Mr. Ken Proeber has accepted the call to serve as interim associate director of the Commission on Lutheran Schools (CLS), a position left vacant after Mr. Jeff Inniger accepted a call as principal at Trinity, Waukesha, Wis., in June. Proeber will start Aug. 15.

"He’ll bring a servant’s heart and a servant’s attitude into this office just like he has in the rest of his ministry," says Mr. Greg Schmill, CLS director.

This is a part-time, limited duration call to cover some of Inniger’s responsibilities until the Conference of Presidents can call a full-time person when the teacher call season opens again in November. Proeber was currently not holding a call. He had served almost his entire ministry as a teacher and principal at Fairview, Milwaukee, Wis., and then as interim principal for a year each at King of Kings, Maitland, Fla., and Our Redeemer, Madison, Wis. “I think interim is going to be my middle name,” he jokes.

He continues, “I’m happy to serve, and I’m excited to talk about what projects I can work on and effectively do during the time I’m there.”

A 1971 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., Proeber will be responsible for providing most of the teacher calls lists for the district presidents and helping Schmill carry out other administrative and leadership duties.

Schmill says further tasks will be covered by people who have already been involved with the work carried out by Lutheran Schools. Dr. LeDell Plath, who previously served as associate administrator for the Commission on Parish Schools before his retirement, will lead the school accreditation process, and Ms. Kathie Horn will manage the new teacher induction process on a part-time basis. In addition Mr. Karl Peterson will be working on other initiatives, including writing grants, encouraging technology use in schools, and providing personal assistance to called workers and schools.

“We are thankful that the Lord has provided key people at a time when they are definitely needed, people who are at a point in their lives when they can step up and help out on an interim basis,” says Schmill.

Part of the Congregation and Ministry Support Group, the Commission on Lutheran Schools is responsible for providing resources, training, and personal assistance for starting and strengthening WELS schools. In 2011, WELS had almost 41,000 students in 403 early childhood ministries, 324 Lutheran elementary schools, and 23 area Lutheran high schools.