This week, Concordia University celebrates four alumni who have been recognized with 2026 South Wisconsin District Teacher of the Year Awards. Over the next four days, we will feature one of these outstanding educators and the work they are doing to serve students and communities.
Their work reflects a deep commitment to excellence, compassion and purpose. Grounded in faith and called to serve, each educator lives out their vocation in the classroom, making a lasting difference in the lives entrusted to their care. This recognition is not only a professional honor, but also a testament to the way a Concordia education prepares graduates to lead and serve with integrity in the world.
Autumn Bynum
4K teacher at Immanuel Lutheran School in Brookfield, Wis.
2009 alumna with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education
How has your understanding of teaching as a Christian vocation shaped the way you serve your students and school community each day?
I have come to understand that a Christian vocation is not just a profession, but a calling to serve God by serving the students in my class and the families of our school. This understanding has shaped the way I approach each day with my students, families, coworkers and congregation members.
I strive to see every student as created in the image of God, deserving of dignity, patience and compassion—especially when learning is challenging or behavior is difficult. Rather than focusing only on academic outcomes, I aim to nurture the whole child — intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually — modeling Christ’s love through consistency, fairness and grace.
This sense of calling also guides how I serve the school community. I view collaboration with colleagues, support of families and participation in school life as extensions of my ministry. Even small, unseen acts — listening attentively, offering encouragement, praying for students or showing forgiveness — become meaningful ways to live out my faith. Grounded in the example of Christ as the ultimate teacher and servant, I approach my work with humility and purpose, trusting that God can use my daily efforts to shape lives and build a community rooted in love, justice and hope.
Can you share a moment in your teaching journey when you clearly saw God at work through your classroom or relationships with students?
As I look back on my teaching journey, I can clearly see how God has been at work through both the joyful days and the hardest moments. My time at Sherman Park Lutheran School deeply shaped me into the teacher I am today. Even in moments of deep sorrow, God’s presence was evident through His loving hands and faithful promises.
During my years there, we lost two students within a two-year span. As teachers, we wrestled with difficult questions — wondering if we had done enough to teach them about God’s love. Those experiences profoundly changed my teaching philosophy. Teaching the faith was no longer something I saw as optional or secondary; it felt like a matter of life and death. From that point on, my goal became to show God’s love through my words and actions so that every child would know they are deeply loved by God.
There was a special group of students at Sherman Park whom I never officially taught in my classroom. Often, they were sent to me when they were struggling, in trouble or simply needed a break. Over time, I was able to build trusting relationships with them and help them understand that the teachers at our school truly cared about them. After they graduated, they went on to Milwaukee Lutheran High School, where my husband served as their basketball coach. That connection allowed me to continue checking in on them — stopping by on my days off, bringing treats and reminding them that they were still loved and supported.
Years later, one of those students was tragically killed in a car accident. At his funeral, I experienced a deep sense of peace. I knew that we had done everything we could to show him God’s love, and I trusted in the promise that one day we would be reunited in heaven. That moment reaffirmed why I live and teach the way I do.
I approach each day with the understanding that it could be my last opportunity to impact a child’s life. My hope is that every student I encounter knows they are loved — by me and by God — not because of anything they have done, but simply because God is that amazing.
Looking back on your time at Concordia, what experiences or mentors most prepared you to teach with excellence, compassion and confidence in Christ?
During my time at Concordia, the professor who had the greatest impact on me was Dr. Candice Seider. She was my professor for a course called Teaching the Faith, which I took during a block at the end of my time at Concordia. In this class, we focused on how to teach children about God in meaningful, age-appropriate ways. Much of our time was spent creating plans for fun, engaging and faith-filled lessons.
What stood out to me most was Dr. Seider’s deep love for Jesus, storybooks and music. Those passions have greatly shaped the way I teach my young students today. I love reading stories to my students and am always searching for well-written books that teach the truth about how amazing God truly is. Music is also one of my favorite tools to use in the classroom—there is something powerful about music and the way it helps children connect emotionally and spiritually to what they are learning.
I am truly blessed to have had Dr. Seider as a professor, and I believe God has used her and her family to bless my family as well. I have remained connected with the Seider family beyond the walls of Concordia. We are friends with her son, Blake, and his family, and I had the privilege of teaching alongside her daughter-in-law at Immanuel, where we taught 3K together. Our children are around the same age as her grandchildren; they attend Immanuel, play on the same sports teams and even share some of the same classes.
I often see Dr. Seider at church and school events, and each time I am reminded of the profound impact she has had on my life. I am continually thankful for the incredible example she has been to me — not only as an educator, but as a faithful Christian who lives out her calling with joy and purpose.
What encouragement would you offer to current Concordia students or future teachers who feel called to serve in Lutheran education today?
To current Concordia students and future teachers who feel called to serve in Lutheran education, I would encourage you to trust that your calling truly matters. Teaching in Lutheran schools is not always easy, but it is deeply meaningful work. God places you exactly where you are needed, and He works through your daily interactions with students in ways you may not always see right away. Every lesson taught, every conversation held and every moment of patience or grace shown is an opportunity to reflect Christ’s love.
Lean into the community around you — your classmates, professors, mentors and colleagues — because Lutheran education is never meant to be done alone. Stay rooted in prayer and God’s Word, especially on challenging days, and remember that your faith is just as powerful a teaching tool as your lesson plans. Most importantly, remember that you are shaping hearts as well as minds. When Christ remains at the center of your work, God will use your vocation to bless not only your students, but families, schools and communities for generations to come.
What’s your favorite thing about CUW?
My time at CUW was one of the most meaningful seasons of my life. From the moment I stepped onto campus, I knew it was the perfect place for me. The students and staff were welcoming and genuinely cared about me as a person. During my time there, I was blessed to be a member of the softball team, which quickly became an extension of my family.
I also met my husband, Billy Bynum, while at Concordia (a 2006 graduate). He played both basketball and baseball at CUW. Billy and I were married in 2009 by President Dr. Ferry in the Chapel of Christ Triumphant, surrounded by many CUW students and staff who had a lasting impact on our lives.
For the past 17-plus years, we have continued to live out the mission that began at Concordia by teaching in Lutheran schools. Billy taught at Milwaukee Lutheran for 17 years and now serves as director of athletic advancement at Living Word, where our oldest daughter currently attends. I taught at Sherman Park Lutheran School from 2009–15 and have been teaching at Immanuel Lutheran School in Brookfield for the past 11 years.
We have loved teaching future Concordia students, and it brings us great pride to watch them go on to live full lives with Christ at the center of all they do.
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Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world.