran College, River Forest, Illinois with a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and a concentration in Math and Physical Education. He is currently in his 41st year of teaching. He also coaches soccer, wrestling and track throughout the year. His wife, Krista, teaches algebra at Concordia Lutheran High School. Three of his children are teachers in the Fort Wayne area and his youngest daughter is a sophomore at Notre Dame University. In his free time he loves to fish as often as he can and he loves outdoor activities, especially taking walks with his wife. He loves to work with children and he thanks God for giving him that opportunity. -
Yvonne Schwantz Teacher - Eighth Grade
Yvonne Schwantz is a graduate of Concordia University Chicago where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree as a Lutheran Educator at the secondary level (grades 6-12) Majoring in English. Her graduate studies have most recently focused on Special Education. She has also been endorsed in Middle School math in Indiana and became a Level 1 Certified Google Educator in the summer of 2018. Mrs. Schwantz loves helping students discover their God-given talents and getting students prepared and confident for high school. When she isn’t working, Yvonne spends her time at home with her family: husband of 27 years, Richard, three daughters (25, 21-currently at Purdue FW, and 18-currently at Concordia University Chicago), one son (16-currently at Concordia Lutheran High School), one son-in-law, two grandchildren (2 and 4), and one misunderstood boxer. Concordia Lutheran Church has been Richard and Yvonne’s church home since he started teaching there in 2003. Yvonne is an avid crafter, constantly trying new things. She has even expanded her craftiness into a venture to crochet sleeping mats for the homeless with which students at LSUS have occasionally helped. -
Natalie Reynolds Teacher - Fine Arts
Mrs. Natalie Reynolds is Lutheran South Unity’s K-8 Art & Music Teacher. Mrs. Reynolds has been teaching at LSUS since 2003. She taught kindergarten for 11 years, then started the Art & Music program. This is her 7th year. She graduated from Concordia University, Seward, NE and has lived in several places including St. Louis, Wisconsin, and the last twenty years, in Ft. Wayne. Her husband of 32 years is the Family Life and Music Director at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. They have four grown children who also went through Unity Lutheran School (LSUS) and Concordia Lutheran High School.
She enjoys encouraging students in their God-given talents through art projects and learning about various artists as well as exciting students through experiencing music through singing and a variety of instruments including: recorders, drums, chimes, ukuleles, xylophones using the Orff Approach. Currently, students have one period of music and one of art every week. Students are also a part of a choir that sings at each of our association churches 4 times a year. -
Rachell Straton Curriculum Coach/Tech Teacher
Rachell Stratton is a graduate of Concordia University Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Over her teaching career, she has taught 5th grade, 1st grade, Title I, Technology, and has been an Instructional Coach. Her favorite thing about teaching is when she gets to work with small groups of students and give them individualized instruction and attention. When Rachell is not teaching, she dedicates her time and energy to her young family: Kenny (husband of 6 years), Aiden (6), Oliver (3), and Ivy (8 months). -
Diane Lammert Library
Diane Lammert has been a professional librarian for over 30 years. She has a Master’s degree in Library Science from The University of Iowa. She is married to Richard, librarian at Concordia Theological Seminary, and her son Miles attended LSUS. The whole family are members of Zion Lutheran Church. She enjoys finding the right book for the right reader and stretches the limited library budget as far as she can to make this happen. She takes particular pride in providing stories with characters reflecting the racial and neurodiversity of the school. All the kids know she loves Star Wars, Pokemon, and cats. -
Services
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Sherry Sebring Title I Teacher
Sherry Sebring is a graduate of Concordia University Chicago with a Bachelor in Elementary Education as well as her Lutheran Teaching Degree. She worked for Unity Lutheran School for two years and East Allen Community School Title I at Lutheran South Unity School for eleven years. She works with students who live in the East Allen district, but choose Lutheran South Unity as their school. She has been married to Brad for 7 years and has two older stepsons. Her home congregation is Mount Calvary Lutheran. She enjoys her time with family, Legos, and reading. -
Melissa Johnson Title I Teacher
Melissa Johnson is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington with a Bachelor in Education. She taught second and third grades in Nashville, TN and Indianapolis, IN prior to moving to Fort Wayne. She currently serves LSUS as a Title I Teacher tutoring students in grades K-8 in math and reading. -
Abigail Strackbein LSEM Lutheran Special Education Teacher
Abby Strackbein is our LSEM teacher and teaches English Language Learners. LSEM stands for Lutheran Special Education Ministries.
