Emanuel Lutheran School

Before I came to Emanuel, my teaching experiences involved music, hand bells, preschool, and substitute teaching. I began teaching music at Emanuel in 2019. I am impressed with the school’s devotion and enthusiasm to music education. Students are provided a variety of opportunities to develop their musical abilities and interests: playing a large selection of instruments, singing in church, participating in the Christmas program, and performing dramatic roles in original musicals. An annual highlight for me is the Christmas program. The rehearsals and the service are among my favorite moments of the year.

I am excited to also be teaching 7^th and 8^th grade art this year. Art has always been a subject that I have enjoyed studying and practicing, and I look forward to sharing this with the students.

I grew up on a dairy farm outside of Hutchinson, so when I first came to Emanuel and saw the school surrounded by fields, I felt right at home. Now I live in Mayer with my husband, Troy, and my daughter, Grace, who is a student at Mayer Lutheran High School. My other family members are my step-daughter Amanda and her husband, Chase, who live in Mankato, and my step-daughter Ashley and her husband, Matt, who live in Mayer with their children Callen and Annette. Most of my free time is spent with family activities, and I try to squeeze in some gardening and sewing.

It has been my honor to have been a teacher at Emanuel since 1981. My teaching responsibilities were spent in the first and second grade classroom for nine years. I then moved to the fifth and sixth grade classroom for the remainder of my teaching career. I retired from the profession in 2021 and enjoyed a few months of official retirement. God had other plans. I returned to Emanuel to fill a long-term subbing position in the Primary Room in the Fall of 2021.

I am once again honored to be a part of the amazing faculty and school life of Emanuel. Between August, 2022 and June, 2023 I will be filling in as Interim Administrator. Many years ago members of the faculty, including me, helped execute the administrative duties. The responsibilities of the position have grown and become more in depth in the span of years that has passed. It has been a learning curve. With the help of staff and the support of the School Board the transition has been made easier.

Each day as I walk into the building I am reminded of all of God's blessings. This reminder comes through the wonderful staff, the parents I see, and the children whose smiles are a welcome sight. Although I will only be in this position a short time, the welcoming, loving, Christ-centered spirit of all I meet is a daily joy!

Greetings,

I am the cook at Emanuel Lutheran School.  This is my first year as the cook.  I am so blessed to be a part of the staff, as I have been treated with so much kindness and respect from the staff and students.

I enjoy cooking the lunches for the students, and I especially enjoy talking with them and getting to know them.  They are all a blessing to me each day.

I live in Green Isle with my husband John.  We will be married 38 years in October 2018.  We have three grown children: Jodi lives in Glencoe with her children, Tarin age 17 and Cody age 9; Lindsey and her husband, Sean, live in arlington, with their children Riley age 12 and Harper age 7; and our son, Jacob (JJ), and his wife Kari, live in Green Isle with their son, Nathan age 9.

My husband, Todd, our son, Isaac and I moved to Hamburg in 2013 when my husband, now known as Vicar Bentz, became the principal of Emanuel Lutheran School. I grew up in Minnesota and attended St. Paul/St. Peter Lutheran School, which is now know as Christ Community Lutheran School in Watertown, MN. After graduating from Mayer Lutheran High School, I attended Concordia in St. Paul, MN and later Concordia in Seward, NE. In 1990 I graduated with an Elementary Education degree from Concordia in Seward, NE. I have served as a full time classroom teacher in Lutheran Elementary Schools in Hawaii, Illinois, and Minnesota. In 2005 I received a Master's Degree in Teaching and Learning from St. Mary's University in Winona, MN. In 2014 I began working for Lutheran Special Education Ministries as a resource room teacher. Currently I serve at Emanuel Lutheran School in Hamburg, MN, St. John's Lutheran School in Norwood-Young America, MN, and Zion Lutheran School in Cologne, MN through LSEM. I love sharing Jesus as I help students discover new things about how they best learn, master concepts, and use their God-given gifts. While at Emanuel I have also enjoyed coaching volleyball, and directing choirs, Christmas programs, and musicals. During my free time I love hanging out with family and friends, hiking, singing, and playing with our puppy. I feel blessed to be part of the Emanuel Lutheran School Family!

I’m thrilled to be serving at Emanuel in the 3^rd and 4^th Grade Classroom! The opportunity to teach the love of Jesus to students each day is a blessing. I have been a member of Emanuel since 2005 and began teaching in 2014. Emanuel’s family-oriented atmosphere provides students with sound academics and enriching Christian education. Come check us out!

Welcome to our webpage! I'm Jodi Wilson and I've been teaching at Emanuel since 1988. I started in our 3rd and 4th grade classroom, but have spent most of my years here team teaching with Marilyn Vollbrecht in our K-2 multi-age Primary Room. We have a unique learning environment that strives to meet each individual student at his or her current academic level. We grow together in our knowledge and wonder of God's awesome creation. Come visit us anytime!

Welcome to Emanuel Lutheran School!

My name is Jessica Flygare and I teach in the K-2 Primary Room alongside my co-teacher, Jodi Wilson. I have experience teaching kindergarten and second grade in two nearby school districts since 2013. I was thrilled to join the staff at Emanuel for the 2022-2023 school year. 

In our multi-age classroom, we have the unique advantage of allowing students to work and develop at their own level, while simultaneously building relationships with students across grade levels, as well as staff. 

Emanuel has been close to my heart ever since I was a student.

I feel very blessed to be at the same school as my two children where we can learn about God’s wonderful blessings and grow in our faith together! 

Please stop by to visit us!

Welcome to Emanuel Lutheran Preschool!! My name is Kari Crown and I have been teaching at Emanuel since 2009, but have been in the Early Childhood field since 1991. I am so excited to have the opportunity to teach our littlest ones about the wonder of God's creation, and about the friendship they can have with Jesus. We spend part of each day doing Bible stories, but have plenty of time for language, math, science, music and art centers. Please stop by and join us as we learn and play together!! 

Emanuel offers two preschool options for your child. Our 3-4 year old class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays while our 4-5 year old class meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Both classes are from 7:45-11:00 a.m. 

            Welcome to Emanuel Lutheran School.  I am serving as one of the 7^th/8^th grade teachers.  I began teaching here in 2013.  My focus in the classroom is in the area of Math and Confirmation.  I truly enjoy helping students see the creative and organized thoughts that God put into His creation.  I hope to share that joy with the students in my classroom.

            My wife Terri and I have been married since 1989.  In 2012 we were blessed with our son, Isaac.  I graduated from Concordia, Seward in 1990.  I have taught in Hawaii, Illinois, and in Minnesota since 1999.  Most of my teaching has been in Lutheran schools.  Sharing the Gospel and helping students learn what it means to live their faith is a very important part of my calling as a teacher.

            Part of my role has changed here at Emanuel.  I am serving as vicar and preparing to be the pastor here.  The invitation is always open to you for a visit or if you have any questions, please contact us.  We would love to share with you the mission of Emanuel.  It is a place that has blessed the Bentz family through the love of Jesus Christ.