Meet Our Staff
The Rev. Dustin Atkinson - Pastor
Pastor Atkinson was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry in 2017, and served as pastor in Kenai, Alaska prior to being installed as the pastor of Our Savior on September 24th, 2023. God has blessed him with Ashley, his wife of 10 years, and with three children – Louis, Josephine, and Frances. He has a B.A. in Computer Science from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska (2013), and a M.Div. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri (2017).
Pastor Atkinson was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry in 2017, and served as pastor in Kenai, Alaska prior to being installed as the pastor of Our Savior on September 24th, 2023. God has blessed him with Ashley, his wife of 10 years, and with three children – Louis, Josephine, and Frances. He has a B.A. in Computer Science from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska (2013), and a M.Div. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri (2017).
The Rev. John Widmer - Pastor, Lutheran Mercy Care Ministries
Pastor Widmer will serve as Our Savior Lutheran Church’s Interim Pastor until September 23, 2023. John has been involved in the jail ministry since 2002 and founded LMCM in March of 2014 to service the very real need in Colorado to minister to the incarcerated, those suffering with drug addiction and the forgotten members of our community who require a supportive hand on their rehabilitation journey back into society. He serves detention centers in Pagosa Springs and Durango. He occasionally travels to Colorado State prisons in Canon City for inmate visits and as a member of the New Mexico Chapter of the Kairos Prison Ministry to a State prison in Santa Rosa NM. John brings a unique perspective to the ministry as he has been on both sides of the fence. John has also served as Vacancy Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Moab Utah since 2014.
Pastor Widmer will serve as Our Savior Lutheran Church’s Interim Pastor until September 23, 2023. John has been involved in the jail ministry since 2002 and founded LMCM in March of 2014 to service the very real need in Colorado to minister to the incarcerated, those suffering with drug addiction and the forgotten members of our community who require a supportive hand on their rehabilitation journey back into society. He serves detention centers in Pagosa Springs and Durango. He occasionally travels to Colorado State prisons in Canon City for inmate visits and as a member of the New Mexico Chapter of the Kairos Prison Ministry to a State prison in Santa Rosa NM. John brings a unique perspective to the ministry as he has been on both sides of the fence. John has also served as Vacancy Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Moab Utah since 2014.
Emily Martinez - Preschool Director and Caterpillar Room
Emily Martinez is a Pagosa Springs native. She attended Our Savior Lutheran School from Kindergarten to 8th grade and graduated from Pagosa Springs High School. She worked at City Market and Hometown Foods before she began working at Seeds of Learning Preschool. There, she found her love of teaching and decided to pursue a Bachelors in Elementary Education and an Early Childhood Education Directors certificate. She earned her ECE Directors certificate in 2018 and graduated from Fort Lewis College in 2021 with her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She is excited to teach the 3rd-5th graders this year.
Emily Martinez is a Pagosa Springs native. She attended Our Savior Lutheran School from Kindergarten to 8th grade and graduated from Pagosa Springs High School. She worked at City Market and Hometown Foods before she began working at Seeds of Learning Preschool. There, she found her love of teaching and decided to pursue a Bachelors in Elementary Education and an Early Childhood Education Directors certificate. She earned her ECE Directors certificate in 2018 and graduated from Fort Lewis College in 2021 with her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She is excited to teach the 3rd-5th graders this year.
Susan Beaird - Kindergarten Teacher
Susan Beaird grew up in rural Pennsylvania playing basketball with her older brothers. She went on a 2 week mission trip to Moscow in 1991 that turned into 20 years of teaching and raising her family in Russia. Susan has 4 children ages 23-16,; only one daughter Johanna is still living at home. She has lived in Pagosa since 2014 and operated a daycare in her home until June 2022. Last year Susan taught 1st grade at Our Savior Lutheran School, and this year she will teach Kindergarten. She loves to ski, hike and explore the world.
Susan Beaird grew up in rural Pennsylvania playing basketball with her older brothers. She went on a 2 week mission trip to Moscow in 1991 that turned into 20 years of teaching and raising her family in Russia. Susan has 4 children ages 23-16,; only one daughter Johanna is still living at home. She has lived in Pagosa since 2014 and operated a daycare in her home until June 2022. Last year Susan taught 1st grade at Our Savior Lutheran School, and this year she will teach Kindergarten. She loves to ski, hike and explore the world.
