Meet Our Staff
The Rev. Andrew L. Packer - Pastor and Teacher
Pastor Packer was ordained and installed as the pastor of Our Savior on June 24, 2012. God has blessed him with Destiny, his wife of 20 years, and with seven children – Ethan, Abigail, Allison, Olivia, Lucy, Micah, and Magdalena. He has a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Simpson University, Redding, California (2002), and a M.Div. from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana (2012). He has also served as an Associate Editor of The Steadfast Lutherans website and has served on the Board of Directors for Wittenberg Academy.
Pastor Packer was ordained and installed as the pastor of Our Savior on June 24, 2012. God has blessed him with Destiny, his wife of 20 years, and with seven children – Ethan, Abigail, Allison, Olivia, Lucy, Micah, and Magdalena. He has a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Simpson University, Redding, California (2002), and a M.Div. from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana (2012). He has also served as an Associate Editor of The Steadfast Lutherans website and has served on the Board of Directors for Wittenberg Academy.
The Rev. Weslie Odom - Headmaster and Middle School Teacher
Pastor Odom was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry in 2012, and served two congregations in Texas as Pastor prior to being installed as Associate Pastor, Headmaster, and Teacher as OSLC. He and his wife, Kristina, have been married for 11 years, and have been blessed with four children -- Edith, Johannes, Magnus, and Kasper. He holds a BFA from the Savannah College of Art & Design as well as a MDiv. from Concordia Theological Seminary. He has published a variety of works in many different publications, and especially enjoys translating works into English and the task of editing. Pastor Odom is excited for the coming year, and is greatly looking forward to the work of teaching at Our Savior Lutheran School. His prayer is that he be a blessing to the students, parents, faculty, church, and community.
Pastor Odom was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry in 2012, and served two congregations in Texas as Pastor prior to being installed as Associate Pastor, Headmaster, and Teacher as OSLC. He and his wife, Kristina, have been married for 11 years, and have been blessed with four children -- Edith, Johannes, Magnus, and Kasper. He holds a BFA from the Savannah College of Art & Design as well as a MDiv. from Concordia Theological Seminary. He has published a variety of works in many different publications, and especially enjoys translating works into English and the task of editing. Pastor Odom is excited for the coming year, and is greatly looking forward to the work of teaching at Our Savior Lutheran School. His prayer is that he be a blessing to the students, parents, faculty, church, and community.
Emily Martinez - Preschool Director and Butterfly Room (Pre-K)
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.
Jordan Helmberger - Caterpillar Room (3-year-olds)
Jordan graduated high school in Pagosa Springs in 2012, where she then went to college to obtain her Elementary teaching degree. She graduated with her BA in Elementary Education with an added endorsement in Culturally Linguistically Diverse Education and received her Teaching License from the state of Colorado in 2018. This is her second year teaching the 3-4-year olds at Our Savior Lutheran Preschool. She is thrilled to be part of the Lutherans school’s family!
Jordan graduated high school in Pagosa Springs in 2012, where she then went to college to obtain her Elementary teaching degree. She graduated with her BA in Elementary Education with an added endorsement in Culturally Linguistically Diverse Education and received her Teaching License from the state of Colorado in 2018. This is her second year teaching the 3-4-year olds at Our Savior Lutheran Preschool. She is thrilled to be part of the Lutherans school’s family!
Karla Choat - Kindergarten Teacher
Karla Choat earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree at Ringling College of Art + Design with a focus on Art History and Printmaking. She later continued her studies at Colorado State University where she earned her Masters of Fine Arts Degree where she taught undergraduates how to hang museum quality exhibitions. Karla guided and instructed children and adults alike to ride horses at Lost Creek Ranch in Moose, WY where she was the Head Wrangler for close to ten years. Her career as an educator began at Our Savior Lutheran School where she was the Assistant Kindergarten and First Grade Teacher, and the following year the Lead Kindergarten Teacher. After dedicating herself to getting Pagosa Peak Open School started in 2017 as Lead Kindergarten teacher, she is delighted to have returned to Our Savior Lutheran School. Karla loves to travel with her husband and two daughters around the world and loves to share her global perspective with her students. Her love of God, commitment to her students, and high expectations, deliver high achievement among her class as she inspires little life long learners.
Karla Choat earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree at Ringling College of Art + Design with a focus on Art History and Printmaking. She later continued her studies at Colorado State University where she earned her Masters of Fine Arts Degree where she taught undergraduates how to hang museum quality exhibitions. Karla guided and instructed children and adults alike to ride horses at Lost Creek Ranch in Moose, WY where she was the Head Wrangler for close to ten years. Her career as an educator began at Our Savior Lutheran School where she was the Assistant Kindergarten and First Grade Teacher, and the following year the Lead Kindergarten Teacher. After dedicating herself to getting Pagosa Peak Open School started in 2017 as Lead Kindergarten teacher, she is delighted to have returned to Our Savior Lutheran School. Karla loves to travel with her husband and two daughters around the world and loves to share her global perspective with her students. Her love of God, commitment to her students, and high expectations, deliver high achievement among her class as she inspires little life long learners.
Susan Beaird - 1st Grade 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 this past June. 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 this past June. She loves to ski, hike and explore the world.
Aaron Longmire - 4th, 5th, 6th 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!
The Rev. John Widmer - Pastor, Lutheran Mercy Care Ministries
John has been involved in the jail ministry since 2002 and the after care ministry since 2014. As a Pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pagosa Springs, he is responsible for Jail and Prison Ministry. He serves the Archuleta and La Plata County Detention Centers and at the Guadalupe County Correctional Facility in Santa Rosa NM. He also ministers at the New Mexico Prison as a member of the New Mexico Chapter of Kairos Prison Ministry International. John brings a unique perspective to the ministry as he has seen both sides of the fence and shares his testimony at workshops, conferences, and with inmates.
John has been involved in the jail ministry since 2002 and the after care ministry since 2014. As a Pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pagosa Springs, he is responsible for Jail and Prison Ministry. He serves the Archuleta and La Plata County Detention Centers and at the Guadalupe County Correctional Facility in Santa Rosa NM. He also ministers at the New Mexico Prison as a member of the New Mexico Chapter of Kairos Prison Ministry International. John brings a unique perspective to the ministry as he has seen both sides of the fence and shares his testimony at workshops, conferences, and with inmates.
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.
