Board & Governance

Danielle and her husband have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with four children—three currently attending Springfield Lutheran School and one who will begin in 2026. She has been an active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Nixa since moving to the Springfield area in 2013 and serves on the Redeemer School Committee.

Danielle brings extensive professional and leadership experience. She earned a BA in Chemistry and Biology from Central Missouri State University (now UCM) in Warrensburg, where she also competed in Division II cross country and track. After working in community pharmacy for many years, she earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy from UMKC in 2012. Danielle went on to launch and operate two successful community pharmacies for CoxHealth and now serves as Retail Pharmacy Operations Manager, overseeing four outpatient pharmacies and their teams.

Beyond her professional achievements, Danielle is deeply passionate about Lutheran education and family engagement, which drives her commitment to SLHS. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, hunting with her husband, and spending time with her family.

We are grateful for Danielle’s dedication and strong leadership as she helps guide Springfield Lutheran High School in its mission to provide faithful, rigorous, Christ-centered education for generations to come.

John is a global business strategist and product leader with nearly 20 years of experience across Australia, Europe, and the U.S. He has guided innovation and growth in industries ranging from semiconductors and healthcare to professional services—always with a focus on turning ideas into impactful products.

Currently, John leads Innovation, Ideation, Intelligence, and Investment initiatives at Forvis Mazars. His academic background includes degrees from the University of Sydney and Heriot-Watt University, executive education at Washington University in St. Louis, and graduate work in design at Stanford University.

Most importantly, John’s deep commitment to faith and family makes him a strong and thoughtful leader for SLHS.

Ken was an initial member of the Board of Directors for the Springfield Lutheran School Association - the group that founded Springfield Lutheran School (SLS). He later served as the chair of that group. He also brings to our team a wealth of organizational and human resources experience, serving as Controller for Herrman Lumber Company of Springfield for 45 years. During his time in that position, he was responsible for the implementation and operation of payroll, HR, and benefit plans for 12 companies, as well as the preparation of financial statements and the hiring of general office staff.  

Ken is a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. Throughout the years, he has served as the congregational chair, as chair and vice-chair of the Board of Directors for Redeemer, as chair of the Board of Trustees, and as member and chair of the Board of Elders. Ken sang in the choir for over 35 years and now serves as a Tutor for Ozarks Literacy Council.

We Praise God for Ken’s heart to serve! 

Brock is a lifelong Lutheran, growing up in Perry County, MO, where the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has historical ties.  Being raised as a Lutheran and attending a K-8 Lutheran School, he learned to value the unique benefits and blessings that these schools offer.  

Through 20 years of active duty and national guard military service in the trades career field, Brock brings a wide range of professional skills as well, including administration, training, and leadership. Brock also works in IT maintaining utility maps for the local utility company which involves detailed data quality control measures, supervisory oversight, and IT solutions development. 

He and his wife Sarah have two boys who both attend Springfield Lutheran School (SLS). Brock currently serves as an elder at Trinity Lutheran Church where he is blessed to support its congregants, called staff, and mission.
 

Brenda was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa and grew up in a LCMS congregation. She taught preschool Sunday School children at her church from 1989-99. In May of 1999 Brenda an her family moved to Springfield, Missouri and joined Fath Lutheran Church. At Faith, she helped with the youth group and was even a chaperone for the National Lutheran Youth Gatghering in 2001. She has been the President of Faith’s LWML and is currently the Chairperson for Faith’s Board of Fellowship and an usher. Brenda was a member of the feasibility committee that explored the possibility of a a Lutheran High School in the Springfield, Missouri area back in 2016.

Brenda was employed by Wal-Mart for 25 years, and she also worked at Springfield Lutheran School in the kitchen from 2009-2016. Brenda currently resides in Republimc, Missouri. She owns her own business cleaning houses, churches and other businesses.  Brenda ha a 21 year old son who attended Springfield Lutheran School from Pre-K through 8^th grade.

A product of Lutheran school education through the high school level, Rev. Jarod Koenig  attended Immanuel Lutheran School in Perryville MO, and then graduated as part of the 7th graduating class from Saxony Lutheran High School in 2009.  Rev. Koenig earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resource Management and minors in Finance and Spanish from Southeast Missouri State University in 2013.  He earned his Masters of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 2018, and has joyfully served as associate pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Springfield and Nixa, primarily serving the Nixa campus since that time.

Pastor Koenig loves working with children and families, and is especially passionate about encouraging people to live out their faith in their homes, passing the faith on to the next generation.  He praises God for the gift of his beloved wife Jennifer, as well as for each of his 4 children. He credits Lutheran education with forming and shaping him into the husband, father, and pastor he is today. To God alone be the glory!
 

Tom is the newest addition to the SLHS board. He is a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church, having belonged to congregations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri.

He married Randi-Lyn Proft in 1985. They have two daughters, both graduates of Springfield Lutheran School, one grandson, and another grandchild coming soon. Randi-Lyn was one of the original faculty for SLS and taught at Grace Chapel in St. Louis while Tom attended law school at Saint Louis University.

After law school, Springfield has been home for the Bensons for the last thirty-two years. Tom is a partner at the firm of Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law and has practiced in the areas of family law, criminal law, and real estate since 1994. Through the years Tom has been privileged to serve various congregations in the capacity of elder and on the board of directors. His greatest honor has come in leading bible
studies and serving on outreach/evangelism committees.

Tom is excited to be a part of SLHS and witness the great blessings the Lord continues to bestow on this ministry. May He richly bless all who walk through its doors with the truth of His gospel message.

We are incredibly grateful for Tom and the wealth knowledge and experience that he brings to our Board!

Stephanie is a passionate leader, connector, and lifelong learner who finds joy in following wherever the Lord leads. Her early years began at Springfield Lutheran School (SLS), where she attended through 8th grade, and later returned as the first alum to serve on the school’s governing body, serving as Secretary from 2009-2017.

She earned her undergraduate degree magna cum laude and began her career in diagnostic imaging, while also teaching courses at an allied health college, and eventually launching a breast MRI department—an experience that sparked her passion for operations and project management. She went on to earn an Executive Master’s in Health Administration while working full-time and transitioning into a practice administrator role at a private dental practice, where she gained hands-on experience managing a business.

Since then, God has led her into roles in startups, nonprofit marketing, and education—with a consistent focus on families, children, and outreach—including her most recent role as school librarian at SLS. Stephanie and her family are active members of their church, where she leads a women’s life group and is passionate about building a faith-centered community.

Stephanie and her husband have one daughter, a third-generation Lutheran school student. Their family deeply values Christian education, and they are grateful to be a part of what God is doing in and through SLHS.

Pastor Hagerman was born and raised in rural Maryland, growing up in a small farming community about an hour northeast of Baltimore.  He remains an avid Ravens and Orioles fan to this day. Pastor Hagerman earned his B.A. History degree from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA in May 2007 and his Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in May 2011.  He spent his vicarage year from 2009-2010 at Apostles Lutheran Church in Peoria, AZ.  Most recently, Pastor Hagerman earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Concordia Seminary in December 2022.

Pastor Hagerman and his wife, Claire, met at Heit's Point Lutheran Camp on April 20, 2012, and were married one year to the day later, on April 20, 2013.  They have three sons together who are all students at Springfield Lutheran School.

Pastor Hagerman serves as the Pastoral Advisor to the SLHS Board of Directors, and we are blessed to have his wisdom and counsel as an ex-officio member!