LEA honors top educators

Scott

Dr. Mary Scott has been selected by the Board of Directors of Lutheran Education Association (LEA) to receive LEA’s top honor, the Christus Magister award. Since 1965, this most prestigious LEA award has been presented to educators who have made significant contributions to Lutheran education.

Scott is the executive director and CEO at Orange Lutheran High School (Lutheran High School of Orange County) in Orange, Calif. She previously served as a Lutheran teacher in New York; a faculty member and administrator at Concordia University Irvine, Irvine, Calif.; and head of school at Concordia International School in Shanghai, China.

Scott earned a B.A. from Concordia College (now Concordia University Chicago), River Forest, Ill.; an M.A. in Administration from Adelphi University, Long Island, N.Y.; and a Doctorate in Institutional Management from Pepperdine University, Malibu, Calif. She said, “It is a blessing to serve at a place where I can work to make that phrase come alive. Serving with like-minded faculty and staff members is my greatest joy.”

Scott’s nominator said, “Mary is highly relational; a skilled presenter and speaker; and an amazing, Christ-centered leader. Mary is also a servant leader, honoring her Lord and Savior by leading Bible studies at her home congregation, leading small groups in their discipleship journey, and serving with outreach teams at her church. Mary is everything that this award recognizes.”

In support of Mary’s nomination, a colleague said, “Her passion for Christ-centered education is evident in everything she does, from her strategic vision to everyday interactions with colleagues, students and community members. She exemplifies the values of the Gospel and embodies the qualities this award seeks to recognize. The ripple effects of her influence can be seen in Lutheran schools, churches and communities across the country, where many of her former students and mentees now faithfully serve.”

Other 2025 LEA award recipients included:

Sam Seefeld, executive director at Trinity Lutheran Freistadt, Mequon, Wis. — LEA Distinguished Lutheran Elementary Administrator

Judy Scriven, childcare director at Grace Lutheran Church, Vancouver, Wash. — LEA Distinguished Lutheran Early Childhood Administrator

Caleb Adams, lead pastor at Trinity Lutheran Ministries, Bend, Ore. — LEA Distinguished Lutheran School Team Pastor

Cheryl Witek, teacher at St. John’s Lutheran Church and School in Racine, Wis. — LEA Distinguished Lutheran Early Childhood Teacher

Amanda Wilson, teacher at Zion Lutheran School in Bensenville, Ill. — LEA Outstanding New Lutheran Early Childhood Teacher

Mary Wert, teacher at Immanuel Lutheran School in Batavia, Ill. — LEA Distinguished Lutheran Elementary Teacher

Rebekah Symank, teacher at Abiding Savior Lutheran School in Lake Forest, Calif., in partnership with Lutheran Special Education Ministries — LEA Outstanding New Lutheran Elementary Teacher

Dee Leible, teacher at Christ Community Lutheran School in Kirkwood, Mo. — LEA Distinguished Lutheran Middle School Teacher

Sarah Driscoll, teacher at Redeemer Lutheran Church and School, Verona, Penn. — LEA Distinguished Lutheran Secondary Educator

Isaac Weander, teacher at Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, Ind. — Outstanding New Lutheran Secondary Educator

John Maas, retired educator at Martin Luther Academy, Kansas City, Mo. — Distinguished Retired Lutheran Educator “EncourAGING” Award

Kris Schuldt, Missouri District Disaster Response Coordinator — LEA Leader in Outreach

LEA is an LCMS Recognized Service Organization. Learn more at lea.org.

Posted April 30, 2025