MCA is closed Friday (1/18) due to inclement weather.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one may boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Kathy grew up in South Dakota. She attended college at South Dakota State University until moving to Minnesota. She earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education and K-12 special education. Then earned a masters degree in educational leadership and special education administration at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Mrs. Johnson was blessed to be able to teach students with special needs at St. Clair Public School and Mankato Area Public Schools for over 20 years. Mrs. Johnson has been an adjunct professor at MSU and supervises teacher candidates. She had the opportunity to serve as the High School Principal at Central High School in Mankato for 10 years.
Kathy and her husband, Leif, will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this year. They have three adult children and 8 grandchildren. In her free time, Mrs. Johnson loves to travel. Her most memorable trip was to Israel where she found a deep connection with her faith and church family. Mrs. Johnson enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to the family cabin, sewing and trying new recipes. She is passionate about education and sharing the Christian faith.
Education:
B.A. Elementary Education
M.A. Educational Leadership
First Year at MCA: 2023
Dr. David Reagles grew up in Mankato. He attended Bethany Lutheran College where he earned his undergraduate degree in History. He then went on to complete a master’s degree in the History of Christianity in Wheaton College (IL) and a PhD in History and Culture at Drew University (NJ). Dr. Reagles has taught history for 10 years at the college level. He is the author of Searching for God in Britain and Beyond: Reading Letters to Malcolm Muggeridge, 1966-1982 (MQUP, 2021), several articles and reviews, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. In his teaching and mentoring, Dr. Reagles helps students to recognize their vocation has two overarching goals: first, to grow in love for God who reveals Himself fully in Jesus Christ and, second, to develop skills to better serve their neighbor.
Dr. Reagles and his wife, Karla, live in North Mankato and together have four children, Isaiah, Gregory, Felicity, and Charles. They love being active members of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church and enjoy family walks, Friday pizza and movie nights, and reading good stories.
Education:
First Year at MCA: 2023
Lizz graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a degree in Special Education, specializing in Academic and Behavioral Studies. Following graduation, Lizz spent three impactful years teaching at Prairie Winds Middle School. During this time, Lizz not only taught but also took on the role of co-leader for the school's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) team. In this position, Lizz helped establish a school store and orchestrated various initiatives to celebrate student successes, such as organizing assembly games and grade-level challenges. Lizz is happily married to Justin, and the couple shares their home with two adorable dogs, Luke and Nala. Outside of the school environment, Lizz enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, and cherishing moments with family. The family is eagerly anticipating their next adventure—adopting a child and growing their family. They feel incredibly blessed to have a supportive community, including close-knit family and friends, as well as a strong church fellowship, surrounding them.
Education:
B.S., Special Education - MSU, Mankato 2021
First Year at MCA: 2024
Dennis is the oldest of five children and grew up in rural southeast Minnesota. Dennis attended college at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He earned his undergraduate degree with emphasis in biblical languages and history. Dennis earned a master’s degree at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. Upon graduation Dennis served two congregations as sole pastor in Nebraska from 1983 to 1995. He then served as associate pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church and School in Walled Lake, MI. While there Dennis taught Christian Ethics at Lutheran High School in Westland, MI. From 1998 to 2010 Dennis has served as Lead Pastor at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Anoka, MN and from 2010 to 2023 served as Lead Pastor at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato.
Pastor Dennis’ passion is to teach and introduce people to the Gospel of Jesus. He has taught people of all ages – from children’s messages to adult Bible Studies. He is also passionate about leadership: Inspiring and equipping people to grow into everything God has created and saved them to be.
Dennis is married to Sheila – this year they celebrate their 45th anniversary! They have been blessed with four children and eleven grandchildren. Sheila and Dennis have hosted four tours of the Holy Land with a fifth one planned for November of 2024.
Education:
First Year at MCA: 2023
Jonah Lippert grew up just south of Mankato, near Easton, MN. The third of eleven children, Jonah is very close to his family and loves rural Minnesota.
Jonah attended college classes at Bethany Lutheran College for PSEO, later enrolling at St. Mary's University Winona, MN where he achieved a B.A. in Philosophy. Later, Jonah went on to study for his M.A. in Theology at the Augustine Institute in Denver, CO, where he expected at first to pursue mission work on college campuses.
During his M.A. studies Denver, Jonah began tutoring Latin and Logic to local homeschool co-ops on the side, a practice which gave rise to a full time job at Our Lady of Lourdes, a local classical elementary and middle school where he remained teaching for three years as the Latin Specials teacher. Returning to Minnesota, Jonah worked in pastoral ministry as a Faith Formation Coordinator for three parishes, and Youth Minister for six parishes near his family.
