High School Leadership Academy

Jim Kunau

Session #2: Character, Empowerment, & Humility

Jim Kunau is the Director of MCAA, replacing Tony Diaz, who retired after successfully leading the program for the past five years. Jim is very familiar with MCAA, having served as an adjunct and assistant professor teaching leadership and ethics for the past nine years. He holds a Masters’ degree in International Management and traveled to over 40 countries before teaching international business courses in California Lutheran University's MBA program. He also has extensive teaching, coaching, and leadership experience at the high school level as well. At Orange Lutheran High School in Southern California, Jim served as Athletic Director, Director of Leadership Studies, and Head Football Coach for 21 years. During his tenure at Orange Lutheran, Jim earned National, State, and Regional Coach of the Year honors and was named Orange County’s Coach of the Decade. He led the transformation of Orange Lutheran from a small Division 12 school to a major Division 1 powerhouse, competing in the ultra-competitive Trinity League, where his teams won several championships. He is one of two high school football coaches in California to have won State Championships at more than one school as he led Rancho Christian to similar growth and success as he experienced at Orange Lutheran.

Jim has spoken on Organizational Leadership and Developing Character all over the country at conferences, clinics, churches, and universities. He feels a strong calling to serve coaches. It began with developing coaches on his staff, 11 of whom became head coaches and/or athletic directors, and quickly expanded to helping coaches and athletic administrators from other institutions. His passion for Concordia’s MCAA program began when MCAA Founder and Director Tom White hired him in 2012.

"I quickly discovered what an extraordinary program for equipping and empowering athletic leaders Tom had created, and feel very privileged to build on the legacy Tom established, and Tony continued. And to carry on that legacy within the framework of Concordia’s Great Commission and Christ-centered Mission makes this a blessing and responsibility that I deeply appreciate and fully embrace. Concordia University’s unwavering commitment to empower students for lives of learning, service, and leadership while standing on grace alone and faith alone as the core of who we are is exactly what we seek to reflect in the MCAA student experience."

Jim and his wife, Betsy, have one daughter, Caroline, and reside in Anaheim, CA.

Teresa Flynn Everett

Session #3: Motivation in Today’s Apathetic Society

Award-winning educator Teresa Flynn-Everett is the president and founder of Speak Rivers, an author and dynamic speaker that inspires audiences towards greatness and achieving their dreams and aspirations. Teresa is the author of three books. Her most recent children's book titles include: "Just Be Me" and "Passion Inside of Me." She is a motivational and keynote speaker inspired by the idea that everyone can learn at a high level and reach their full potential.

Teresa Flynn-Everett's presentation of Leaders that Speak Rivers provides a blueprint that grows the power of servant leadership and teamwork. Teresa's presentation weaves soulful poetry and stories that empower everyone to unleash their greatness!

• CEO, Author & Former Award-winning School Principal
• Hailed as "Local Legend" by Storm Baseball Program in recognition of leadership, innovation, and educational equity
• Concordia University Irvine's 2022 Alumna of the Year: Professional Achievement
• Successfully led schools to earn academic honors from the county, state, and federal agencies, that included a Gold Ribbon School Award, Title I Academic Achievement Award, Civic Learning Award, and Model Programs Award

Theresa Thomas

Session 6 - Professional Etiquette & Kindness

Whether in a meeting or giving a presentation, you have one chance to make a positive first impression. How you are perceived in those first moments significantly impacts your ability to establish trust, credibility, and the potential for a productive long-term relationship.

Theresa Thomas is a professional development trainer and certified business etiquette expert. She is passionate about helping individuals and teams sharpen their presentation, communication, and business etiquette skills for professional and social success.

Her interactive workshops provide members with tools and techniques that deliver measurable outcomes, provide business value and maintain strong relationships built on courtesy and respect.

Theresa received training and certification from the Protocol School of Washington, the nation’s leading etiquette and protocol firm. Over the past 20 years, she has presented her high-impact programs to finance, legal, corporate, academic, and healthcare professionals nationwide.

