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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, 18 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.

Students are early adapters. This enlarges the responsibility we feel to equip teachers to master technology, adding digital “scout” to our job of facilitating technology workshops. It increases the urgency we feel for our “2026” vision to expand the TEC21 footprint in the U.S. and overseas.

Explosive Potential for Learning
YEAR09/1010/1111/1212/1313/1414/1515/1616/1717/1818/1919/2020/2121/2222/2323/2424/2525/26
Cohorts11338121517182326273025302929
Teachers392238841492563644916628209871,1671,3081,4631,6171,739
Students451805101,0802,3404,5758,41513,87521,24031,17043,47058,27575,78095,400117,345141,600167,685

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.

The numbers above are actual through the end of Season 17.

2009-2010

  • “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 cohort, two schools

2010-2011

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

2011-2012

  • 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 cohorts, 11 schools

2012-2013

  • 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 cohorts, 15 schools

2013-2014

  • Concordia University-Nebraska hosts first annual TEC21 Facilitators’ Academy
  • Lutheran Church Extension Fund (KS/OK districts) provides funding
  • The TEC21 community: eight TEC21 facilitators, 84 TEC21 teachers, thousands of students
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint: nine LCMS districts, eight cohorts, 47 schools

2014-2015

  • Lutheran Church Extension Fund (KS/OK districts) provides funding
  • The TEC21 community: 12 TEC21 facilitators, 149 TEC21 teachers, thousands of students
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint: nine LCMS districts, 12 cohorts, 65 schools

2015-2016

  • Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Ross, Wichita, Kan., give a major seeding gift
  • Lutheran Church Extension Fund (KS/OK districts) provides funding
  • The TEC21 community: 15 TEC21 facilitators, 256 TEC21 teachers, thousands of students
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint: 12 LCMS districts, 15 cohorts, 110 schools

2016-2017

  • TEC21 makes its new home on the campus of Concordia University–Nebraska
  • Lutheran Church Extension Fund distributions to districts result in a growing number of scholarships to Lutheran schools, facilitating participation in the TEC21 Workshop Program and rich investment in Lutheran school teachers
  • The TEC21 community: 17 TEC21 facilitators, 364 TEC21 teachers, thousands of students
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint: 12 LCMS districts, 17 cohorts, 122 schools

2017-2018

  • TEC21 begins to impact pre-service teachers at Concordia University–Nebraska preparing for Lutheran education
  • Lutheran Church Extension Fund distributions to districts result in a growing number of scholarships to Lutheran schools, facilitating participation in the TEC21 Workshop Program and rich investment in Lutheran school teachers
  • The TEC21 community: 18 TEC21 facilitators, 491 TEC21 teachers, tens of thousands of students
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint: 12 LCMS districts, 18 cohorts, 162 schools

2018-2019

  • For the first time, TEC21 presented at the GOSPEL Conference in Temecula, California. This conference reaches all 35 district education executives
  • Lutheran Church Extension Fund distributions to districts result in a growing number of scholarships to Lutheran schools, facilitating participation in the TEC21 Workshop Program and rich investment in Lutheran school teachers
  • The TEC21 community: 23 TEC21 facilitators, 662 TEC21 teachers, tens of thousands of students
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint: 16 LCMS districts, 23 cohorts, 201 schools

2019-2020

  • 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 distributions to districts result in a growing number of scholarships to Lutheran schools, facilitating participation in the TEC21 Workshop Program and rich investment in Lutheran school teachers
  • The TEC21 community: 26 TEC21 facilitators, 820 TEC21 teachers, tens of thousands of students
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint: 16 LCMS districts, 26 cohorts, 235 schools

2020-2021

  • Concordia University, Nebraska, provides the Technology in Lutheran Education Fund to support teachers serving in Lutheran schools to effectively integrate technology in the classroom
  • Lutheran Church Extension Fund distributions to districts result in a growing number of scholarships to Lutheran schools, facilitating participation in the TEC21 Workshop Program and rich investment in Lutheran school teachers
  • The TEC21 community: 27 TEC21 facilitators, 987 TEC21 teachers, tens of thousands of students
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint: 17 LCMS districts, international partnerships with Lutheran organizations, 27 cohorts, 260 schools

2021-2022

  • Launched STEM education workshop program for teachers with varying degrees of proficiency for this growing emphasis in education. Includes seven monthly virtual sessions bookended by a two-day, in-person summer training academy, and between-session asynchronous and synchronous support
  • Cohorts experienced one of the most unprecedented, innovative and exciting times in Lutheran education. TEC21 introduced methods to reach virtual learners. Workshop participants learned how to become increasingly agile and compelling in both face-to-face and virtual learning environments
  • Concordia University, Nebraska, provides the Technology in Lutheran Education Fund to support teachers serving in Lutheran schools to effectively integrate technology in the classroom
  • Lutheran Church Extension Fund distributions to districts result in a growing number of scholarships to Lutheran schools, facilitating participation in the TEC21 Workshop Program and rich investment in Lutheran school teachers
  • The TEC21 community: 30 TEC21 facilitators, 1,167 TEC21 teachers, tens of thousands of students
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint: 17 LCMS districts, international partnerships with Lutheran organizations, 30 cohorts, 289 schools