Abby received a degree in Special Education from Texas State University with certification in English Language Learners. She was recently married and moved from Texas to Fort Wayne, Indiana after her husband, Aaron, accepted a Call to be the Director of Christian Education at Concordia Lutheran Church.
She will be working with students in the Enrichment Room who qualify for special education services, students who need extra help in math and reading, as well as English Language Learners. In her free time she enjoys swing dancing, arts and crafts, photography and reading. Most importantly she likes to see students succeed and feel supported! -
Abigail Strackbein LSEM Lutheran Special Education Teacher
Abby Strackbein is our LSEM teacher and teaches English Language Learners. LSEM stands for Lutheran Special Education Ministries.
Abby received a degree in Special Education from Texas State University with certification in English Language Learners. She was recently married and moved from Texas to Fort Wayne, Indiana after her husband, Aaron, accepted a Call to be the Director of Christian Education at Concordia Lutheran Church.
She will be working with students in the Enrichment Room who qualify for special education services, students who need extra help in math and reading, as well as English Language Learners. In her free time she enjoys swing dancing, arts and crafts, photography and reading. Most importantly she likes to see students succeed and feel supported! -
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Staff
Pastors
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Rev. Nate Whittaker Pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
Nathan grew up in California for most of his childhood, but ventured to Michigan for his high school years. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 2006 with a Bachelor in History. He continued his education by going to Concordia Seminary to receive his Masters of Divinity in 2013. He continued at Concordia Seminary to pursue a doctorate in theology, which he is still working towards.
Nate has been married to his wonderful wife, Tricia, for 10 years. She supports his service to the church and Nate could not do it without her. They have two preschoolers, who keep them constantly busy yet grateful.
Although this is Nate’s first call, he is enthusiastic about the prospects for Mount Calvary and its future in the community of South Fort Wayne. He is excited to see how God is moving with and through the people of Mount Calvary as they awaken to the vision God is placing on their hearts. He’s even more excited to see how the people of God will teach him to be more dependent upon Jesus for all he needs. -
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Rev. Doug Punke Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church
Douglas Punke is the Senior Pastor of Zion. He has served Zion since November 2003. Prior to this, he served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton, Missouri. He currently serves the Indiana District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as the Secretary of the District. He has served as Circuit Visitor of the Fort Wayne South Circuit, chair of IN District Northern Region Pastors Conference, vice-chair of the Board of The Lutheran Schools Partnership, and zone counselor for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League in Missouri. He is active in the work by Lutheran churches in urban Fort Wayne called NINE: Northeast Indiana Neighborhood Engagement (ninefortwayne.org). He serves Lutheran South Unity School (lsusfw.org) as pastor and teacher. He is also board chairman of SPZP, Inc., a non-profit corporation partnering St. Peter’s Catholic Church and Zion Lutheran Church in continuing urban renewal in the Hanna Creighton and LaRez neighborhoods.
Pastor Punke has taught overseas in Novosibirsk, Russia, and Yambio, South Sudan.
Pastor Punke studied theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, and received his Master of Divinity in 1998. He was ordained into the Holy Ministry in June 1999.
Prior to beginning his study for the Holy Ministry, Pastor Punke taught mathematics and computer science at Lyon College (a liberal arts college) in Batesville, Arkansas, having received a Master of Science in Mathematics from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Science in Information and Computer Science from The Georgia Institute of Technology. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arkansas College (later Lyon College) in 1983. And prior to that, he spent 5 years as a technician and maintenance planner in the US Air Force.
Pastor Punke is “husband of one wife” to Marge.