Valerie Erb

Session 7 - Creating Community/Belonging/Safe Conversations & Compassion

Valerie Erb was a broken teenager who by God’s grace turned her life around and has been helping others do the same ever since. At the age of sixteen, she made a vow to help as many lost and hurting people as possible until the day she dies. She is candid about the many struggles she has faced throughout her life and how she overcame them to move on to better things. She has helped many through her roles as public speaker, peer helping educator, team building trainer, credentialed teacher, workshop facilitator, at-risk advisor, substance abuse educator, support group leader and youth leader.

She imparts to each life she touches the hope of being restored from the inside out, and so she developed a popular course and curriculum called Inside-Out Peer Helping through which students and educators are trained in servant leadership. She also wrote a book along with her students entitled You are not Alone. She has her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership, Bachelor's degree in English, and she holds a Teaching and Administrative Credential. She has been trained in Servant Leadership, Conflict Management, Peer Mediation, Peer Counseling, Peer Assistance, Positive Behavior Intervention, Substance Abuse Education, Asset Development, Subtle Attributes Screening, Rape Crisis Intervention, TEPP Education, SAFE Schools Coordination, Multicultural Education, and Violence and Anger Management.

She is humbled to say she has received various awards such as: Teacher of the Year for Placer County, James P. Roberts Outstanding Teacher of the Year, Rotary Club Teacher of the Year, Teacher Who Makes a Difference on two occasions and the Become Award. She is passionate about teaching and has never met a student that she does not love. She is most proud of her 35 year marriage to Frank. She is beyond blessed to have a wonderful daughter, son and son-in-law. Most of all, she is passionate about lifting up young people and the adults who work with them. She longs for all people to find community and belonging while they inspire each other to become all they are meant to be.

Hilary Thomas

Session 4 - Leading Through Adversity/Conflict

Hilary Thomas was born and raised in Orange County, California, and received a life-changing Christian-based education from Orange Lutheran High School, graduating in 2008. She attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she completed the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program and received a commission as an active-duty engineering officer in the US Army when she was 23.

During her military career, Hilary served in many combat leadership positions at duty stations across the midwestern and southern United States. In 2015 and 2019, she completed the Army’s most rigorous leadership courses, the Sapper Leader Course and Ranger School, respectively. She is the third woman in the US Armed Forces to complete these combat leadership courses. Hilary also deployed to Iraq and served as an aide to a one-star general in the Battle of Mosul during the Global War on Terrorism.

Throughout her career, Hilary often faced adversity and physically and mentally challenging situations. She led soldiers in both the Sapper and Ranger courses and engaged in simulated combat operations for days without sleep and food.

Hilary currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts, and works at a global executive search firm focusing on leadership needs in the renewable and broader energy market.

Jim Henkell

Message

Jim Henkell has served as Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Pacific Beach for nearly 20 years, and has spoken at more than 200 events across the country with a creative and passionate emphasis on the Gospel. He has earned degrees from both Concordia University Irvine and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, with special emphases in preaching and Biblical languages. Jim has also served in numerous leadership positions, including as National Chair of Lutheran Youth Fellowship and Vice-Chair of the Board of Regents for Concordia University Irvine.

Dr. Lori Doyle

Personal Leadership Plan

Dr. Lori Doyle works as Associate Professor of Education at Concordia University Irvine where she serves as Director of the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program and Assistant Director of the Servant Leadership Institute. She has completed and managed extensive curriculum development projects at the university and serves as Subject Matter Expert for courses in multiple MA programs. Working as an instructor also keeps her mindful of relevant and changing trends in education. Lori has taught at several universities over the past twenty-two years, but her career began as a high school English and theology teacher and curriculum writer. She holds a California Clear Credential in Secondary Education, MAEd in Curriculum and Instruction, and a PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition. Lori maintains a robust commitment to research and writing; she also enjoys opportunities to collaborate and present at academic and education conferences throughout the year.

