School Staff
A faculty of eight dedicated and well-trained teachers motivates the students to do their best in their studies. Our pastor helps with the teaching of the Bible’s chief parts in Catechism class to Grades 7 and 8. Secretaries, kitchen staff, and janitors help to create a clean, safe, and healthy environment for the children to learn and play in. Numerous volunteers help keep St. Paul’s many programs running smoothly.
Mr. Kevin Needham, Principal, 7th/8th Grade a.m.
Kevin Needham was born in Chicago Heights, IL, but shortly thereafter his family moved to Appleton, WI, which became his home for fourteen years. Another move brought them to Watertown, WI, and after graduating from Martin Luther College in 2002, Kevin is now raising his own family here in Saginaw.
Kevin enjoys all things musical: bands, choirs, streaming music, trombones, etc. He especially enjoys spending time with his wife, Janna (Thiesfeldt), and their children Olivia, Caleb, Joshua, and Chad. They like time together at home, but also going on little trips to explore Michigan and to visit family in Wisconsin.
Kevin truly enjoys all parts of his calling here at St. Paul’s: Principal, 7th and 8th grade, and band.
Mr. Samuel Korth, 6th Grade a.m., 7th/8th Grade p.m.
Samuel David Korth was born in Bay City, Michigan – the fourth of five kids in a lively household where his dad pastored Mts. Olive Lutheran Church. Growing up in that environment, church wasn’t just Sunday mornings; it was the family rhythm.
Samuel started school education at Mt. Olive and finished at Bethel before heading to Michigan Lutheran Seminary. There he balanced the books with plenty of fun: playing football and baseball, singing in Concert Choir, and belting out the role of Jud Fry in *Oklahoma!* (yes, he can still quote the musical). He graduated in 2006, and then enrolled at Delta College with big plans for Michigan State’s Turf Grass Management program – because nothing says “future” like perfect lawns.
But life had other ideas. After several visits to Martin Luther College to see friends, Samuel felt a clear pull in a different direction. In the winter of 2009 he switched to MLC, dove into Elementary Education with a Physical Education emphasis, and graduated in 2011 with his Bachelor of Science in Education.
His first call took him to Trinity Lutheran in Belle Plaine, Minnesota, where he taught grades 3-4, directed the Junior Choir, and served Music Director. The next year he added on Athletic Director (because why not?). After four years, he moved to the 5th-6th grade classroom. Then in March 2017, he accepted the call to St. Paul’s in Saginaw.
In 2021, Samuel married fellow St. Paul’s teacher Shelby Pitt. The duo now has two adorable sidekicks: son Theodore and daughter Lola.
When he is not in the classroom or guiding worship, Samuel can be found mowing the lawn with his Golden Retriever Daisy. He harbors a deep, passionate hatred for chocolate, roots hard for Michigan football and the Detroit Tigers, and has been known to peacefully doze off to the soothing sounds of a Lions game on Sunday afternoons.
Samuel is deeply grateful for Christian parents who raised him in the Word and gave him strong Lutheran education. He’s excited to keep serving this congregation and our Lord with everything he’s got – lawn-mowing skills and all.
Mr. Jordan Siegler, 5th Grade a.m., 5th/6th Grade p.m.
Jordan Siegler is the 5th grade teacher, school accompanist, and director of St. Paul’s Beginner Band. He came from Manitowoc, WI where he attended Manitowoc Lutheran High School. He graduated Martin Luther College in 2014 and started teaching at St. Paul’s the same year.
He married Arianna (Salzwedel) in June 2015. She is currently teaching piano lessons and directing band at Michigan Lutheran Seminary. They have been blessed with two children, Evanageline and Georgiana.
Mr. Siegler enjoys strategy games, history, reading, movies, and puns. He also loves listening to music and plays piano, organ, and clarinet.
Mrs. Kelly Schreiner, 3rd Grade
Kelly Schreiner was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the youngest of four children, and grew up in nearby Wauwatosa. There she belonged to St. John’s Lutheran Church. Kelly’s elementary and high school years were spent at St. John’s and Wisconsin Lutheran High School. Following high school, Kelly studied Elementary Education at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. She graduated from MLC in 2012.
Upon graduation, Kelly was assigned to teach Kindergarten at Mount Olive Lutheran School in Appleton, WI. She taught at Mount Olive for 4 years before stepping away from the classroom to raise her children. While not teaching, Kelly provided in-home childcare while still in Appleton, was the secretary of Victory Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Florida during her family’s years there, and most recently, worked as the Admissions department Administrative Assistant at Michigan Lutheran Seminary, here in Saginaw.
Even when not teaching in a classroom full-time, Kelly has always stayed connected to education and teaching. She started and ran Mornings with Mommy programs at two different churches, taught Sunday School at three churches, and substitute taught at various schools over the years. Now that all of her children are in school, Kelly is very excited to be getting back into her own classroom, helping her students learn and grow – and, most importantly, getting to share Jesus with them every day!
Kelly is married to Pastor Troy Schreiner, who serves as Dean of Students at Michigan Lutheran Seminary. They were married in 2014 and have been blessed with 3 children: Faith, Noah, and Magdalena. They also have a dog named Max. In addition to teaching, Kelly enjoys doing puzzles, event planning, hosting get togethers, and spending time with family and friends. She and her family also love exploring, traveling, and camping!
Mrs. Kadie Westendorf, 4th Grade, 7th Grade
Kadie was born and raised in Adrian, Michigan. She attended Madison High School in Adrian and Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. Kadie graduated from MLC in 2012 with a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Physical Education. Kadie was assigned to serve as the 1st & 2nd grade teacher for 1 year at Zion Lutheran School in Monroe, MI. After completing her year at Zion, she married Dan Westendorf and moved to Warren, MI where Dan was assigned to be the Pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church. In 2014 Crown of Life extended Kadie a call to serve as Preschool Teacher and Director. Kadie served in that position until 2020.
