Message from the Superintendent & CEO

A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT & CEO

There is no day that I cherish more each school year than Graduation. I am blessed to be able to celebrate it twice each year, with each one of our schools. Four years of growth, hard work, and dedication culminate in that day for the students of Lutheran East and Lutheran West. As an educator, there are few things more exciting than seeing our students ready to step into the callings and vocations that God has placed upon their lives.

This past May, I was standing in the parking lot and conversing with some Lutheran East parents after the conclusion of Graduation. This couple was reminiscing about their daughter’s initial interview for acceptance into Lutheran East and all that came afterward. Toward the end of the conversation, the mother looked at me and said, “You need to know that our lives have been changed by this school.” She then welled up with tears and gave me a big hug.

Changing lives. That is the power of Gospel-centered education. Our students don’t just learn mathematics, geography, and Shakespeare. They learn to integrate the Gospel into all areas of their lives. It is the type of education that can have an impact not only on the next few years of a student’s life, but it can echo into eternity. It builds a grace-filled community that leads to parents hugging teachers and sharing how not only their children, but their entire families have been changed over a few years. The promise of Lutheran East and Lutheran West goes far beyond what many schools could ever imagine.

In the pages of this Annual Report, I hope that you will see glimpses of the incredible power of the Gospel at work through our schools. 832 students walked our hallways in the 2021-2022 school year and were blessed with incredible opportunities to learn in the classroom, grow in their walk with Christ, discover their gifts and interests in extraordinary extracurriculars, and serve their communities through our service learning programs. This Annual Report is our way of giving you a peek into their world and the work of our schools this past year.

At the same time, I pray that you will see more than just a report on the past year. It is a joy to celebrate the great work that has been done—but it is even more exciting to lay a foundation for future ministry that will bless students and families for years to come. You will read about The Lutheran Scholarship Granting Organization of Ohio, which is a new way that we are seeking to serve low-income families while supporting Lutheran schools throughout the State of Ohio. You will see the start of the Forward in Faith campaign at Lutheran West, which will transform Christian education on the west side of Cleveland. And you will see the Faith & Future campaign, which will push Lutheran East’s facilities to a level they never have been before.

There is nothing quite like Graduation. As you will see in the pages ahead, we are hard at work to make certain that the schools of the CLHSA will be able to see thousands more students experience those graduation days in the years to come. Thank you for your prayers, your time, and the gifts that you have given to help make the promise of Lutheran education possible in Cleveland!

CHRIS STEINMANN '00

SUPERINTENDENT & CEO