First Lutheran School Staff
Dedicated to Achievement
First Lutheran School's dedicated teaching staff create challenging and safe learning environments that encourage academic excellence, communication, and cooperation with peers.
Communication between a parent and teacher is important too—you can see your child's class projects on our class page, view general class and teacher information, and access computer assignments online.
First Lutheran School is led by professional and resourceful staff members who are dedicated to the education and safety of your children. Our principal, David Birnbaum, strives to achieve higher levels of academic excellence by building meaningful and effective relationships between students, teachers, staff, and administrators. Teachers have a electronic bulletin board with important information, so be sure to check this often! FLS teachers and staff can be reached through Fastdirect.
Meet The First Lutheran School Staff!
Mr. David Birnbaum, Principal David Birnbaum, was born and raised Lutheran on a farm in Central Texas. He went to a two room Lutheran school from 1st thru 8th grade and then a small public (mostly Baptist) high school. Graduated with a Bachelors degree from Concordia Austin in 1990 and Master's in Administration from Seward Nebraska in 2000. He taught in Miami-Florida for 7 years, 4 years in Dallas and 12 years in Central Texas.
Mrs. Krista Harbeson, Assistant Principal, grew up and attended school in Ponca City. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1992 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in secondary education, language arts. She completed 12 years at First Lutheran as the middle school language arts teacher. Krista maintains her Oklahoma Teaching License and is pursuing her master's degree in school counseling.
Ms. Amy Becker- Childcare Director as of June 1, 2022.
Mrs. Michelle Daine - Pre 3's
Ms. Melissa Colvin - Pre 3's & 4's
Mrs. Lori Kelly - Pre-K 4's Teacher Pre-K teacher, Lori Kelly, earned two AA degrees from Northern Oklahoma College and a BA degree in ECE from Northwestern Oklahoma State. Lori has been with First Lutheran School since 2007.
Ms. Elaine Miller - Kindergarten - Kindergarten is served by Elaine Miller. She was born in Germany and grew up moving all over the United States with her dad's Army career. She earned her Bachelor's degree and her Master's of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in Early Childhood Education from Oklahoma State University. She has taught at First Lutheran for 26 years.
Mrs. Julie Birnbaum - Grade 1 - Julie Birnbaum, was born, raised and educated in a two room Lutheran school house for 1st thru 8th grade and then attended a public high school in Iowa. Seward-Nebraska graduate in 1994. Over those years, she taught in Springfield-MO, Dallas-Texas, and Central Texas. She and her husband have three children. Julie holds a Texas Teaching Degree.
Ms. Charity Felton - Grade 2 Second Grade teacher - Charity Felton grew up with her four brothers in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She attended Concordia University - Ann Arbor, Michigan, and graduated in May 2021. She earned her Bachelor's degree in elementary education with a focus on teaching English as a second language. Her plans are to pursue a master's degree in the near future.
Mrs. Jessica Steichen - Grade 3 - Jessica Steichen is starting her 14th year teaching. Her degree is from Seward and completed her Master's in Curriculum in the Spring of 2015.
Mrs. Megan Sibley - Grade 4 - Megan Sibley and her husband, Doug, moved here from Jacksonville-Florida. Megan grew up in a small rural farming town in rural northeast Nebraska, and attended a small public k-12 school. Graduated from Concordia University Seward NE in 2006, and taught in Nebraska and Florida in 2013. She holds a Nebraska Teaching License.
Mrs. Sarah Brey - Grade 5 homeroom teacher and music teacher - Sarah Brey grew up in a small town in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. She attended Concordia University, Nebraska, and graduated in 2021. She received her bachelor's degree in K-12 Vocal and Instrumental Music Education as well as her Lutheran Teacher's Diploma.
Mrs. Amanda Porter-Cain - Middle school science and 6th grade homeroom teacher / Athletic Director/ Coach / PE teacher for 5th to 8th grade
Ms. Tane Kester- Middle school language arts and 7th grade homeroom teacher - Tane Kester is our middle school language arts teacher and has a Master's degree in Christian Apologetics.
Mr. Jeremy Brey - Middle school social studies and 8th grade homeroom teacher / Middle school basketball coach. Jeremy Brey is serving his first year as our middle school social studies teacher. He grew up in Watertown, South Dakota and graduated with his bachelor's degree from Concordia University, Nebraska.
Mr. Aaron McKinley- Middle School math teacher - team teaching middle school math with Principal Birnbaum.
Mrs. Susie Manning - Computer/Librarian Susie Manning has been serving our school since 2015 and is passionate about the library and computer technology.
Cafeteria - Sandi Lyons is serving as our Food Program Manager. She is assisted by Paula Cargal.
Teachers Assistants - Paula Cargal and Tomi Faulkner serve as our Teacher Assistants in the Early Childhood and Elementary/Middle School Building respectfully.
Volunteers - Volunteers like the PTL and the Board of Parochial Education, property manager, signage by Kathy Brockhoff & Chris Mudd, Lawn guys, Barb Mayer and the Willing Workers.
But our staff can't do it alone - and that's where you come in. Parent and community involvement in our school is critical to the success of our students, and we're always looking for new volunteers.
Whether you can spare lots of time or just a little, getting involved with First Lutheran School is rewarding and fun for both parents and students. Just fill out our volunteer form and let us know where you're interested in helping out, and one of our staff will contact you to discuss volunteer opportunities that work with your schedule.
