Educational Resources

Resources and Benefits for LESA Member Schools

LESA works collaboratively to support and enhance Lutheran schools as they serve children and families in their respective, unique locations. To fulfill this purpose, LESA is proud to offer Educational Resources for our member schools.

  • STEM/LEGO kits to loan: Coding Express and STEAM Park (Early Childhood), WeDo (K-4), SPIKE Essential (K-4), and  SPIKE Prime (5-8).  Use the STEM Resources tab to sign out kits.
  • Support for school teams to participate in Youth Coding League
  • Professional development for principals and teachers
  • Mentoring materials for new teachers
  • Accreditation support for schools working on evidence-based self-studies
  • Cost-effective program resources and grants such as the LESA Professional Development Grant, LESA Counseling Grant, TEC21 Scholarships for teachers, and the Spire Natural Gas Aggregation Program for Missouri schools
  • Colonial Williamsburg on-site Teacher Professional Development scholarships offered thanks to a generous LESA benefactor
  • Access to online curriculum guides for Pre-K through grade 8, including Mathematics, Communication Arts, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Health, Music, and Visual Arts.  Curriculum guides are written specifically for LESA schools and integrate our Lutheran faith. Use the educator login to access curriculum guides.
  • Marketing Support: LESA provides support through various outlets to promote Lutheran education and our member schools.

 

“Lutheran education is Christ-centered, so the Gospel of Grace permeates everything – sports, curriculum, every aspect of the school.”

Jerry Wollenburg, Retired LESA Board Member & Educator

STEM Opportunities 

Through STEM learning, schools prepare students for the next level of education through collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking.   

Several LESA schools compete in the Youth Coding League, designed for teams of 5th & 6th or 7th & 8th graders.  For qualifying schools, LESA offers financial support for participating teams.

LESA owns a LEGO lending library for our member schools to introduce students at every grade level, PK-8, to robotics, coding, and other STEM skills.    

If you are a teacher in a LESA member school, click below to check out LEGO resources.  Please note, teachers are responsible for pick up and return of kits from the LESA office.  Contact via email or call 314-200-0798 to make arrangements.   

Sign Out Form

Structure of the Association Partnership

The following outlines the services and benefits provided to the schools and educational agencies that are members of the Lutheran Elementary School Association.  Recognizing our schools as ministries in the communities in which they serve, the strength of this association is due to the faithful participation of its members through its programs and events for the advancement of our Lutheran schools as a whole. 

MISSION

LESA provides financial resources for children in need to obtain Lutheran Christian education in the metropolitan St. Louis area.  We promote and advocate for efforts to improve the sustainability and quality of Lutheran Christian schools.

VISION

An academically excellent Lutheran Christian education is a realistic choice for all children.

PURPOSE

The purpose of LESA is to work collaboratively to support and enhance Lutheran schools as they serve children and families in their respective, unique locations.

OBJECTIVES

  • To foster ministry through Lutheran education to all children as they grow spiritually, intellectually, physically, emotionally, and socially
  • To offer collaborative programs which benefit member schools, including, but not limited to:
    • Need-based tuition assistance for students in kindergarten – eighth grade
    • STEM learning resources
    • Curriculum guide development
    • Professional development for educators and administrators
    • Resources for educational programs and cost-effective programs
    • Accreditation support
    • Mentoring materials for new teachers
    • Marketing and fund development resources
  • To represent a unified system of Lutheran education in the St. Louis region

Membership Eligibility

A. Regular Membership (Elementary Schools)

Regular membership is open to, but not limited to, nationally-accredited Lutheran elementary schools and PreK 3/4 and PreK 4/5 programs, operated within the structure of the Lutheran day school, in the metropolitan St. Louis area: St. Louis City, the Missouri counties of St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Franklin County, and the Illinois counties of Madison County, Monroe County, Randolph County, and St. Clair County.

Early childhood programs that are part of a school operated by supporting congregations of LESA-member schools receive membership benefits through the school’s membership.

Members must be accredited through NLSA and/or another national accrediting agency within five years of joining LESA, if applicable (some education-related agencies may be excused).  Non-compliance will result in termination of LESA membership on June 30th of the fifth year of membership.

Should a school anticipate loss of its accreditation, the school may submit in letter form by February 1st a request to the LESA office for a membership extension for the following school year as to not jeopardize their membership status with LESA and benefits, including scholarship funds. The membership extension request must include a narrative plan and timeline to renew its accreditation and complete their site visit no later than April 30th of next accreditation cycle.  An extension will be granted following submission of a plan and timeline. If, following the extension, a school remains unaccredited, its LESA membership status will be determined by LESA’s Board of Directors.  If a school loses its accreditation and does not request a membership extension, the school will be removed from LESA membership effective June 30th of the calendar year in which accreditation is lost. A decision by the Board of Directors will determine eligibility for membership with respect to accreditation circumstances not defined above.

