About Us

Our Vision

Connecting and equipping Lutheran school teachers to inspire students in Technology Enriched Classrooms.

When we launched TEC21 we called digital learning and connectedness vital pursuits. Today, thirteen years later, we recognize technology in the classroom as a non-negotiable. Research, exploration and sharpened understanding of the proclivities of the contemporary student point to the need for both a strong digital platform in every classroom and tech-savvy teachers.

Kids are early adapters. Our mounting concern is that students will leave behind the educator who lags in interest or aptitude for digital innovations. We fear parents making a school choice for their children will find a tipping point around this competency or lack of it. This enlarges the responsibility we feel to equip teachers, adding digital “scout” to our job of facilitating technology workshops. It increases the urgency we feel for our “2022” vision to expand the TEC21 footprint in the U.S. and overseas.

Explosive Potential for Learning

YEAR	09/10	10/11	11/12	12/13	13/14	14/15	15/16	16/17	17/18	18/19	19/20	20/21	21/22
Centers	1	1	3	3	8	12	15	17	18	23	26	27	30
Teachers	3	9	22	38	85	150	259	373	503	655	834	1,002	1,186
Students	45	180	510	1,080	2,355	4,605	8,490	14,085	21,630	31,455	43,965	58,995	76,785

The chart above shows actual numbers of participating TEC21 teachers and estimated numbers of students impacted. It reveals the multiplier affect of our professional development program as former participating teachers continue the discovery process year after year through the TEC21 online community and apply what they’ve learned in their classrooms.

2009

“Angel” donors provide financial support through five-year startup grant
Holy Cross and Bethany Lutheran, Wichita, Kan. schools, pilot TEC21 workshop program
The TEC21 community: one TEC21 facilitator, three TEC21 teachers, dozens of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: one LCMS district, one innovation (workshop) center, two schools

2010

The TEC21 community: one TEC21 facilitator, nine TEC21 teachers, hundreds of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: one LCMS district, one innovation center, four schools

2011

Brent Dieckhoff and Dennis Grice bring TEC21 to Pacific Southwest District
The TEC21 community: two TEC21 facilitators, 22 TEC21 teachers, hundreds of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: two LCMS districts, three innovation centers, 11 schools

2012

Lutheran Church Extension Fund (KS/OK districts) provides funding
The TEC21 community: two TEC21 facilitators, 38 TEC21 teachers, thousands of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: two LCMS districts, three innovation centers, 15 schools

2013

Concordia University-Nebraska hosts first annual TEC21 Facilitators Academy
Lutheran Church Extension Fund (KS/OK districts) provides funding
The TEC21 community: eight TEC21 facilitators, 85 TEC21 teachers, thousands of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: nine LCMS districts, eight innovation centers, 47 schools

2014

Lutheran Church Extension Fund (KS/OK districts) provides funding
The TEC21 community: 12 TEC21 facilitators, 150 TEC21 teachers, thousands of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: nine LCMS districts, 12 innovation centers, 65 schools

2015

Lutheran Church Extension Fund (KS/OK districts) provides funding
Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Ross, Wichita, Kan., help start the TEC21 Endowment Fund
The TEC21 community: 12 TEC21 facilitators, 259 TEC21 teachers, thousands of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: 12 LCMS districts, 15 innovation centers, 110 schools

2016

TEC21 makes its new home on the campus of Concordia University–Nebraska
Lutheran Church Extension Fund continues to support TEC21’s mission thorugh offering scholarships in a growing number of districts
The TEC21 community: 20 TEC21 facilitators, 353 TEC21 teachers, thousands of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: 12 LCMS districts, 17 innovation centers, 122 schools

2017

TEC21 begins to impact pre-service teachers at Concordia University–Nebraska preparing for Lutheran education
Lutheran Church Extension Fund continues to support TEC21’s mission by offering scholarships in a growing number of districts
The TEC21 community: 21 TEC21 facilitators, 503 TEC21 teachers, tens of thousands of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: 12 LCMS districts, 18 innovation centers, 162 schools

2018

For the first time, TEC21 presented at the GOSPEL Conference in Temecula, California. This conference reaches all 35 district education executives
The TEC21 community: 23 TEC21 facilitators, 655 TEC21 teachers, tens of thousands of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: 16 LCMS districts, 23 innovation centers, 201 schools

2019

Concordia University, Nebraska establishes the Technology in Lutheran Education Fund to support teachers serving in Lutheran schools to effectively integrate technology in the classroom
Beginning with the Philippine Lutheran Education Association, TEC21 begins to partner with the Asia Lutheran Education Association to impact Lutheran schools internationally
Lutheran Church Extension Fund in multiple districts continues to provide funding
The TEC21 community: 29 TEC21 facilitators, 834 TEC21 teachers, tens of thousands of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: 15 LCMS districts, 26 innovation centers, 235 schools

2020

Lutheran Church Extension Fund in multiple districts continues to provide funding
Concordia University, Nebraska, establishes the Technology in Lutheran Education Fund to support teachers serving in Lutheran schools to effectively integrate technology in the classroom
The TEC21 community: 32 TEC21 facilitators, 1,002 TEC21 teachers, tens of thousands of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: 17 LCMS districts, international partnerships with Lutheran organizations, 27 innovation centers, 260 schools

2021

Lutheran Church Extension Fund in multiple districts continues to provide funding
Concordia University, Nebraska, establishes the Technology in Lutheran Education Fund to support teachers serving in Lutheran schools to effectively integrate technology in the classroom
Launched STEM education workshop program for teachers with varying degrees of proficiency for this new way of teaching. Includes monthly virtual sessions and between-session asynchronous and synchronous support. Provides a holistic view of STEM in education
Cohorts experienced one of the most unprecedented, innovative and exciting times in Lutheran education. TEC21 introduced hybrid cohorts to reach remote learners. Workshop participants learned how to become increasingly agile and compelling in both face-to-face and virtual learning environments
The TEC21 community: 30 TEC21 facilitators, 1,186 TEC21 teachers, tens of thousands of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint: 17 LCMS districts, international partnerships with Lutheran organizations, 30 innovation centers, 289 schools

2022

Lutheran Church Extension Fund in multiple districts continues to provide funding
Concordia University, Nebraska, provides the Technology in Lutheran Education Fund to support teachers serving in Lutheran schools to effectively integrate technology in the classroom
Will continue to grow and expand reach of the STEM education workshop program, further positioning Lutheran schools as frontrunners in education
Will continue to reach remote learners through hybrid cohorts and connect them to the larger, dynamic and encouraging TEC21 peer community
The TEC21 community (projections): 33 TEC21 facilitators, 1,384 TEC21 teachers, tens of thousands of students
TEC21 facilitator footprint (projections): 20 LCMS districts, international partnerships with Lutheran organizations, 33 innovation centers, 319 schools