SITE VALIDATION TEAM REPORT
ACCREDITED SCHOOL - EXEMPLARY STATUS
School Name: Concordia Lutheran High School
Address: 700 E. Main Street, Tomball, Texas 77375
Phone Number: 281-352-2547
Executive Director: Joel Bode, bodej@clhs-tx.org
Principal: Mark Bahr, bahrm@chls-tx.org
Site Validation Team Members:
Dr. David A. Sommermeyer, Educational Consultant, davesommermeyer@me.com
Ms. Sarah Heislen, Faith, Las Vegas Middle School Principal, heislens@flhsemail.org
Terry Schmidt, NLSA Executive Director, terry.Schmidt@lcms.org
Dr. William Hinz, Texas District LCM Director of Schools, WVHinz@aol.com
Visit Date: January 31 - February 1, 2013
I. Site Validation Checklist
Qualifier
The school is Christ
centered and service
driven.
School Meets
or Exceeds
YES or NO
YES
Comments
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The school has an
established and
documented record of
student academic
preparation and
success.
YES
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Global Embrace Program.
All student travel includes service component.
Admin - global embrace -- Kazakhstan, Costa
Rica, England, Honduras. working with LINC
Houston - mission service
Admin - Service Trips -- Joplin, MO -- Katrina
relief
Admin - Service work is required part of all
student travel.
Community leaders recognized the community
service component of CLHS and its community
service contributions in a variety of ways.
Strong intentional Spiritual life program.
Concordia has a Spiritual Life Director.
Many commented on spiritual life at Concordia.
Test Scores -- above state and national
averages
Parent (several) - my student was well prepared
for college.
Admin - AP dual credit -- offered on campus -don’t have to leave campus
Parent - “My child’s senior year at CLHS was
more challenging than their freshman year at
Baylor”
A positive perception
exists in the community
regarding the school.
YES
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Parents report students are well prepared for
success in college.”The day you walk into CLHS
you are being prepared for college.”
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Concordia winning the Henderson Award (overall
state champion in Texas Association of Private
and Parochial Schools 4A division) for all sports,
music, band and academic competitions -- two
years ago and finishing in second last year has
been a benefit to the community perception.
Both of Concordia’s major feeder schools, Trinity,
Klein, and Salem, Tomball are recognized as
United States Distinguished Schools and the
majority of both Trinity and Salem graduates go
to Concordia High School.
Executive Director (Joel Bode) is on Chamber of
Commerce Board.
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Mayor, law enforcement, and Chamber President
● Everybody looks to Concordia as the place to be!
● I’ve never heard anything bad about Concordia, it
has a great influence in the community.
● Local police try to get on the “list” of events to
work at Concordia because of their reputation
● School administration works very closely and
collaboratively with law enforcement -administration perceived as very discerning
● Mayor reports that Concordia is involved in the
community -- responds when the need arises, i.e.
opening up their parking lot and helping a church
in need, took in students who were affected by
hurricane Katrina
● Kids are respectful and you can just tell there is
something “different” here
● This school makes a statement about the
community’s commitment to faith and values
● Concordia truly partners with the community
● Leadership team is highly respected in the
community
● The entire Tomball community - fire trucks, police,
EMS escorted the football team home from the
state football championship shaking the hand of
every single Concordia football player.
● They are very open to receiving information from
us. They are prepared but they are not
overreacting
● The kids show us respect when we come in.
● Police officer enjoys stopping by for chapel.
● Concordia is included in Tomball magazine.
Board Members -- In response to their perception of
reputable best practices at Concordia?:
● Kids can get involved in a variety of activities
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Students are prepared for college
My child caught the “thespian bug” at Concordia
thanks to the inspiration of one of the teachers
Excellent leadership; trust in the leadership at
Concordia; leaders take calculated risks
Leadership team is committed to excellence
Faculty leaders put together their own entrance
assessment
Feeder School Perceptions:
● Feeder schools have benefited from Concordia.
