Each year, the Lutheran Education Association honors teachers and administrators whose work reflects a strong commitment to Christian education and students. This year, five Concordia alumni have been selected to receive awards.
Melinda (Mindy) Hanke, Class of 2004
Hanke has been selected to receive the Lutheran Education Association’s 2026 Distinguished Lutheran Early Childhood Teacher Award. She teaches kindergarten at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Des Peres, Mo., where she also coordinates National Lutheran Schools Week and helps supervise the Lutheran Junior Honor Association. Hanke is active in community service and is a member of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church.
Reflecting on her vocation, Hanke shared that her greatest joy is building intentional relationships with students and their families. She prays for each child by name before the school year begins and remains deeply connected to them throughout the year. “My hope is that each child leaves knowing they are a beloved child of God — and loved by me,” she said.
Parents and colleagues alike praised Hanke’s faith-filled approach and dedication to the whole child. One parent shared that she “teaches with her whole heart, grounded in her faith, and called to serve.” Hanke’s personal mission reflects this commitment: to love learners and families as Christ does, to grow continually as an educator, and to help each child recognize they are created exactly as God intended while being encouraged to faithfully use the gifts God has given them.
Caitlin McGaffick, Class of 2018
McGaffick has been selected to receive the Lutheran Education Association’s 2026 Distinguished Lutheran Elementary Teacher Award. She has taught third grade for eight years at Divine Redeemer Lutheran School in Hartland, Wis., where she has been described as “a dedicated, faith-filled teacher who inspires students to love math and Jesus.”
McGaffick’s creativity, structure and individualized instruction foster student success. Her leadership also extends beyond the classroom through mentoring colleagues, organizing church staff appreciation and community events, and modeling excellence in Lutheran education.
Reflecting on her vocation, McGaffick shared that her greatest joy is walking alongside students as they grow in learning, faith and confidence. Her personal mission is “to inspire and instill a lifelong love of learning, exploring and problem-solving with Christ as the guide,” nurturing students’ spiritual, intellectual and social development both inside and outside the classroom.
Rev. Matthew Schilling, Class of 2004
Schilling has been selected by the Lutheran Education Association Board of Directors to receive the LEA Distinguished Lutheran School Team Pastor Award. This honor recognizes a Lutheran pastor who demonstrates excellence in Christian education and faithfully supports faculty and staff as partners in teaching the faith. Schilling serves as associate pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Davenport, Iowa.
Reflecting on his ministry, Schilling shared that one of his greatest joys is serving in team ministry alongside fellow believers and sharing the Gospel with students through teaching, chapel, preaching and coaching. He noted that an ongoing challenge is helping families recognize how an excellent Lutheran education connects directly to the gifts God gives through Word and Sacrament, with eternal significance beyond the classroom. He emphasized that Lutheran education forms students in faith, forgiveness and life in Christ.
Teachers, administrators and parents alike praised Schilling’s active and visible presence in the life of Trinity Lutheran School. He teaches eighth-grade religion, leads chapel, coaches basketball, supports staff through prayer and encouragement, participates in school leadership and training, and is deeply involved with students and families.
Katarina (Katie) Stiek, Class of 2014
Stiek has been selected to receive the Lutheran Education Association’s 2026 Distinguished Lutheran Middle School Teacher Award. She serves as an English language arts teacher, resource teacher and school curriculum coordinator at Immanuel Lutheran School in Palatine, Ill. In addition to classroom teaching, she coordinates the Scripps Spelling Bee, Academic Fair, National Junior Honor Society, Heart Month for the American Heart Association, and plans the middle school Advent service.
Reflecting on her ministry, Stiek shared that her greatest joy is watching students grow in their understanding of Christ and His love, especially while walking with students through challenging seasons. She values creating learning experiences tailored to each class and helping students develop confidence, grit, and a love of reading, writing and discovery. “It is fulfilling to help students realize their full academic potential,” she said, while also sharing the hope of the resurrection with those in need of encouragement.
Parents, church leaders and colleagues praised Stiek’s ability to meet students’ social, emotional, spiritual and academic needs during the pivotal middle school years. One parent noted that she creates a safe, supportive environment while holding high expectations, and her pastor described her teaching as a calling through which God shapes minds and nurtures faith.
Phillip (Phill) Wilke, Class of 1988
Wilke has been selected to receive the Lutheran Education Association’s 2026 Distinguished Lutheran Secondary Educator Award. He teaches theology, with a focus on apologetics and ethics, along with world religions and logic, at Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball, Texas. Wilke also serves as head strength coach and assistant athletic director.
Reflecting on his vocation, Wilke shared that his greatest joy is walking alongside students as they grow in faith and begin to recognize God’s presence in their lives, even amid questions and struggles. Quoting Philippians 1:6, he emphasized the trust-filled relationships that develop over time, where students feel safe bringing difficult questions and concerns. He also noted that one of his greatest challenges is helping students navigate the influence of social media on identity and truth, continually pointing them back to Christ and reminding them that they are defined not by online approval but by the grace given to them in baptism.
Administrators and parents alike praised Wilke’s lasting impact on students’ faith, character and confidence. One administrator described him as a compassionate mentor who exemplifies everything a Lutheran educator should be, while a parent shared appreciation for his bold, clear teaching, high expectations and visible Christian witness. Wilke’s personal mission is to help students know Christ and live lives that reflect faith in Him, striving to be a light that points not to himself, but to Christ at work through him.
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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.