Convention Workbook

• Special recognition and celebrations
(Educator of the Year)
• Educational consultation services
• Accreditation Commission
K–12 School Cabinet members include
Wendell Robson (chair), Gethsemane, Tempe;
Michael Vick, Abiding Savior, Lake Forest;
Meg Rehrer, Venice Lutheran, Venice; and
Katherine Benne.
The Western Alliance of High School
Administrators, Lutheran High School
administrators from the western portion of
the United States, meet for annual leaders’
retreats and conferences planned in
partnership with Concordia University, Irvine.
The District Principals’ Council sponsors a
two-day conference in July and produces a
new Principal Manual. The Principals’
Council members are Jeffrey Beavers, Crean
LHS, Irvine; Scott Dufresne, LHS San Diego;
Mary Fink, Bethany, Long Beach; and Xavria
Schwarz, Christ, La Mesa.
Special Education Ministries
Though still in partnership with Lutheran
Special Education Ministries (LSEM), we have
recently formed a new network of support
called Lutheran Association of Resource
Specialists (LARS). This network meets twice
annually to support each other and to share
relevant information in the field, and also to
make themselves available to support,
encourage, and provide resources for other
PSD schools that do not have a resource
teacher on their campus.
Networks
In the past three years we have formed
networks to support specialized areas of
ministry and education in Lutheran schools.
These networks are led by the members of the
SCHOOL MINISTRIES
groups themselves and provide support and
encouragement to each other as well as
leadership within the district. Networks
include:
• Admissions Directors – this group
meets monthly. This group has also
organized an annual conference the
past two years with 50 and 62 in
attendance, respectively.
• Lutheran Association of Resource
Specialist (LARS) – this group meets 2
– 3 time per year.
• School-Age Care – the newest of our
networks. This group meets three
times per year.
• TechNet – this group is for
technology directors and teachers
within the district. They have met
several times each year.
Grantparent Tuition Assistance Mission
Project
The Grantparent program, a School
Ministries mission project for the Pacific
Southwest District of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod, provides tuition assistance
enabling children to receive an excellent
Christian and academic education in urban
communities. Through the Grantparent
program, children are sponsored for $600 a
year (elementary) or $1200 a year (high
school). Children are selected by the school
on the basis of need from families who have
requested financial aid. This enables these
children to receive an excellent Christian and
academic education in our most urban
schools. Currently 57 students in six district
urban schools (Concordia School, Burbank;
Pilgrim Lutheran School, Chula Vista; St.
Paul’s Lutheran School, Garden Grove;
Redeemer Lutheran School, Las Vegas;
Redeemer Lutheran School, South Gate; and
Pacific Lutheran High School, Torrance)
receive tuition assistance through the
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