● Concordia has a presence on our campuses.
Association Pastors Perceptions:
● Pastors feel involved in a partnership with
Concordia.
● Students here are engaged and participate in
chapel.
● Spiritual life direction at Concordia is intentional
and mentioned throughout visits with pastors and
other groups.
● Student groups will lead music and/or worship at
some association congregations; teams will
attend worship together; share resources.
● Parents who have had older children attend
public schools have chose Concordia and plan on
sending their younger children who will attend
CHS.
The school supports
satisfied stakeholders.
YES
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Parent - excellent staff/teachers go the extra mile.
Parent - School well serves students with differing
learning styles and abilities.
Staff is described as involved and fully engaged
with students through a wide variety of school
activities.
WELS parent loves Concordia - Sports is the
daughter’s motivation for academic performance.
CLHS sports program inspires daughter’s
academic performance.
Parents who have had older children attend
public schools have chosen Concordia for their
younger children.
Teachers help wherever there is a need.
Parents report students are well prepared for
success in college.”The day you walk into CLHS
you are being prepared for college.”
Parent - “I know that my child is loved and cared
for at CLHS as much I do.”
Parent - National merit scholars provide evidence
for academic preparation.
“Freshman year at Baylor was easier than high
school.”
“My child was almost going to leave Concordia
after the first semester but with the great help of
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The school
demonstrates
innovative leadership
through Best Practices.
YES
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all of her teachers she is now doing exceptionally
well.”“
I know that my child is loved and cared for as
much as I do”
“The hearts of the teachers are extremely unique”
The FAME program has helped freshmen to
integrate successfully into CHS.
The Global Embrace program has given students
opportunities to be involved in ministry locally and
around the world.
Reciprocal church worker tuition agreement with
Salem and Trinity
II. What are the school’s unique “Best Practice(s)”?
A validation team editorial note:
While the visit focused on the three “best practices” suggested by Concordia, the team
identified a number of other practices easily considered best as well:
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Intentionally addressing the culture of the school, relationships -- the Concordia
“atmosphere”
Teachers required to be involved in at least one extracurricular activity -- equates to
students having an opportunity to be involved in many things
Spiritual life program
Goal to hire synodically trained teachers -- recruitment process
Leadership team all on the same page
Strategic Plan driven initiatives
Forensic Science Club - CSI Concordia
Dual Credit Classes all taught on Concordia’s campus by adjunct professors
FAME (Freshman Achieving More Excellence)
Program Summary: Concordia faculty and administration observed that many of their
freshman students were not readily demonstrating the skills necessary for achieving
excellence. Many of the students were lacking in a number of areas: study-skills, selfesteem, self-motivation, responsibility, goal setting, understanding of healthy and
positive relationships, and an understanding of how attitude and perspective affects a
student’s ability to achieve success. The FAME program was created to assist and help
students address the areas necessary to excel at CLHS.
FAME is actually the fourth (4th) step in a continuous intentional program that Concordia
freshman experience.
1 “Fish Camp” -- two hour program before school starts designed to help freshman
meet other students and become familiar with the campus. This is led student
leaders in upper grades (11th and 12th)
2 “Freshman Retreat” -- a 2-day (first Sunday / Monday of school year) off campus
program of activities designed for building relationships, unify as a class, and
learn about Concordia.
3 “Freshman Success Seminar” -- a day long off-campus, kick-off workshop
experience for the FAME program, after about a month of school.
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“FAME” -- 12 on-campus sessions throughout the school year (students divided
into mixed gender groups of 8/9).
There are 3 phases to the FAME program:
1 How to Get Good Grades in Ten Easy Steps by Linda O’Brian. Initially
introduced at the “Freshman Success Seminar,” this phase addresses studyskills, organization, time management, taking notes, reading a textbook, studying
smart, being a good test taker, reducing test anxiety and asking for help.
