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About Us

How ELEA works
The Past
The Present
The Future
Teams
Leadership Retreat
National Services
List of ELEA Board Members

ELEA works in the following ways:

  1. The association provides both Elementary and Early Childhood Accreditation Programs which assure high quality in our schools and early childhood centers.

  2. The association sponsors workshops and conferences for administrators, teachers, board members and pastors.

  3. The association distributes resources - print, video and Internet-based - in curriculum, administration and governance that strengthen the uniqueness of ELCA schools and centers.

  4. The association provides Member Benefits Programs - a free $3,000 Death & Dismemberment policy is given to all employees working 20+ per week or more in member congregations/schools; excellent rates on disability and term life insurance policies are available with no medical underwriting when purchased during open enrollment periods; a Benefits Adminstrator works with members in need of group health insurance, and a 403(b) retirement program is available to all employees.  Student Accident insurance is also provided for a nominal fee.

  5. The association has negotiated discounts for members with vendors such as Discount School Supply, the Lutheran Credit Union, Hunter Systems software, and others.

  6. Standardized testing and developmental screening tools are available to members utilizing Pearson Educational Measurement.

  7. The association provides quarterly print and periodic electronic newsletters with pertinent articles and association news for administrators, teacher, pastors and boards.

  8. The association provides support and advocacy for its members.

The Past...

The American Lutheran Education Association was formed in 1961 by joining the Christian Day School Association from the eastern United States with the Lutheran Teachers Association from the western part of the country.  ALEA was an association of congregations of the newly formed American Lutheran Church which operated Lutheran schools and/or preschools, beginning with 52 schools and 267 teachers instructing 5,104 pupils.

Don Vetter served as the Executive Secretary of the association from its beginning in 1961 until his retirement in 1989.  His leadership of the Christian Day School ministry has been a powerful influence in church bodies, colleges, congregations and schools.  Don passed away on January 12, 2002, and is remembered fondly by many in Lutheran schools' ministries.  An annual award, The Donald A. Vetter Educational Service Award, was established in his name in 2004, honoring an individual each year who exemplifies the ideals he set forth in Lutheran education.

In 1988, with the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ALEA became the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association. With the retirement of Don Vetter, Glenn Bracht became the Interim Director of the ELEA.  The offices moved from Wartburg College in Iowa to Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.  While Dr. Bracht served as Director, the leadership of the association sought ways to better serve the regional needs of schools and early childhood centers across the United States.  To this end, 14 regional networks were formed that replaced the Eastern Region and the Western Region of the Association.  Representatives from each of these Networks were elected to meet as a National Board.  In addition, Glenn Bracht, through a grant from the ELCA, published the first edition of Views & Vision.

In 1992, Julia Sieger became the Director of ELEA and the offices moved from Minneapolis to California.  Dr. Sieger served until 1999.  Under her leadership, a certification process was developed and more resources were created for Lutheran schools and early childhood centers.

In 1999, with the change in directorship of the association from Julia Sieger to Gayle Denny, the offices moved to Washington state, where they remained until 2004, when Ms. Denny and the national office moved to its present location in Goodyear, Arizona.

The Present. . .

The organization continues to be governed at the national level by a Board of Directors, comprised of representatives elected at the Regional level to serve three-year renewable terms.  Geographic areas are defined by the 9 Regions of the ELCA (boundaries for regions can be seen at elca.org/regions). 

The Accreditation programs continue to grow and flourish, with more and more schools and centers participating.  Employee Benefits Plans, Regional conferencing, and other services expand and grow to meet the ever-changing and increasing needs of ELEA's members.

The Future. . .

ELEA has remained a stable association throughout decades of change in leadership and structure, and looks to the future with a vision for strengthening newly utilized Regions, providing more opportunities for training and conferencing, helping more schools and early childhood centers participate in our Accreditation processes, and increased services and advocacy for members.

Teams

The National Board has two teams - elementary and early childhood - which review Accreditation recommendations and assist in the development of new resources and services in both arenas.

Board Leadership

National Board members meet with the Executive Director twice per year in person, and two additional times by conference call, to share information concerning the activities of the networks, new association services, resources available through the association and set goals for the Director for the coming year.

National Services

Newsletter
The Views & Vision newsletter is published four times per year—Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.

Views & Visions includes association news, information from the ELCA, editorials from a variety of education professionals, and general items of interest.  It is designed to be read by both school/center and church staff.

Employee Benefits
The ELEA Employee Benefits Plan offers group plans for schools and centers (individual ELEA members may not participate) and their eligible employees, in an "unbundled" plan.  It includes Group Medical Insurance, Group Dental Insurance, Group Vision Insurance, Disability and Life Insurance, Retirement Savings Plan, and Student Accident Insurance.  The Employee Benefits Plans are administered by Nancy Bond Insurance Services, 201 West Lemon Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016.  Phone:  866-899-8559.  A percentage of all proceeds from these programs are donated by Nancy Bond Insurance Services to ELEA. For more information on Benefits, click here.

Resource Materials
ELCA maintains printed resources that are available through the ELEA national office—800-500-7644 or email at ELEANational@cs.com.

Administrators Packets
Administrators of all member schools and centers receive administrators packets several times per year.  Material may include offers from various vendors, information on curriculum, board resources, as well as the annual ELEA membership directory

Testing Program
ELEA annually offers a standardized K-8 academic and achievement testing program on a nationwide basis.  In cooperation with Pearson Educational Measurement (The Psychological Corporation), the following tests are available:

  • Stanford Achievement Test, Tenth Edition, for Grades K-12.

  • Otis-Lennon School Ability Test for Grades 1, 3, 5 & 7

Early childhood screening assessment tools are also offered to ELEA members, utilizing FirstSTEp Developmental Screening Tool for Preschools

Early Childhood Center and Elementary School Accreditation Programs
Accreditation of a school or early childhood center is an important benchmark in its history.  ELEA utilizes an instrument that requires that each school complete an in-depth self-study. Upon completion of the self-study, an outside team will visit the school to evaluate the self-study and measure compliance with standards.  Recommendation for accreditation is based on the team’s evaluation.

ELCA Recognition Program
Recognition is issued by ELEA upon completion of a short self-study entitled  “The Early Childhood Center, Ministry of the Congregation: a self-study of ministry and relationship.” This process is designed to strengthen the relationship between the congregation, its leadership, and its school or early childhood center. The Recognition program is a prerequisite to both the ELEA Elementary Accreditation and the ELEA Early Childhood Accreditation programs.

Annual Fund Drive
ELEA invites your participation in its ongoing Annual Fund Drive by asking you to give a financial gift to support the work of the association in supporting our ELCA schools and centers.  Are you a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans member?  Also consider making ELEA a recipient of your ThriventChoice dollars!  Gifts may be made payable to ELEA and mailed to: 500 North Estrella Parkway, Suite B2, Box 601, Goodyear, AZ 85338 or by clicking here to donate online.