By Ashley Wiehe
Director of Communication

Growing up, Laurie Grim watched the impact that her dad made by serving in a school. As principal, he was daily guiding the next generation in their educational journeys, and also by serving in a Lutheran school and church, he was preparing their hearts for their Christ-centered lives. Today, she leads the smallest of the small on their own faith journeys.

For 30 years, Grim has taught preschool and some kindergarten, and has spent the past 16-plus years teaching in the preschool at St. Peter’s Lutheran School in Fort Wayne, Ind.

“I think I feel called with early childhood education just because I’ve always loved little children. I’ve always loved the way that they love unconditionally,” Grim said. “They have such a wonder about them that they want to learn.”

For Grim, she saw the path that God had laid out for her from childhood by watching her parents serving at the school, participating in the church choir, and now seeing the smiling faces of her students in the classroom each day.

“I got a front row view of what it was like to be in ministry,” she said. “I saw what my dad did and the effect that he had on people. It kind of went along with the path I was going. I loved children, I loved music, I loved creating things, and all those things kind of go together in teaching.”

As you walk into her classroom, pictures, sayings, and reminders of God’s love adorn the walls. They provide inspiration, hope, and smiles to these 3, 4, and 5 year olds.

“I get them at a time when I can help them just be excited to be there,” she said. “Some of my favorite things to do with those kids is to see them come in every day, and they’re so excited to learn. And I like to sit back and just listen to what they have to say.”

Being a preschool teacher is a true calling because it is not easy to wrangle 10-plus little ones each and every day, but for her, it’s a love that brings her back time and time again.

“I love what I'm doing. I don't consider it to be a job,” Grim said. “When you’re teaching, it’s so different. Every year is different, every child is different, so you never get bored.”

Now in his heavenly home, Grim’s father, Ron Koch, still impacts how she approaches education and how she approaches guiding these little ones to Christ.

“I remember standing by him at the hospital, and the last thing that he said to me was, ‘Lori, don't cry.’ He said, ‘I'll see you one day in heaven.’ And I think that’s why I keep doing it. I think that’s why I would love to see the legacy of Christian education continuing because that’s what we do,” she said. “We have the assurance of heaven and that one day we’ll be with Jesus, and what a wonderful thing to share with other people.”

Laurie Grim participated in a video project, produced by Worship Anew, which celebrated Church Workers in various professions. Visit YouTube.com/@worshipanewonline to watch a video about Laurie Grim.