Jenny, the woman who is now his wife (of six years), explains why Jonah chose to move and settle into teaching at a new classical school, Holy Spirit Academy, in Monticello, MN, where he has been for the past seven years. There, he taught a variety of classes including philosophy, theology and the humanities, as well as directing school plays, coaching a long-lived fencing club, and at times helping to facilitate the school's mock trial, pro-life and chess clubs. Oh--and he met a lot of really sensational young people whom God is calling, working with, and working through. That is his favorite part of teaching.
He and his wife have recently welcomed one beautiful daughter (Josephine) and moved back to the Mankato area. They deeply enjoy family, friends and people generally. They are thrilled and very grateful to be back in the area and part of the MCA community.
First Year at MCA: 2024
Katie is thrilled to be joining Mankato Christian Academy as an English teacher!
Katie grew up on a farm in Ceylon, Minnesota, an hour south of Mankato. Her foundation of faith began at home, and continued as she had the privilege to attend St. Paul’s Lutheran Wilbert school from first through eighth grade. The St. Paul’s Lutheran Wilbert church, school, and community forever hold a special place in Katie’s heart.
Katie went to high school in Fairmont, and let her passion for reading and writing take the lead as she went on to pursue an undergraduate degree in English at St. Cloud State University. Katie began her career teaching English, and Reading in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Three years later, Katie was hired by Mankato Public Schools to co-write a Communications course. In 2012, Katie completed her Master’s Degree in Classroom Instruction through Concordia University in St. Paul. Her teaching experiences include teaching Reading, Communications, and English for sixteen years.
Katie married her husband Jerry in 2012, and they made their home in Mankato. They have been blessed with three children: Brooklyn (8), Carter (6), and Nolan (1). The Netland family are members of Hosanna Lutheran Church.
Katie enjoys reading, writing, playing and watching sports, and country music. In the months that Minnesota allows, outdoor concerts are her favorite place to go; Katie’s absolute favorite place to be however, is at home with her husband, and children.
Katie can’t wait to share her love of reading, writing, and lifelong learning with students at Mankato Christian Academy.
Education:
First Year at MCA: 2023
Rebecca Strom is the third oldest of ten children and grew up on a dairy farm in Washington State. She moved to Minnesota to attend Bethany Lutheran College in 1989, when it was a two-year college. After Bethany she continued at MN State University, Mankato and completed a degree in Math Secondary Education. Her teaching experiences include Bethany Lutheran College, MN Talented Youth Math Project, Mankato Area Adult Basic Education (ABE), tutoring, homeschooling her five children and more. She has been teaching through Mankato ABE since 2007 where she teaches GED, Diploma Completion, and the College-Readiness Math at both Lincoln Community Center as well as South Central Community College Campus. She has taught in-person, hy-flex, and online classes. She also works with the MN Numeracy Instructors (ABE) state team to create and deliver professional development sessions at both statewide and national conferences.
Rebecca married Brian Strom in 1994. They have 5 adult children and have been members at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church since 1994. The family enjoys activities that include piano, violin, and cello, watching Vikings games, and playing league volleyball.
Education:
First Year at MCA: 2023
Mrs. Sulzle is excited to inspire another generation of students to love and explore various aspects of God’s creation. She will be teaching Biology and Anatomy/Physiology.
Mrs. Sulzle began teaching Biology and Anatomy/Physiology at Mankato West in 2001. After 5 years, she left to be home with her two daughters. Realizing she missed students and teaching she returned to the workforce by subbing and part-time teaching (Sister Rosalind’s School of Massage Therapy, Lincoln Community Center, Mt. Olive Lutheran School). Over the past sixteen years, she has taught Anatomy, Environmental Issues, General Science (scaffolding biology, physics, and chemistry), Algebra I, and homeschooled her children from grades 1 through 12.
Kathryn and her husband, David, live in North Mankato with their eight children, Sophia, Ava, Christian, Caitlyn, Hazel, Joel, Adam, and August. They attend Norseland Lutheran Church. When Kathryn isn’t educating or taking care of someone, she is either gardening, playing piano, or reading.
Education:
First Year at MCA: 2023
Bruce has been inspired to teach in Lutheran education since junior high school, but his grandfather was the most influential person in becoming a Christian educator. Born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa, he is the oldest of 3 children. Bruce graduated from Concordia Teachers College in Seward, NE, in1993 with a Bachelor’s degree in history. Two years later he finished the courses needed to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. He then served as teacher and principal at two small country Lutheran schools before receiving a Call to Trinity Lutheran, in Janesville, MN, in 2000. Bruce returned to Nebraska in 2015 after receiving a Call to St. John Lutheran, BattleCreek; however, he received the opportunity to return to Trinity, Janesville, in 2019 where he has been teaching since.