2022-2023

  • Adopted a new, dynamic platform–TEC21 Connections–for our online learning community and course delivery
  • Expanding reach of the STEM education workshop program, further positioning Lutheran schools as frontrunners in education
  • Continuing to reach virtual learners and connect them to the larger, dynamic and encouraging TEC21 peer community
  • Concordia University, Nebraska, provides the Technology in Lutheran Education Fund to support teachers serving in Lutheran schools to effectively integrate technology in the classroom
  • Lutheran Church Extension Fund distributions to districts result in a growing number of scholarships to Lutheran schools, facilitating participation in the TEC21 Workshop Program and rich investment in Lutheran school teachers
  • The TEC21 community: 25 TEC21 facilitators, 1,308 TEC21 teachers, tens of thousands of students
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint: 21 LCMS districts, international partnerships with Lutheran organizations, 25 cohorts, 309 schools

2023-2024

  • We have grown our niche virtual educator cohorts to reach remote learners in districts with outlying (more isolated) or fewer numbers of schools and provide stronger, content-specific support to Lutheran high school teachers! Season 15 virtual, non-geographic cohorts include:
    • EC-8 educator cohort
    • EC-8 music educator cohort
    • 9-12 social studies educator cohort
    • 9-12 theology educator cohort 
  • There is growing enthusiasm for TEC21 Connections, our dynamic online learning community. In addition to facilitating course delivery, the platform offers exciting learning opportunities for the entire TEC21 community
  • Through TEC21 Connections, we’ll deliver four vodcasts (video version of a podcast) on critically relevant topics like artificial intelligence
  • Concordia University, Nebraska, continues to provide the Technology in Lutheran Education Fund to support teachers serving in Lutheran schools to effectively integrate technology in the classroom
  • The TEC21 community: 30 TEC21 facilitators, 1,463 TEC21 teachers, more than 100,000 students impacted
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint: 35 LCMS districts, international partnerships with Lutheran organizations, 30 cohorts, 327 schools

2024-2025

  • We have added ELA and science 9-12 virtual educator cohorts to continue to support Lutheran high school educators! Open registration for Season 16 virtual, non-geographic cohorts includes this expanded lineup:
    • EC-8 educator cohort
    • EC-12 music educator cohort
    • 9-12 ELA educator cohort
    • 9-12 science educator cohort
    • 9-12 social studies educator cohort
    • 9-12 theology educator cohort 
  • Continued expansion of TEC21 Connections, our online learning community, with leading-edge learning tools and solutions like our TEC21 podcasts
  • Continued growth of Concordia University, Nebraska, Technology in Lutheran Education Fund to support teachers serving in Lutheran schools to effectively integrate technology in the classroom
  • Engaged in ongoing conversations to bring TEC21 professional development to church workers (pastors, directors of Christian education, early childhood directors and principals), helping them grow in their use of technology to enrich their ministries
  • TEC21 community (projections): 29 TEC21 facilitators, 1,617 TEC21 teachers, 141,600 students impacted
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint (projections): 35 LCMS districts, international partnerships with Lutheran organizations, 29 cohorts, 344 schools

2025-2026

  • This year, we launched our first EC-8 principal cohort! Additionally, we have expanded our subject-specific cohorts to include grades 7-12. Open registration for Season 17 virtual, non-geographic cohorts includes this expanded lineup:
    • EC-8 educator cohort
    • EC-12 music educator cohort
    • EC-8 principal cohort
    • 7-12 ELA educator cohort
    • 7-12 science educator cohort
    • 7-12 social studies educator cohort
    • 7-12 theology educator cohort 
  • Continued expansion of TEC21 Connections, our online learning community, with leading-edge learning tools
  • Vodcasts are taking a new direction by eliminating the video aspect. Starting this year, the TEC21 Connections podcast can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 
  • Continued growth of Concordia University, Nebraska, Technology in Lutheran Education Fund to support teachers serving in Lutheran schools to effectively integrate technology in the classroom
  • Engaged in ongoing conversations to bring TEC21 professional development to church workers (pastors, directors of Christian education, early childhood directors and principals), helping them grow in their use of technology to enrich their ministries
  • TEC21 community (projections): 29 TEC21 facilitators, 1,739 TEC21 teachers, 167,685 students impacted
  • TEC21 facilitator footprint (projections): 35 LCMS districts, international partnerships with Lutheran organizations, 29 cohorts, 361 schools

2026-2027

  • We celebrate new, partial underwriting by Lutheran Church Extension Fund! TEC21 is thankful for the steadfast support of LCEF and our ministry partners across the U.S. that has helped position us as the expert leader in tech integration in Lutheran education. Through Season 17, we have served 167,685 students and 1,739 educators
  • New! Subject- and grade-specific virtual meetups for Lutheran school educators who gather virtually from across the U.S. to talk shop about resources, tools, lesson ideas and best practices
  • New! Teacher-led, pop-up workshops on relevant, trending, classroom-enriching topics!
  • Our TEC21 Connections podcast, available across several listening platforms, continues to support Lutheran church workers with critical, shaping content
  • A strong TEC21 Season 18 community (2026/2027 term) with 35 LCMS districts, 28 TEC21 facilitators, 27 cohorts, 380 schools, and 144 cohort participants participating in this robust cohort lineup:
    • EC-8 educator cohort (in-person and virtual options)
    • EC-8 principal cohort (virtual)
    • EC-12 music educator cohort (virtual)
    • MS/HS subject-specific (virtual for ELA, science, social studies and theology) 
  • Continued growth of Concordia University, Nebraska, Technology in Lutheran Education Fund to support teachers serving in Lutheran schools to effectively integrate technology in the classroom
  • Continued research and development by TEC21 leadership to find the best educational solutions — with the Workshop Program as the solid foundation — to enrich Lutheran school ministries
  • Continued strong advocacy for relevant, appropriate use of technology in 21st-century Lutheran school classrooms. A go-to for Lutheran school principals, educators and parents who require a Godly, educated, informed and well-reasoned voice in the emerging global technology space