LUTHERAN SOUTH UNITY SCHOOL - Key Persons
Ms. Abbey Zelt is the new teacher who will be teaching third grade. She graduated with a
Bachelor of Science degree after attending Huntington University and PFW earning a Bachelor of
Science degree in Education with a specialty for teaching students with exceptional needs. She also
Job Titles:
- Financial Administrator
- Principal
The new principal is Mrs. Amber Bahr. She and husband, Mike, arrived here from Springfield,
Illinois. Here she taught middle school science and was Science Curriculum Chairman at Our Savior's
Lutheran School. She has a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Missouri University of
Science and Technology. Then her Master of Science degree is in Secondary Education with an
emphasis on Middle School math and science from the University of Missouri, St. Louis. She also has a
Job Titles:
- Admissions Administrator
- Admissions Administrator / Marketing and Development
Mrs. Johnson received an Associate's degree from Concordia Junior College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She went on to receive her Bachelor's degree from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. Finally, she received a Master's degree from IPFW in education with a reading endorsement.
Her teaching experience began in Milwaukee. She and her husband moved back to Fort Wayne after three years. Then she taught at Central Lutheran, St. John Emmanuel, and finished her career at Concordia Elementary. Since retirement, she has substituted throughout the Fort Wayne area. For 25 years, she was also the music director at Martini Lutheran Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have four children, eight grandchildren, and a great-grandson. She and her husband are members of Concordia Lutheran Church where they are active in the choir.
Beverly Jordan attended IPFW earning her nursing degree. Her career has taken her to long term care, behavioral health, and medical surgery and Lutheran Hospital Endoscopy facilities.
Beverly is married to her high school sweetheart, Lafayette Jordan for forty years, together they have six adult children, nine grandchildren and one great grandson.
Beverly comes to LSUS after losing her BFF in 2017, her 102 year old mother in 2018 and the tragic loss of her oldest son to domestic violence in 2019. After much prayer, praise and gratefulness to all mighty God, Beverly gave in to the prodding of one of LSUS's grandparents to apply for the position of school nurse. Becoming an employee of LSU Beverly found Principal Nehrenz to be a kind and all-around wonderful person, Administrative Assistant, Melanie the wind beneath her wings and Computer Geek Baysah has the patience of an angel. The entire staff of LSUS has been extremely welcoming and great people to work with.
Some of Beverly's favorite pastime activities are traveling, visiting family and friends, cooking different varieties and new dishes, watching television series, mostly on HBO and most of all playing with her grands. Beverly lives by the motto "always stay in touch with your inner child".
Job Titles:
- Interim Marketing and Development
On June 1, 2020, Dan Johnson agreed to assist our fund-raising efforts by managing active advancement projects while Mr. King recovers from medical issues. Dan is retired after 30 years in school and church-related fundraising. He was the development director at Concordia High School and Concordia Seminary before working as a fund-raising consultant for the Lutheran Church Extension Fund. He retired after six years serving Lutheran Ministries Media, the producer of the Worship Anew television program.
Danielle Ramsey graduated from Concordia University Chicago in May 2018 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education and Middle School Literacy Education with a Lutheran education endorsement. While student teaching in Chicago, she received the student teacher of the year award by the Delta Kappa Gamma organization. Danielle's favorite thing about teaching at Lutheran South Unity School is the opportunity she has to make relationships with the students here and teach them about Jesus. She is an active member of Peace Lutheran Church, where she serves on the outreach committee. Danielle is married to Adam, and enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephew here in Fort Wayne. She enjoys hiking and reading in her free time.
Hannah Maresh is a graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education. Hannah has received training in writing with K-2 students from the Teachers College at Columbia University, NY. She also completed an Orton Gillingham training that emphasizes phonics and reading in her classroom. Hannah loves her students as if they were her own children. Hannah is able to find the individual learning needs of her students to help them succeed. Hannah recently moved to the southeast side of town and loves the neighborly feeling this area has given her. Hannah's home church has been St. Michael for the past twenty years with her family, but recently switched to Bethlehem. When not working, Hannah enjoys walking her dog Teddy, exploring new places to eat, and golfing.
John Fink graduated from IPFW in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. He is a Fort Wayne native and attended Bishop Luers High School. In the spring of 2020, Mr. Fink was a student teacher for the 1st grade class here at Lutheran South Unity. In his free time, he enjoys watching college basketball, playing softball and golf, and he coaches the girls' and boys' golf teams at Bishop Luers High School. His favorite thing about LSUS is the diversity of the classrooms.
Job Titles:
- Athletic Director and P.E. Teacher
- Athletic Director and P.E. Teacher / Services
Job Titles:
- Art and Music Teacher
- Fine Arts
Mrs. Natalie Reynolds is Lutheran South Unity's K-8 Art & Music Teacher. Mrs. Reynolds has been teaching at LSUS since 2003. She taught kindergarten for 11 years, then started the Art & Music program. She graduated from Concordia University, Seward, NE and has lived in several places including St. Louis, Wisconsin, and the last twenty years, in Ft. Wayne. Her husband of 32 years is the Family Life and Music Director at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. They have four grown children who also went through Unity Lutheran School (LSUS) and Concordia Lutheran High School.
She enjoys encouraging students in their God-given talents through art projects and learning about various artists as well as exciting students through experiencing music through singing and a variety of instruments including: recorders, drums, chimes, ukuleles, xylophones using the Orff Approach. Currently, students have one period of music and one of art every week. Students are also a part of a choir that sings at each of our association churches 4 times a year.
Natalie Reynolds was recently awarded the 2022 Teacher of the Year award from The Lutheran Schools Partnership. Congratulations, Mrs. Reynolds!
Job Titles:
- Financial Administrator
- Office Administrator
- Finance Administrator at LSUS
Ms. Betsy Lytle is the Finance Administrator at LSUS who is one of the ladies who welcomes you into the office. Before coming to LSUS she worked in a nursing home setting as a payroll/HR Administrator and Business Office. Her education in finances came through studying at International Business College.
Ms. Lytle has four children and nine grandchildren. She lives with Winston, an Aussie doodle. Twice a week she brings Winston to school. She also lives with two cats who appreciate the "school break" from Winston. Her hobby and passion is quilting, volunteering, and singing in the church choir. She is a member of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church.
Some words of wisdom she would like to share is a quote from Ghandhi: An eye for an eye ends up making the whole world blind.
Yvonne Schwantz is a graduate of Concordia University Chicago where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree as a Lutheran Educator at the secondary level (grades 6-12) Majoring in English. Her graduate studies have most recently focused on Special Education. She has also been endorsed in Middle School math in Indiana and became a Level 1 Certified Google Educator in the summer of 2018. Mrs. Schwantz loves helping students discover their God-given talents and getting students prepared and confident for high school. When she isn't working, Yvonne spends her time at home with her family: husband of 27 years, Richard, three daughters (25, 21-currently at Purdue FW, and 18-currently at Concordia University Chicago), one son (16-currently at Concordia Lutheran High School), one son-in-law, two grandchildren (2 and 4), and one misunderstood boxer. Concordia Lutheran Church has been Richard and Yvonne's church home since he started teaching there in 2003. Yvonne is an avid crafter, constantly trying new things. She has even expanded her craftiness into a venture to crochet sleeping mats for the homeless with which students at LSUS have occasionally helped.