Bruce and his wife, Jane, have been married for 37 years and have been blessed with three children: Joshua, Brittany, and Brianna, their spouses, and granddaughters Elliott and Ezra and grandsons Calvin and Barrett. Bruce is an avid reader of various periods and events in U.S. History and military/political thriller fiction. He attempts to golf, loves camping, and he’s a huge Nebraska Husker football fan. But he most enjoys any time he and Jane have spending time with their family.
Bruce has always loved teaching. He enjoys the interaction with students, getting to know their strengths and personalities, but he most enjoys when he sees that “Ah hah!” moment when a concept clicks with a student.
Education:
First Year at MCA: 2023
Dr. Eric Harstad earned an Associate of Arts degree from Bethany Lutheran College, a Bachelor of Music Degree from Saint Olaf College and a Master of Music degree from Minnesota State University-Mankato. He earned his Doctorate in Choral Conducting at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Dr. Harstad has sung with the St. Olaf Choir, and professionally with the Dale Warland Singers. He performed on the Dale Warland Singers recordings Lux Arumque (named a top ten classical album by National Public Radio in 2007), and on Harvest Home that reached #11 on the Billboard Top Classical Albums in November 2005.
Eric has also sung with and been the assistant director of Magnum Chorum and Exultate. He has taught & conducted choirs at Minnesota State University-Mankato, Mankato Public Schools, McLeod West Public Schools, Buffalo Lake-Hector Public Schools, Hutchinson High School, Madelia Public Schools, and Hangzhou Normal University and at the music conservatory of Hangzhou, Hangzhou, China. For the past 11 years Eric has directed the Minnesota Valley Chorale in Mankato, MN.
Eric excelled at running in high school. His time of 1:56.0 for 800 meters was the fastest in the state of Wisconsin in 1993. He also ran track for one year at St. Olaf College. He was all-conference for indoor track in 1996 and was voted by teammates as Most Valuable Runner. He later served as an assistant track coach for the combined track program of BOLD and Buffalo Lake-Hector.
Education:
First Year at MCA: 2023
Tessa Réjouis grew up in Southern Minnesota in the small town of Madelia. She is the fourth child out of six, a mom of three (Collin, Carina, Johann), and has fostered many children throughout the last nine years. Tessa attended Gustavus Adolphus College and studied at the Universidad de Alicante, Spain where she became fluent in Spanish. Upon return, she continued and graduated with her bachelors at Minnesota State University – Mankato.
Tessa is an entrepreneur and started a translation and interpretation business, LinguaOne, Inc., which is now in its 20th year of operation. In 2009, Tessa graduated with a Master’s in Education, and has been teaching in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education, K-12, and college. Tessa enjoys using her teaching ability as a missionary to Haiti. Her first mission trip was in September 2022 teaching English to students at New Kiskeya Christian School located near Jean-Rabel, close to the Atlantic. She is currently learning French and Creole, which are the languages spoken in Haiti, and where she was married to Ronaldson. Due to the increase of technology with her business and finding a new passion, Tessa recently earned a Master’s in Safety and Security Technology from the University of Minnesota in 2023. Some of her favorite things to do is spend time with her family, helping her community, church and traveling. She has traveled to Canada, England, Haiti, Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, and across many states.
Education:
Early Childhood & Early Childhood Special Education
Cyber Security
First Year at MCA: 2023
Logan Burns is the youngest of three children and is originally from Lawton, Iowa. Logan, the son of a school administrator and a registered nurse, spent 10 years in Florida, before returning back to Iowa with his family around the Sioux Rapids area, a short distance from their family’s century farm.
Logan and his siblings moved to Mankato in 1995 to attend Mankato State University. After graduation in 2000, Logan worked for MSU admissions department, before moving to the Special Education department at Kennedy Elementary in Mankato until 2012. Also during this time Logan taught guitar/bass lessons, repaired instruments, and moved pianos at Scheitel’s Music. For several years he taught in the music department at Bethany Lutheran College. He also started playing in MSU’s pit orchestra for their Musical Theater productions in 2006.
Logan is extremely passionate about educating current and future generations with the financial information and effective strategies that most people have been deprived of. Logan’s primary goal is to equip every person that he works with, so they can avoid many of the unfortunate situations that many people currently find themselves in.
Logan has, and continues to serve families with Primerica Financial Services for the last 16 years. While still working part time at Scheitel’s Music, Logan also has recently opened his own guitar shop, Rock Bottom Guitarworks. He regularly plays guitar for several services per week at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato. He also is currently in several bands, and continues to play in MSU’s musical productions.
Logan, his wonderful wife April, and their two awesome teenage boys, Owen and Leo, currently reside on the east side of Mankato.
Education:
Bachelor’s of Arts – Music,
Minnesota State University, Mankato
First Year at MCA - 2023
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