Dedicated to Achievement
First Lutheran School's dedicated teaching staff create challenging and safe learning environments that encourage academic excellence, communication, and cooperation with peers.
Communication between a parent and teacher is important too—you can see your child's class projects on our class page, view general class and teacher information, and access computer assignments online.
First Lutheran School is led by professional and resourceful staff members who are dedicated to the education and safety of your children. Our principal, David Birnbaum, strives to achieve higher levels of academic excellence by building meaningful and effective relationships between students, teachers, staff, and administrators. Teachers have a electronic bulletin board with important information, so be sure to check this often! FLS teachers and staff can be reached through Fastdirect.
Meet The First Lutheran School Staff!
Mr. David Birnbaum, Principal David Birnbaum, was born and raised Lutheran on a farm in Central Texas. He went to a two room Lutheran school from 1st thru 8th grade and then a small public (mostly Baptist) high school. Graduated with a Bachelors degree from Concordia Austin in 1990 and Master's in Administration from Seward Nebraska in 2000. He taught in Miami-Florida for 7 years, 4 years in Dallas and 12 years in Central Texas.
Mrs. Krista Harbeson, Assistant Principal, grew up and attended school in Ponca City. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1992 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in secondary education, language arts. She completed 12 years at First Lutheran as the middle school language arts teacher. Krista maintains her Oklahoma Teaching License and is pursuing her master's degree in school counseling.
Ms. Amy Becker- Childcare Director as of June 1, 2022.
Mrs. Michelle Daine - Pre 3's
Ms. Melissa Colvin - Pre 3's & 4's
Mrs. Lori Kelly - Pre-K 4's Teacher Pre-K teacher, Lori Kelly, earned two AA degrees from Northern Oklahoma College and a BA degree in ECE from Northwestern Oklahoma State. Lori has been with First Lutheran School since 2007.
Ms. Elaine Miller - Kindergarten - Kindergarten is served by Elaine Miller. She was born in Germany and grew up moving all over the United States with her dad's Army career. She earned her Bachelor's degree and her Master's of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in Early Childhood Education from Oklahoma State University. She has taught at First Lutheran for 26 years.
Mrs. Julie Birnbaum - Grade 1 - Julie Birnbaum, was born, raised and educated in a two room Lutheran school house for 1st thru 8th grade and then attended a public high school in Iowa. Seward-Nebraska graduate in 1994. Over those years, she taught in Springfield-MO, Dallas-Texas, and Central Texas. She and her husband have three children. Julie holds a Texas Teaching Degree.
Ms. Charity Felton - Grade 2 Second Grade teacher - Charity Felton grew up with her four brothers in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She attended Concordia University - Ann Arbor, Michigan, and graduated in May 2021. She earned her Bachelor's degree in elementary education with a focus on teaching English as a second language. Her plans are to pursue a master's degree in the near future.
Mrs. Jessica Steichen - Grade 3 - Jessica Steichen is starting her 14th year teaching. Her degree is from Seward and completed her Master's in Curriculum in the Spring of 2015.
Mrs. Megan Sibley - Grade 4 - Megan Sibley and her husband, Doug, moved here from Jacksonville-Florida. Megan grew up in a small rural farming town in rural northeast Nebraska, and attended a small public k-12 school. Graduated from Concordia University Seward NE in 2006, and taught in Nebraska and Florida in 2013. She holds a Nebraska Teaching License.
Mrs. Sarah Brey - Grade 5 homeroom teacher and music teacher - Sarah Brey grew up in a small town in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. She attended Concordia University, Nebraska, and graduated in 2021. She received her bachelor's degree in K-12 Vocal and Instrumental Music Education as well as her Lutheran Teacher's Diploma.
Mrs. Amanda Porter-Cain - Middle school science and 6th grade homeroom teacher / Athletic Director/ Coach / PE teacher for 5th to 8th grade
Ms. Tane Kester- Middle school language arts and 7th grade homeroom teacher - Tane Kester is our middle school language arts teacher and has a Master's degree in Christian Apologetics.
Mr. Jeremy Brey - Middle school social studies and 8th grade homeroom teacher / Middle school basketball coach. Jeremy Brey is serving his first year as our middle school social studies teacher. He grew up in Watertown, South Dakota and graduated with his bachelor's degree from Concordia University, Nebraska.
Mr. Aaron McKinley- Middle School math teacher - team teaching middle school math with Principal Birnbaum.
Mrs. Susie Manning - Computer/Librarian Susie Manning has been serving our school since 2015 and is passionate about the library and computer technology.
Cafeteria - Sandi Lyons is serving as our Food Program Manager. She is assisted by Paula Cargal.
Teachers Assistants - Paula Cargal and Tomi Faulkner serve as our Teacher Assistants in the Early Childhood and Elementary/Middle School Building respectfully.
Volunteers - Volunteers like the PTL and the Board of Parochial Education, property manager, signage by Kathy Brockhoff & Chris Mudd, Lawn guys, Barb Mayer and the Willing Workers.
But our staff can't do it alone - and that's where you come in. Parent and community involvement in our school is critical to the success of our students, and we're always looking for new volunteers.
Whether you can spare lots of time or just a little, getting involved with First Lutheran School is rewarding and fun for both parents and students. Just fill out our volunteer form and let us know where you're interested in helping out, and one of our staff will contact you to discuss volunteer opportunities that work with your schedule.