During the 2020-2021 school year Kadie served as the 3rd and 4th grade teacher at Divine Grace Lutheran School in Lake Orion, MI while Crown of Life built a new school! Dan accepted his call to serve as Professor at Michigan Lutheran Seminary and their family relocated to Saginaw in January 2022. Kadie was extended and accepted her call to teach 2nd grade and serve as Athletic Director at St. Paul’s Lutheran school in March 2022. In 2024 she moved up two grades and now is teaching 4th grade!
Kadie and Dan are blessed with 3 children; Levi, Lydia and Lucas. She enjoys coaching track at MLS in the spring. In her free time Kadie enjoys watching sports (Lions, Red Wings, Tigers, Spartans and USWNT soccer), camping, running, and reading in her hammock.
Mrs. Courtney Valus, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade Religion
Courtney Valus was born in Bay City, MI, and she attended Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. She went to Mt. Olive for grades K-1 and Bethel for 2-8. She then attended Michigan Lutheran Seminary for high school, where she enjoyed participating in basketball, volleyball, track, Concert Choir, Hardin Street Harmony, and student council. Upon her high school graduation, she went to Martin Luther College, where she graduated in 2011 with a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in math.
In 2011, she married Nolan Valus, and they were both assigned to teach at Mt. Olive in Delano, MN, where Courtney taught grades 3-4 and preschool. While living in Minnesota, they were blessed with two daughters, Adria and Felicity. In 2018, the Valus family moved to Saginaw, and Courtney was a piano instructor at MLS from 2019-2021. In 2021, Nolan and Courtney took calls to teach at Divine Grace in Lake Orion, MI, where Courtney taught grades 1-2. In 2024, the Valus family made their way back to Saginaw as Nolan accepted the call to be Academic Dean and math professor at MLS. Courtney accepted a call to serve at St. Paul’s as 2nd grade teacher and Technology Coordinator. She greatly looks forward to serving at St. Paul’s and teaching God’s lambs.
For fun, Courtney enjoys playing volleyball, watching sports (especially the Michigan Wolverines), playing the piano and organ, and spending time with her family.
Mrs. Jennifer Bovee, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade Religion
This is Jennifer’s 20th year teaching 1st grade. Jennifer was born in West Bend, Wisconsin and attended Good Shepherd Lutheran School from grades K-2. Her family moved to Green Bay, WI when she was 8 years old because her father accepted a call to be principal at First Lutheran School in Green Bay. She attended First Lutheran School from grades 3-8. She went on to attend Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton, WI. After high school, Jennifer attended college at UW/Green Bay to become a teacher.
After a few years of public college, Jennifer decided that she could not imagine teaching children without being able to share God’s Word with them. Therefore, she transferred to Martin Luther College and earned her teaching degree, graduating in December of 1996.
She received her first teaching assignment after graduation and taught Kindergarten-2nd grades at Zion Lutheran School in Chesaning, Michigan. She taught these grades in Chesaning for about 10 years.
She met her husband Michael, who was a member at Zion in Chesaning, and they were married in July of 2003. Their daughter, Olivia, was born in August of 2006. Following her daughter’s birth, Jennifer decided that she wanted to stay at home and take care of Olivia.
When Olivia began school at St. Paul’s, Jennifer volunteered in the school library. She also did some substitute teaching at St. Paul’s and other WELS schools. She received and accepted the call to teach 1st and 2nd grades in spring of 2017. Jennifer feels very blessed by this wonderful opportunity to serve her Savior by teaching his precious lambs here at St. Paul’s. She prays the Lord will bless her teaching ministry, and thanks the members for all of their prayers and support.,
Mrs. Kimberly Schroer, Kindergarten
Kim Schroer was born in Saginaw, but moved to St. Charles at the age of five, and enjoyed growing up in this wonderful small town. She has been a member at St. Paul’s since 1993.
Kim attended Central Michigan University, graduating in 1998, and then taught kindergarten and 5th grade in the Chesaning and St. Charles school districts. After graduating college, she moved to Saginaw to raise a family with husband Dan. She enjoys being a mom to their three children (Madison, Sydney, and Jackson), vacationing with family, socializing with friends, and scrapbooking.
After being home with her children for 10 years, she started to get back into the teaching field as a substitute teacher. Kim truly enjoys attending church and having her children attend our wonderful school, and feels very blessed to be on the faculty at such an amazing place with terrific people.
Mrs. Angie Muñoz, School Secretary
Angie Lu Munoz (Korthals) was born in Saginaw, MI in 1978 but raised in Vassar, MI. She attended Vassar Public Schools until her church, St. Luke's Lutheran, built their grade school K thru 8th. She went there from 6th through 8th grade. From 9th-12th grade she went to Michigan Lutheran Seminary where she graduated in 1997. She got married in 2011 to Jesus Munoz Jr. He has helped raise her oldest son, Elijah, & have 2 other children together Isaiah & Arianna. The two youngest have attended here since Kindergarten. She loves spending time with her family & friends. She enjoys dancing, going camping, exploring different parts of Michigan and would love to venture out more to explore other parts of God's beautiful world. She is blessed to be working here in the office with other Christians that respect & help each other. It is truly a blessing that she can be at her job & at the same time she gets to see her kids everyday throughout the day. She's done working shortly after the kids are done with school, so it's definitely perfect for her & her family.