The Lutheran Schools Partnership has been working to create an ongoing fund to encourage newly-placed teachers from the Concordia University System to pursue the teaching profession and to relocate to the Northeast Indiana area. We want to attract talented and dedicated church workers and encourage lifelong employment and involvement in Lutheran education in our area by removing barriers, including debt reduction, helping with relocation costs, or securing housing. As our VIP 2022 speaker noted in her remarks, having faithful, Lutheran-trained teachers is key to revitalizing schools.
The Partnership decided to name this new fund after John Weber, former missionary, teacher and principal, Concordia University-Nebraska graduate, father of 3, and husband to Sarah, whose earthly life came to an untimely end in the fall of 2021 from COVID-related complications after winning a battle with cancer. When John was with us, his goal was to ensure that everyone knew “Jesus loves you!”
After raising funds from donors like you, we formed a committee to seek out new teachers who were accepting a call to Northeast Indiana to complete an application. Of those submitted, Jesse Muehler, first year teacher at St. John-Emmanuel Lutheran School in Monroeville, was selected as the inaugural recipient. (pictured: Sarah Weber, widow of John Weber and teacher at Holy Cross Lutheran School; Jesse Muehler, 2022 Weber Teacher Support Fund recipient; and Mark Muehl, Executive Director of The Partnership.)
As Jesse wrote in his application, “I chose to accept this call because I felt that it was a position that God had prepared me for with my past experiences and skill sets, as well as one that would challenge me. I have a passion for the middle school environment, and the resources available through The Lutheran Schools Partnership seemed like a wonderful way to build a strong foundation and network as I begin my teaching ministry. The Northeast Indiana Region is a new place for me, and yet its strong roots in Lutheran school ministry reassured me that this was a solid next step into the classroom.” Jesse plans to use the distribution to “to financially support my transition to this area. As a new graduate and first year teacher, there have been a number of new expenses associated with moving to this area, furnishing a new living space, and making sure that I am adequately equipped and organized for my first year of teaching.”
The Committee and The Partnership wish to thank donors who continue to give to grow the Weber Teacher Support Fund; the more we raise, the more we will be able to distribute every year to encourage, and keep, quality, Lutheran-trained educators like Jesse. While we have dedicated our fall efforts to raising operating dollars through our VIP event, now through the Spring of every year will be dedicated to growing the Weber Teacher Support Fund. If you would like to give to the Weber Fund, our address is 1601 St. Joe River Drive, Fort Wayne, 46805. You can also give online by visiting www.tlspartnership.org/donate and then using the dropdown menu and choosing “Weber Teacher Support Fund”. Other questions? Contact Jon at 260-203-4510.
P.S. You can learn more about John Weber from this previous Partnership post and by watching a short video here.
