LEA bids farewell to Laabs, welcomes Wrege

Dr. Jonathan C. Laabs, outgoing executive director of Lutheran Education Association (LEA), gives his final address during the 2025 LEA convocation in St. Louis. (LEA/Denise Rice)

On Oct. 4, Lutheran Education Association (LEA), a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), announced that Dr. Thomas Wrege has accepted the call to serve as its next executive director, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Wrege succeeds Dr. Jonathan C. Laabs, who is retiring after more than 28 years as executive director.

In a press release, the LEA board recognized Laabs’ long history of service to the organization, noting that under Laabs’ leadership, LEA provided “a constant stream of resources, publications, awards and events to support educators in Lutheran ministries worldwide” and calling him “a tireless advocate for Lutheran educators and a champion for Lutheran education.” Laabs gave his final address as LEA executive director during the LEA convocation, held last month in St. Louis.

Wrege

Wrege is a veteran Lutheran educator with nearly four decades of experience in Lutheran schools. He holds a bachelor’s in education from Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, Neb.; a master’s in leadership/instructional technology from Butler University, Indianapolis; and a doctorate in leadership from Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wis. He received LEA’s National Distinguished Principal award in 2013 and the Charles A. Winterstein Administrator of the Year award in 2023.

Mike Schiemann, chairman of the LEA Board of Directors, described Wrege as “a visionary leader [who] will use that gift to lead LEA into the future while honoring the legacy that LEA has left in the hearts and ministry of many. Praise God for his gifts to the church, and His gift to LEA in the person of Dr. Tom Wrege.”

Posted Nov. 18, 2025