2 What’s In Your Backpack? Packing for Success in Life. A three hour
professional presentation by Jimmy Cabrera, CSP encouraging students to see
themselves and others as valuable children of God who have been redeemed by
Christ. Students are frequently reminded and engaged to pack their backpacks
for success throughout the year-long FAME meetings. His acronym for
BACKPACK:
Believe in yourself
Attitude is everything
Courage is essential
Knowledge is power
People skills build respect
Always set goals
Commitment pays
Keep on Dreaming
3 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, The Ultimate Teenage Success Guide is
a book by Sean Covey that is covered over 12 sessions throughout the school
year. A variety of formats, settings, activities, and assignments are intentionally
designed to engage students during their FAME experiences. The program
outline is as follows:
a Get in the Habit and Paradigm and Principles - scheduled for the
Sunday evening of the Freshman Retreat
b Personal Bank Account: scheduled for 4 Thursday morning segments
i Habit 1 - Be Proactive
ii Habit 2 - Begin with the End in Mind - 2 segments fostering
Goal setting
iii Habit 3 - Put first things First
iv Students develop a personal Mission Statement
c Relationship Bank Account: scheduled for 5 Thursday morning
segments
i students create and set and academic goal for 2nd semester
ii Habit 4 - Think Win-Win
iii Habit 5 - Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
iv Habit 6 - Synergize
v Habit 7 - Sharpen the Saw
Upperclassmen students are invited and incorporated as leaders for the small
groups providing freshmen with supportive mentors.
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FAME program grew out of attrition from 9th-10th grade
Students “retreat” off campus centered around spiritual growth, leadership/team
building, social and emotional growth
Program is assessed by way of a survey and questionnaire; anecdotal evaluation
is that upper level students desire to serve as leaders in the program
Grades and study skills have improved
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Naturally develops leadership skills
Frosh report that the retreat was a great experience and helped them meet new
people; Students loved the Success Seminar, this seemed to make a great
impact; This has helped students be prepared for the important of college
preparation;
Freshman Student - finding it very beneficial
Student - changes life
Student mentor - Student Council plans “Fish Camp”
Student - nurtures and develops relationships -- breaks down barriers
Parent - responsive to students needs -- teachers spent extra time to meet
individual needs
Parent - went from frustration to beyond expectations
GLOBAL EMBRACE - MISSION AND SERVICE
Program Summary: Central to Concordia’s mission of “Building Lives of Excellence upon
the Foundation of Christ,” is one of our most important goals of sharing the love of
Christ with Concordia families by modeling and providing experiences for students to
participate in service and mission opportunities. Therefore, an intentional emphasis has
been placed on encouraging Concordia students to participate in local and international
mission outreach by serving and ministering to people who have struggled with life in
general, natural disasters or other specific challenges to their livelihood. Activities have
included: wildfires, drought, flooding, home maintenance, teaching, nursing care,
babysitting, childcare, soup kitchens, supervision/event volunteerism, etc. Additionally,
Concordia’s Theology curriculum has incorporated teaching units on topics of The
Christian in Mission and Small Group Bible Study to prepare students for their
experiences. Finally, the administration has insisted that teachers and/or advisors
incorporate service and mission opportunities into every trip related to a curricular
endeavor.
A few examples of where the curriculum, mission, and service intersect would include:
Kazakhstan – Students teach Bible lessons, play, and interact with elementary
school children who would not receive any Christian interactions without our
involvement. They also assist in renovating areas to make them safe and usable
for the residents.
Costa Rica – Environmental Science students become immersed in the local culture
as they trade experiences with native residents. The students also become
involved with a large scale construction project (in the spring of 2012, the
students refurbished a home and made additions to the living space).
Mexico – A faculty member and student partnered with the CanDo Missions program
traveling to Merida to work on refurbishing and building a school, teaching VBS,
and living through a cultural exchange with fellow Christians from various parts of
the United States and the native people of Mexico.
