Heartland Lutheran Faculty and Staff
Mr. Chris Olsen
Director of Technology
Music Director
Classes Taught: Music, Chemistry, Physics, Pre-Algebra, and ITEC
Extra Curricular: Band, Choir, Drama, Robotics
Mr. Olsen joined our staff at the beginning of the 2013 school year. Mr. Olsen grew up on a small farm outside the village of Cordova, NE. He graduated from Friend Public School in Friend, NE and went on to attend Concordia University in Seward, NE. He graduated with a BA in 1999 and worked in Lincoln at a local music store before returning to CUNE to earn his teaching credential and LTD in 2001. His first call was to Seattle Lutheran High School in Seattle, WA, where he taught music, religion, math, chemistry and physics. After three years in Seattle he accepted a call back to Nebraska to teach at Concordia Jr./Sr. High School in Omaha, where he taught vocal and instrumental music for grades 5-12.
In 2006 Mr. Olsen answered a new call, this time to serve the nation as a member of the United States Army. He served in the Army as an Infantryman on active duty for nearly six years, including two yearlong deployments to Iraq. After leaving active duty at the end of 2011, Mr. Olsen served two years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Mortuary Affairs Specialist. He is also working on a master’s degree in information technology.
Mr. Olsen married his wife Bethany in November 2010. They have a five-year-old son, Jacob, a two-year-old girl, Emily, and expect a third child in March 2019. They also have an adorable housecat named Millie. Mr. Olsen and family are members of Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island, NE.
Contact Mr. Olsen at colsen@heartlandlutheran.org
Ms. Tami Johnson
Guidance Director
Classes Taught: Spanish, Health, and Guidance Councelor
A member of the Heartland Lutheran faculty sine 2015, Ms. Tami Johnson is a veteran of the public school system who loves caring for students and helping them reach their highest God-given potential. Whether it be in the Spanish classroom, helping student decide on a college, searching for scholarships, or being a rock for a student when they are struggling Ms. Johnson is their for the students of Heartland Lutheran High School. No one brings the energy, unique perspective, and love that Ms. Johnson brings everyday for her students and co-workers. Outside of school she enjoys traveling, spending time with her daughters, and enjoying a siesta.
Contact Mrs. Tami Johnson at guidance@heartlandlutheran.org
Miss Hillary Emery
Classes Taught: Art Fundamentals, Expanded Art, Art 2-D, Art 3-D, and advanced Art classes.
Miss Emery joined our staff for the 2018-19 school year. She is a part time teacher who is also a professional artist who produces and sells her own art outside of Heartland Lutheran.
Miss Emery is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney (Go Lopers!) and has taught for eight years at Hastings St. Cecelia and Grand Island Public Schools before joining the faculty at Heartland Lutheran High School. Miss Emery enjoys finding the beauty in God's creation and spending time in it. She took a year off of teaching for the 2017-18 school year to explore God's creation and spend time creating her own art. During this time she hiked the Appalachian Trail and spent time hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities with her family.
Contact Miss Emery at hemery@heartlandlutheran.org
Mr. Bob Krall
Classes Taught: Theology (1, 2, 3, & 4), Christian Leadership, English 1
Extra Curriculars: Assistant Girls Basketball Coach
Mr. Bob Krall is a Grand Island native and joined our faculty for the 2017-18 school year after teaching in Denver, Lincoln, and Hastings. Mr. Krall is well known for his coffee, his love on Philadelphia sports, and for the great relationships he forms with his students. In his first school year on the Heartland Lutheran faculty the students named Mr. Krall their Teacher of the Year because of those relationships, life advice, and pep talks.
Outside of school you will know Mr. Krall's voice from the radio as he is a sportscaster for GI Family Radio and the voice of football for Grand Island Central Catholic. He also enjoys spending time with his parents who both live in Grand Island, attending sporting events, and traveling.
Contact Mr. Krall at bkrall@heartlandlutheran.org
Mrs. Jenna Winfrey
Classes Taught: English 3, English 4, Biology, Anatomy & Physiology.
Mrs. Winfrey joined our faculty for the 2018-19 school year. Mrs. Winfrey is a 2018 graduate of Concordia University Nebraska where she doubled majored in English and Science education. Mrs. Winfrey is a native of Albion, NE and after a successful career in high school athletics she chose basketball over volleyball and moved to Seward. There she met and married her husband Landon who still works in Seward. The Winfrey's reside in Aurora with their two dogs, a German Shepherd and a St. Bernard puppy. They are also expecting their first child this spring!
Contact Mrs. Winfrey at jwinfrey@heartlandlutheran.org
Mrs. Jacqulyn Zehendner
Classes Taught: Algebra I and II, Geometry, Advanced Math
Extra Curriculars: National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl
B.A. ed. LTD, Mathematics and History endorsements, Concordia College—Seward, 1995
Mrs. Zehendner has been teaching at HLHS since the very FIRST day! In that time, she has served many roles, including yearbook advisor, history teacher, and volleyball coach. She currently serves as our National Honor Society Sponsor in addition to her teaching duties. Prior to teaching at HLHS, Mrs. Zehendner taught at Sheboygan Lutheran High School in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Her family includes her husband Chuck, who served as the Principal/Head Teacher at Zion Lutheran School in Worms, and her three children: Taylor, Jessica, and Colton. Mrs. Zehendner and her family live on a farm in Pleasanton and are members of Zion Lutheran in Kearney.
Contact Mrs. Zehendner: jzehendner@heartlandlutheran.org
Mr. Karl Bergdolt
Director of Advancement
Karl will be joining us on November 5 to officially take over the advancement and development responsibilities at Heartland Lutheran High School. We are blessed to have such a great Christian man and family be joining our team. We will have more information on Karl upon his arrival.
Contact Mr. Bergdolt: advancement@heartlandlutheran.org