Shannon May

Gallup 2.0 StrengthFinder

Mrs. May has been in Lutheran Education for over 10 years, and has served at Concordia University as a coach, and both Crean Lutheran High School and Orange Lutheran High School as a coach, teacher, and Director of Student Activities. She has a passion for developing servant leaders, and loves helping students learn how to use their God-given strengths as tools to construct change. Mrs. May will be helping participants find out their "top 5" strengths, and how to put them to work through various activities during her session.

Go Lancers and God bless!

Tamara Sauer

The Importance of Finding a Mentor

Tamara is an experienced professional with a passion for education, connection, and marketing. After earning two bachelor's degrees in 2002 from Concordia University Irvine in Business: Marketing and Art, Tamara climbed the corporate ladder in retail marketing in Orange County, CA. In 2014, Tamara joined the Concordia University Irvine Alumni Board of Directors and within two years she started as a full-time staff member on Concordia's University Advancement team. She was part of the inaugural graduating class of students from the Townsend Institute at Concordia, graduating with a Master's of Organizational Leadership in 2018.

Tamara serves as the Senior Director of Annual Giving and Alumni & Family Engagement, is an adjunct professor of Organizational Leadership for the Townsend Institute at Concordia, and teaches Virtue & Vocation to first year Concordia students. She is a lifelong learner and thrives in environments that promote communication and curiosity.

Tamara is a Southern California native who loves to travel and explore with her husband, two teen boys, and chocolate lab Tallah (@tallah_jane on Instagram). She also volunteers as the Scoutmaster for Troop 4321 - a girls BSA troop chartered through Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Lake Forest, CA and as the VP of Fundraising for Tesoro Football Boosters.

Christine Cosenza

Movie Clip Analysis

Christine Cosenza currently serves as the Vice Principal of Student Services at Crean Lutheran High School. While student services encompasses a vast array of departments, one area they partner together is on service to the ministry. She brings twenty years of Christian education experience, and has worked alongside admissions, activities, campus protection, deans, counseling, attendance, registrar, summer programming, and alumni departments. She has a Masters of Arts in Counseling, PPS Credential, SEL Certificate from Rutgers University, and an Organizational Leadership Certificate from Redlands University. This year she joined Concordia University, Irvine's as an Adjunct Professor in the Master's of Education School Counseling Program. She resides in Laguna Niguel with her four children and in her spare time you can find her cheering on the sideline of football, soccer, or softball fields!

Hailey Good-Man

Movie Clip Analysis

Hailey Good-Man has been the Servant Leadership Director at Crean Lutheran for the past 3 years. She has over 10 years of experience working with youth in many different fields and loves any opportunity to help students unlock their God given leadership potential. At her time at Crean Lutheran she is currently working to develop a 4 year leadership curriculum that not only adheres to the California A-G requirements for leadership but aligns with the mission and vision of Crean Lutheran to proclaim Jesus through excellence in education. Hailey is happily married to her husband of 5 years and has 3 boys at home that keep her busy! Hailey loves hiking, boating, and going to the beach with her family. She can’t wait to meet you at Concordia’s first High School Leadership Academy!

Marjie Levesque

Facilitating Discussions as a Leader

Marjie Levesque is passionate about walking alongside students as they enter into Christian adulthood. Marjie has served as a discussion leader for the past 8 years for her youth group at Voyagers Bible Church and found so much joy in entering into hard conversations about faith with students. During these years, Marjie received her bachelor's degree in English and her teaching credential through Concordia. Currently, she is working on her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership with a focus on social-emotional learning, character, and ethics. She is set to complete her degree in June 2023! As a middle school electives teacher in Newport Beach, she spends her days encouraging students to explore their passions and coaching students to set goals for the future. Marjie deeply loves Concordia and feels overjoyed to be among such incredible servant leaders on this campus.

Ben Sweet

Prayer & Worship

Ben Sweet is a Worship Leader who is passionate about unifying the body of Christ through the practice of worship. He has been leading worship for the past 10 years and most recently on staff as the Worship Pastor at Voyagers Bible Church in Irvine. He has and his wife Lauryn just had their first baby boy Judah this year and are most excited about watching him fall in love with Jesus!