St. Paul names new principal

The newly named St. Paul Lutheran Elementary School Principal Lori Flenner is coming back to her roots this week to a new job. She is replacing Andy Sherrill, who has been named principal at the school’s new high school.

Flenner started her career in education as a teacher . She wanted to be a better mom for her kids.

“I have 34 years of education experience. I have worked in special education, multi grade levels and have experience in both private and public school systems,” Flenner said.

She worked in special education in part because she wanted to know as much as she could about education.

“I was at my last position for five years. I have known Mr. Giesselmann for six years and he had been talking about the high school program the school was setting up and their plans for the future. When Andy Sherrill took the role as the principal at the high school, the school talked to me about coming to the elementary school as principal,” Flenner said.

“Andy is going to be great at the high school because he has been great for enrollment at the elementary school and that’s what they need at the high school right now,” Flenner said.

A couple of Flenner’s goals for the future are to explore assistance for non-average students and develop resources for both slow and advanced learners. She also said the school has financial goals they would like to cover in the next couple of years.

Flenner has a local connection to the area. Her grandmother lived in Elvins and she has other family members who lived in the area. Her parents had a home in Terre du Lac when she was younger and spent some time in the area.

Flenner was most recently Principal at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Concordia, Mo.

Flenner holds degrees from Valparaiso, Butler, the University of Central Missouri and received the Colloquy from Concordia University Irvine. In the public sector she opened resource rooms while teaching K-12, wrote curriculum standards in several school districts in Indiana and Missouri, and worked with Title 1 students in Florida.

With Lutheran schools, she initiated congregation-sponsored early childhood programs in Missouri and Florida, serving as teacher, Director, and Head Administrator. She also served as teacher and principal at Christ Community Lutheran School in Naples, Fla.

Flenner serves as Mentor in the Synod School Leadership program and on the Mission Board of the Missouri District.

Flenner’s husband, Keith, a Thrivent Financial Representative, is joining her in moving to Farmington. Their daughter, Kate, lives in Winter Park, Fla. and their son, Brian, lives in Naples, Fla.