B. Affiliate Membership (e.g. High Schools, Lutheran Association for Special Education, Camp Wartburg)

Affiliate membership is open to Lutheran high schools and Lutheran education-related agencies in the metropolitan St. Louis area, as described above.  High schools and agencies from locations surrounding the established service area may apply for membership on a case-by-case basis.

C. Early Childhood Center Partners

Free-standing early childhood education centers that are operated by Lutheran congregations outside of the confines of a Lutheran day school may partner with LESA through the Early Childhood Center Partners program.

D. Educational Resources Partners

An Educational Resources Partner membership is available to Lutheran schools and Lutheran education-related agencies that are outside the metropolitan St. Louis area as described above and is open to Christian schools and education-related agencies without geographic boundary.

Benefits and Privileges

A. Regular Membership (Elementary Schools)

  1. Access to need-based tuition-assistance funding for students in K-grade 8
  2. Access to online curriculum guides and STEM learning materials for Pre-K through grade 8
  3. Participation in professional development events and marketing and fund development programs for administrators and teachers
  4. Access to funding for educational programming and cost-effective programs (e.g., counseling, professional development, gas aggregation)
  5. Presence on the LESA website “Schools” page, listing name, location, and contact information
  6. Inclusion in joint Lutheran education marketing efforts throughout the service area
  7. Use of LESA mentoring materials for new teachers
  8. Access to a third-party financial aid determination service (e.g. FACTS) at no cost to the school

B. Affiliate Membership (High Schools, LASE, Camp Wartburg)

  1. Participation in educational professional development events and marketing and fund development programs for administrators and teachers
  2. Online access to curriculum guides for Pre-K through grade 8
  3. Access to cost-effective programs developed through LESA partnerships
  4. Presence on the LESA website “Schools” page, listing name, location, and contact information
  5. Inclusion in joint Lutheran education marketing efforts throughout the service area
  6. Use of LESA mentoring materials for new teachers

C. Early Childhood Center Partners

  1. Presence on the LESA website “Schools” page, listing name, location, and contact information
  2. Inclusion in joint Lutheran education marketing efforts throughout the service area
  3. Access to online curriculum guides

D. Educational Resources Partners

  1. Access to online curriculum guides for Pre-K through grade 8
  2. Participation in educational professional development programs for administrators and teachers at no additional charge
  3. Participation in development training for administrators and school leaders at no additional charge
  4. Use of LESA mentoring materials

Responsibilities of Membership:

Regular and Affiliate Membership requires active participation and collaboration in the following:

  1. Regularly attend LESA business meetings (fall and spring) and professional development programs
  2. Partner in LESA’s efforts to grow and sustain program activities by promoting and participating in LESA’s special events (e.g. Fall Event and Spring Dinner Auction), other fundraising opportunities, and assist with facilitation of congregational promotion of LESA activities
  3. Remit annual dues and the Dues & Statistics Form by September 30th each year
  4. Submit required reporting and/or documentation to LESA by noted deadlines
  5. Become accredited through NLSA and/or another national accrediting agency within five years of joining LESA, if applicable (some education-related agencies may be excused).  Non-compliance will result in termination of LESA membership on June 30th of the fifth year of membership.
  6. Vote by the executive head of the LESA-member school or affiliate agency to represent his/her institution’s position on matters which come before LESA. Voting by proxy is not permitted.  Such matters will include, but are not limited to:
    • Elect the LESA Advisory Council at the spring meeting
    • Set membership dues
    • Accept schools or agencies applying for Regular or Affiliate Membership
    • Approve amendments to the Structure of the Association Partnership

Terms:

  1. Membership in is effect July 1 through June 30.
  2. Dues are annually reviewed by the Advisory Council and recommendation made to the LESA membership at the spring business meeting for approval.
  3. The membership shall annually elect members of the LESA Advisory Council at the spring meeting.
  4. Members of the Advisory Council shall ensure that the association works toward fulfillment of its purposes and objectives.
  5. The Structure of the Association Partnership document may be amended by 2/3rd majority of the voting members present at a business meeting of the LESA membership, provided the proposed change has been circulated to the membership at least 15 days prior to the vote on the issue. The executive head of the LESA- member school or affiliate agency casts a vote to represent his/her institution’s position. Voting by proxy is not permitted.  Amendments approved become effectively immediately.

Latest news

St. Louis-area Lutheran Schools stayed open during the pandemic. Now they’re thriving.

February 23, 2024–Excerpt from Monica Obradovic, St. Louis Post Dispatch Since the fall of 2019, public school enrollment fell by 5,500 students in St. Louis County and nearly 3,000 in St. Louis ...

Read More