Meet Our Teachers

Pre-Kindergarten, Lorre O’Neal  Lorre has been at Zion School since 1991. She has been teaching since 1968 in elementary and preschool. Lorre graduated from Concordia University Portland with an AA degree in Education and from Concordia Teachers College, Seward, with a BS in Education. She enjoys teaching at Zion because she can touch the lives of so many children. Her hobbies include RV camping, fishing, crafts, reading and watching her grandchildren grow up.

 

Kindergarten, LaVaun Messer  LaVaun has been teaching since 1977 and has been at Zion since 1990. She has an AA from Concordia College, Portland, and a BA from Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, IL. She enjoys teaching at Zion because staff, students, and parents are all part of a loving, supportive family.  Kindergarten is her favorite grade to teach as their joy in learning is heart-warming. Her hobbies include Sudoku, crosswords, and reading.

 

1st Grade, Joni Swanson   Joni has been teaching since 1980 and has been at Zion since 2006.  She has her BS from St. John´s Lutheran College, Winfield, Kansas and completed her MA in Gifted and Talented at Whitworth, Spokane, Washington in 2007.  She loves little people!  Jonis has taught every garde but Fourth.  Enjoys family boating trips, ´Curves´, sewing and reading!

 

2nd Grade, Pam Straub  Pam has been teaching since 1980. She has been at Zion since 1998. She has a BS from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska. Pam enjoys teaching at Zion because it is a great place to grow. She has taught all grades, but second grade is her favorite.  Her hobbies include sewing and reading.

 

3rd Grade, Terria McNamar  Terria has been teaching since 1982.  She has been at Zion since 1984.  She has a BA in Elementary Education and Special Education from Concordia, Portland.  She likes teaching at Zion because it is Christ centered, has small classes and good people.  She has taught all grades from Pre-K – 8th and loves 3rd grade the best. Her hobbies include fitness/running, crossword puzzles, and reading.

 

4th Grade, Robert Walz  Robert has taught since 1981. He has been at Zion since 2002. He has a BS in Education and an MA from Concordia University, Seward. He likes teaching at Zion because he gets to work with a great staff and wonderful families and students. His favorite grade is fourth. His hobbies include walking, tennis, and pinochle.

 

5th Grade, Elaine Schwartz  Elaine has been teaching since 1984. She has been at Zion since 1989. Elaine has BA degree in Education from Pacific Lutheran University. She considers Zion a school and a family and loves watching the kids grow and change over the years.  Her favorite grade is 5th.  Her hobbies include reading, sewing, and geocaching.

 

Middle School Teachers

 

6th Grade Homeroom, Adam Reed  Adam has been teaching since 1995 and began his ministry at Zion in 1996. He has a BA in History and a BS in Political Science from Arizona State. He has a teaching certificate from Concordia, Portland. His teaching emphasis in the middle school is history and P.E. He is also the drama and chess coach.  Adam likes being at Zion because he likes to help serve others. His favorite subject is World History. He enjoys learning new things.

 

7th Grade Homeroom, Tiffany Smith Tiffany graduated from Concordia College (Portland) in May 2006 with a BA in education and has been substituting for the last two years. She is ready to be in one classroom so that she can form long-term relationships with students and families. She and her husband love to watch DVDs, play games, eat out with friends, and boat with the family.

 

8th Grade Homeroom, Vince Straub  Vince has been teaching since 1973. He has been at Zion since. He has a BS in Education and a Lutheran Teacher’s Diploma from Concordia Teachers College, Seward. His teaching emphasis in the middle school is math and literature.  Vince enjoys Zion because it is in Oregon, he likes Corvallis, and the kids make it easy to want to be here. He likes all the grades as they are each unique in different ways. His favorite subject is math. His hobbies include spending time with his granddaughter and doing Sudoku puzzles.

 

Principal

Principal, Jonathan Schultz  Jon has been at Zion since 2007.  He had been a teacher, coach, and administrator since 1982 and served in Indiana, Missouri, and Arizona before arriving at Zion.  Jon graduated from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska in 1982 with a BS in Education.  He received his MS in Education from Indiana University in 1988.  He enjoys getting to know the students and families at Zion each year and appreciates the high standards that make Zion an awesome school.  Jon enjoys most sports, but his favorites are basketball and football.  He also loves to spend time with his family and friends.