Education Awards

Church workers from across the Nebraska District gathered in Seward for the 2023 Great Plains Lutheran Educators Conference, and one of the highlights of the event was presenting the following awards to some of our District’s outstanding educators. Nominees must be actively serving as a full-time employee of an LCMS entity.

Early Childhood Educator of the Year: Kelsey Schnoor, Director, St. John Early Learning Center, Battle Creek

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Elementary Teacher of the Year: Sandy Bangert, Kindergarten Teacher, Messiah, Lincoln

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Middle/High School Teacher of the Year: Phil Carlson, Science teacher, Lincoln High Northeast, Norfolk

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 3:4)

Administrator of the Year: Nathan Domsch, Principal, Concordia Academy, Omaha

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45)

Parish Worker of the Year: Brady Laib, Director of Christian Education, First, Papillion

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Shepherd of the Year: Rev. Jim DeLoach, Senior Pastor at Zion, Kearney

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:11-12

2023 educator awards

About the Nomination Process and Award Categories

Nomination Process:

• Peers, pastors, parents, school board members, current or former students, or members of the congregation may nominate candidates for the award.
• Complete a nomination form by September 1st. (see below)
• Once the pool of nominees has been narrowed, the selection committee may contact the nominator for additional information.

To nominate an educator, select an award below, then complete and submit the corresponding Google Form (no Gmail account required). Nominations are due to the District Office on or before September 1 of each year.

Award: Nebraska District Early Childhood Educator of the Year

Eligible Candidates: Early Childhood & Preschool Teachers
Nominees must be actively serving as a full-time employee of an LCMS entity.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

Nominate an Early Childhood Educator

Award: Nebraska District Elementary Teacher of the Year

Eligible Candidates: Kindergarten – 5th Grade Teachers
Nominees must be actively serving as a full-time employee of an LCMS entity.

“Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Nominate an Elementary Teacher

Award: Nebraska District Middle/ High School Teacher of the Year

Eligible Candidates: 6th Grade – 12th Grade Teachers
Nominees must be actively serving as a full-time employee of an LCMS entity.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children
are walking in the truth.” (3 John 3:4)

Nominate a Middle or High School Teacher

Award: Nebraska District Administrator of the Year

Eligible Candidates: Early Childhood Directors, Head Teachers, Principals, & Executive Directors of Nebraska District Lutheran Schools
Nominees must be actively serving as a full-time employee of an LCMS entity.

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45)

Nominate an Administrator

Award: Nebraska District Shepherd of the Year

Eligible Candidates: Pastors who serve an LCMS congregation with a school, early childhood center, preschool, daycare, or other educational facility.
Nominees must be actively serving as a full-time pastor of an LCMS entity committed to Christian education.

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,
the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:11-12

Nominate a Pastor

Award: Nebraska District Parish Worker of the Year

Eligible Candidates: DCE’s, Music Directors, Other Full-time professional Church-workers working in a Parish, etc. who work at a Nebraska District LCMS congregation (with an LCMS educational facility)
Nominees must be actively serving as a full-time employee of an LCMS entity committed to Christian education.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.
Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58 )

Nominate a Parish Worker

Previous Award Recipients

Early Childhood Educator of the Year

  • 2023 — Kelsey Schnoor, St. John Early Learning Center, Battle Creek
  • 2021 — Sheryl Tietz, Jesus Our Savior Preschool, Winnebago
  • 2018 — Andrea Way, Little Blessings (Emmanuel-Faith), York
  • 2017 — Sherry Thimijan, Messiah, Lincoln
  • 2015 — Kay Storck, Lamb of God, Omaha
  • 2014 — Dawn Gilfry, Trinity, Fremont
  • 2013 — Connie Dirks, Trinity, Lincoln
  • 2012 — Lauren Sommerer, St. John CDC, Seward
  • 20111 — Shery Fiene, King of Kings, Omaha
  • 2010 — Lisa Stirtz, Wee Lambs, Gretna

Elementary Teacher of the Year

  • 2023 — Sandy Bangert, Messiah, Lincoln
  • 2021 — Doni Douglass, Christ, Lincoln
  • 2018 — Cindy Kuntz, Concordia Academy, Omaha
  • 2017 — Tammy Schroeder, St. Paul, West Point

Middle/High School Teacher of the Year

  • 2023 — Phil Carlson, Lutheran High Northeast, Norfolk
  • 2021 — Sean Wieting, Lincoln Lutheran Middle/Senior High School, Lincoln
  • 2018 — Preston Sunderman, Lutheran High Northeast, Norfolk
  • 2017 — Jim Hardt, St. John, Battle Creek

Administrator of the Year

  • 2023 — Nathan Domsch, Concordia Academy, Omaha
  • 2021 — David Kumm, Trinity, Lincoln
  • 2018 — Kari Penrose, St. Paul, West Point
  • 2017 — Tony Splittgerber, Zion, Kearney

Shepherd of the Year

  • 2023 — Rev. Jim DeLoach, Zion, Kearney
  • 2021 — Rev. Brad Birtell, St. John, Columbus
  • 2018 — Rev. Mike Neidow, Emmanuel-Faith, York
  • 2017 — Rev. Rick Kanoy, St. Paul’s, Arlington

Parish Worker of the Year

  • 2023 — Brady Laib, First, Papillion
  • 2021 — Christine Ekberg, Our Savior, Norfolk
  • 2018 — Rebecca Fisher, Christ, Lincoln
  • 2017 — Marty Hein, Messiah, Lincoln

Elementary/High School Educator of the Year

  • 2015 Harlan Anson, Our Redeemer, Staplehurst
  • 2014 Steve Zehnder, Concordia Jr./Sr. High, Omaha
  • 2013 Jim Knoepfel, Trinity, Fremont
  • 2012 Lynette Naber, Emmanuel/Faith, York
  • 2011 Karen Reynolds, Concordia, Omaha
  • 2010 Janice Endorf, Zion, Tobias
  • 2009 Sue Sylvester, St. John, Seward
  • 2008 Cassandra McMahan, Faith, Lincoln
  • 2007 Bob Saeger, Immanuel, Polk
  • 2006 Dallas Koffarnus, Zion, Hastings
  • 2005 Darla Rosendahl, Concordia, Omaha
  • 2004 Paul Leckband, Lutheran High Northeast