My name is Barbara (Benz) Reinders. I grew up in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin with my parents, Bob and Marge Benz, and two brothers, Dave and Brian. I attended Lutheran Schools from the time I was four until I was 22: Our Redeemer Lutheran, Milwaukee Lutheran, and Concordia University. I enjoyed playing competitive sports for many years, with fast pitch softball being my favorite.
Upon graduation from Concordia in 1992 I began my teaching career at Elm Grove Lutheran School at first as a Math teacher for grades 6-8 and then as the 4th grade teacher. I was also fortunate enough to be able to coach softball and basketball.
In 1995 I accepted a call to be a volunteer missionary to St. Petersburg, Russia. I spent two years there teaching Sunday school, Bible studies, and even math to students from 9 different countries at the International Christian School. While there I dated an amazing fellow missionary, Douglas Reinders, who was serving in Moscow. At the end of our second year of missionary service, we got married.
After getting married, Doug and I moved to Nizhniy Novgorod for 3 ½ years of service and then back to St. Petersburg for 2 ½ more years. During our missionary time our three children, Nicole, Nicolas, and Joel, were born. In 2003 my family returned to the States, so that my husband could earn his S.T.M. from the Seminary in St. Louis. In August of 2004 I accepted my present call to teach Middle School at Celebration Lutheran School in Appleton, Wisconsin where I teach technology, math, science, religion, and social studies for grades 6-8.
I enjoy working with students and their families and helping them to love the Lord and understand the world that He has given us. Each individual child has been gifted with a unique set of skills and abilities as well as challenges. It is my mission to encourage and develop the areas of strength and identify and work on the areas of challenge. I believe that we all can continue to improve, and so I demand that students never give up, have a positive attitude, and receive the support and encouragement that they need to grow.
In my spare time I love to read, take long walks with my husband, spend time with my family, watch TV, and bake.