National Award

Faith Lutheran School’s Touching Heart Early Childhood Directors Mrs. Cathi Niemeyer and Mrs. Liz Schultz have been awarded the Lutheran Education Association’s Distinguished Early Childhood Administrator’s Award by the national Lutheran organization from River Forest, Illinois. Ms. Niemeyer and Ms. Shultz are being recognized for their outstanding work and personal qualities as Early Childhood Directors.

The award will be presented at the LEA’s National Administrators Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, March 15-17.

Ms. Niemeyer earned her B.S. in human development and family and elementary education from the University of Nebraska. She qualified for certification as a Lutheran schoolteacher by completing the colloquy process at Concordia University Nebraska. Cathi served in the Peace Corps, where she lived and worked in Colombia, starting and running a childcare center.

In a recommendation for this award, one colleague wrote, “If you were to watch Cathi work, you would quickly realize that her gift is to nurture families. She is an expert at helping parents to see what they need to do to improve their family without judgment or criticism. Cathi never tires of working for the benefit of God’s people. She gives of her time, talent, and resources generously and without concern for herself. She truly has a servant’s heart.”

Elaborating on her greatest joys in ministry, Cathi said, “I look forward to building relationships with teachers, child care workers, parents, and children by sharing Christ’s love, forgiveness, and compassion. In this way, we help them develop their own Christian lifestyle and strong prayer life. I work with the assurance that the Holy Spirit is guiding my actions and has given me the wisdom and ability to do this ministry.”

Ms. Schultz earned both her B.S. Ed. and M.S. Ed. in early childhood education from Concordia University Nebraska. Prior to serving at Touching Hearts Development Center, she served at St.John in Bakersfield, California and taught kindergarten and first grade at Faith in Lincoln.

The nominator of Ms. Schultz wrote, “Liz’s gift is nurturing staff members. She works with her mind always on the vision of what the center could be doing in the future. She encourages as well as trains staff members and helps them to set reasonable goals for professional development. Liz never tires of finding and volunteering for new ways to serve God’s people. She truly has a servant’s heart.”

Among her greatest joys in ministry, Liz said, “…children who learn about and shine the love of Jesus, families brought to church because their children shared God’s love with them, listening to teachers and staff integrate the faith …, and …helping families in crisis when they come to our center for help.”

Cathi Niemeyer and Elizabeth Schultz were selected to receive this award by LEA’s Network Leadership, LCMS staff, and LEA staff.