Aaron Longmire - 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Teacher
My wife, Hannah, our newborn son, Otto, and I are excited to be a part of Our Savior Lutheran Church and School. The 2022-2023 school year will be my tenth year of teaching. Previously, I taught 5th grade at Mount Olive Lutheran School in Milwaukee, WI (2013-2017), and 4th grade at St. John’s Lutheran School in Bakersfield, CA (2017-2022). In 2020, I met my wife, Hannah, and we were married in March, 2021. She was teaching English in Taiwan for four years before our marriage. On July 2, 2022, we were blessed with our first child, Otto. Both Hannah and I enjoy being outdoors, camping and hiking. I have always been involved in sports, playing or coaching, basketball, soccer, baseball, football...anything! We look forward to what God has in store for us this year!
My wife, Hannah, our newborn son, Otto, and I are excited to be a part of Our Savior Lutheran Church and School. The 2022-2023 school year will be my tenth year of teaching. Previously, I taught 5th grade at Mount Olive Lutheran School in Milwaukee, WI (2013-2017), and 4th grade at St. John’s Lutheran School in Bakersfield, CA (2017-2022). In 2020, I met my wife, Hannah, and we were married in March, 2021. She was teaching English in Taiwan for four years before our marriage. On July 2, 2022, we were blessed with our first child, Otto. Both Hannah and I enjoy being outdoors, camping and hiking. I have always been involved in sports, playing or coaching, basketball, soccer, baseball, football...anything! We look forward to what God has in store for us this year!
Leah Hellerich - Organist, Middle School Teacher, Music Teacher,Librarian
Leah Hellerich is a retired teacher with a BS Degree in Education from Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward, NE, and a Masters of Liberal Arts Degree from Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. She taught at Topeka Lutheran School in Topeka, Kansas, Holy Cross Lutheran School in Kansas City, MO, and in the North Kansas City School District for a total of 25 years. She has also played the organ for 42 years since graduating from CTC in 1975. She currently serves as full-time Liturgical organist and music director at Our Savior Lutheran Church. This year she is serving as one of our middle school teachers. She also serves on the Board of Christian Education and volunteers as the music teacher and librarian at Our Savior Lutheran School.
Leah Hellerich is a retired teacher with a BS Degree in Education from Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward, NE, and a Masters of Liberal Arts Degree from Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. She taught at Topeka Lutheran School in Topeka, Kansas, Holy Cross Lutheran School in Kansas City, MO, and in the North Kansas City School District for a total of 25 years. She has also played the organ for 42 years since graduating from CTC in 1975. She currently serves as full-time Liturgical organist and music director at Our Savior Lutheran Church. This year she is serving as one of our middle school teachers. She also serves on the Board of Christian Education and volunteers as the music teacher and librarian at Our Savior Lutheran School.
Alison Beach - Secretary, Science Teacher, Music Appreciation Teacher, Drama Teacher
Alison Beach and her husband Jesse have lived in Pagosa Springs for five years with their three children Evette, Joanna, and Charles. In the summer Alison's step children Marissa and Adam join the family for hiking, exploring, hot spring adventures, and family board games. Alison worked in education as a grant writer and middle school teacher prior to joining the OSLS staff. She is currently in the process of obtaining a Bachelor's of Arts - English Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University. A former opera vocalist, jazz and Americana songwriter, visual artist, and performer, Alison took on directing OSLS's 2023 play adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic: Alice In Wonderland. In addition to working as the church and school's Secretary and substitute teacher, Alison also volunteer taught the school's 2023 Drama Club. Her favorite hobbies are playing guitar, singing, writing music and poetry, reading, crocheting, hiking, and snowshoeing. The Beach family are members of Our Savior Lutheran Church.
Alison Beach and her husband Jesse have lived in Pagosa Springs for five years with their three children Evette, Joanna, and Charles. In the summer Alison's step children Marissa and Adam join the family for hiking, exploring, hot spring adventures, and family board games. Alison worked in education as a grant writer and middle school teacher prior to joining the OSLS staff. She is currently in the process of obtaining a Bachelor's of Arts - English Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University. A former opera vocalist, jazz and Americana songwriter, visual artist, and performer, Alison took on directing OSLS's 2023 play adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic: Alice In Wonderland. In addition to working as the church and school's Secretary and substitute teacher, Alison also volunteer taught the school's 2023 Drama Club. Her favorite hobbies are playing guitar, singing, writing music and poetry, reading, crocheting, hiking, and snowshoeing. The Beach family are members of Our Savior Lutheran Church.