Alabama and Louisiana – Relief efforts for areas devastated by severe storms
where students cleared tree limbs, brush, and debris so that residents could get
back to a normal life routine.
The Global Embrace program incorporates a specific set of goals which are taught to
Concordia students before their participation in mission and service events. These goals
are to:
LEARN about the history, literature, and culture of the places visited.
HONOR the institutions and systems integral to the nations visited.
FOSTER friendships with peers who live in the places served.
EXPLORE the unique features of a country’s ecosystem and geography.
SERVE as ambassadors of our faith and tradition.
Global Embrace incorporates the needs of local/domestic issues and therefore is not
limited to just international experiences. Actions intentionally embody Acts 1:8 through a
ripple effect of being Christ’s ambassador permeating “our” Judea, Samaria, and even to
the ends of the earth. Partnerships that are already planned include the following:
Downtown Houston – Concordia is collaborating with LINC Houston which is a
mission organization that sees the need for new and healthy faith communities
across the city among our ethnic and urban neighborhoods. They plant new
churches that are self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propagating. This
partnership will allow Concordia the opportunity to serve Houston, interact with
various cultures and ethnic groups (in the city), and give the Apologetics Class a
tour of various faith groups. In the fall of 2012, Junior and Senior level Theology
students toured a Hindu Temple and a Buddhist Temple interacting with leaders
from each of these religious institutions.
Honduras – The Spring of 2013 has Concordia’s Spiritual Life Director and Spanish
teacher traveling to Honduras to create a partnership with HEART4CHILDREN, a
ministry to boys and young men. This ministry seeks to rescue young men from
the streets by creating a safe place for them in a boy’s home and providing them
an education at the nearest college. HEART4CHILDREN also has started a K6th grade Christ Centered School in the local village where currently our Spanish
4 students are pen pals with a number of these students.
England 2013 – This will be Concordia’s first trip to this area of the world where
students will become involved in learning about the great history and traditions of
British Literature, both from the ancient and modern worlds. While there, students
will be involved in a service project with the underprivileged as yet to be
determined.
Certainly, service and mission activities are present in many Christian schools all
around the country. However, Concordia has found huge benefits to its students
individually and the entire student body collectively once they intentionally
communicated a desire to seek partnerships and opportunities under the mantra of a
Global Embrace.
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Service becomes an intentional focus of everything at Concordia.
Global Awareness, understanding and involvement is a key component of 21st
Century educations critical knowledge and skills.
Several commented that their Global Embrace experiences were life changing
RECIPROCAL CHURCH WORKER TUITION AGREEMENT
Program Summary: When a roster eligible church worker from either Salem or Trinity
enrolls one or more students at Concordia their total tuition for the family is only $1,000
plus applicable fees. Likewise when a roster eligible church worker from Concordia
enrolls one or more students at either Salem or Trinity the total family tuition is $1000
plus applicable fees.
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A significant financial commitment.
Assures that church worker’s students from Concordia, Salem and Trinity will
attend a Lutheran school from K-12.
Elementary teachers know their children will go to Concordia and become strong
advocates for concordia to their students and parents.
Incentive for workers to get colloquy.
Incentive when recruiting teachers.
Strengthens Concordia, Salem and Trinity partnership and relationship.
The validation team’s visit to Concordia supports that Concordia is
worthy of Accredited School - Exemplary Status recognition.
● Strategic plan driven
● Strong Leadership - trust
● Numerous “best practices”
● Outstanding Community and congregation partnerships
● Strong test scores
● Very satisfied stakeholders and customers
● Strong indication of intentionality for continuous improvement - not
satisfied with the “status quo”
● Healthy financial conditions
● Validation team heard “first hand” the many comments (and more) that are
included in the validation checklist.
Electronic Signatures - 2/1/13
Dave Sommermeyer
Sarah Heislen (Team contact person)
Terry Schmidt
Bill Hinz