Staff

Mr. Barnes graduated from the University of Nebraska Kearney (UNK) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications and Graphic Design. During his time in college, he took advantage of the study abroad program and spent a semester in Australia. He also enjoyed exploring different media including glass blowing, painting, drawing, ceramics, and screen printing. Mr. Barnes and his wife have a son and a daughter. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, playing card or board games, running, and watching tv series with his wife.

Mrs. Bolin was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. Daughter of a Navy LCMS Chaplain, she grew up in several states and even briefly lived overseas. Katie attended Concordia University in Seward for her undergraduate, receiving her Bachelor of Music in PK-12 Music Education in 2019. She married her husband, Noah, in August of 2018 and followed him to Grand Island for his job as engineer at Case IH. They have been members at Grace Lutheran Church, Grand Island for the past few years, where Katie directs the Children’s Choir. They have a daughter, Lyndsey, and one dog, Henry. She also enjoys books, movies, especially musicals, traveling, and spending time with family.

Mr. Danek grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma. From there, he went to Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska and graduated in 2004.

He started teaching at Zion Lutheran in Denison, Iowa teaching middle school science and social studies. After teaching there for 6 years, he came to Grand Island in 2010 and substitute taught for a few years before getting a job at Christ Lutheran in Juniata teaching 6-8 grade. He then taught at Trinity Lutheran in Grand Island as the 7/8 grade home room teacher and teaching middle school science and math. This is his first year at GI Lutheran High as 7th grade homeroom and jr. high teacher.

His family includes his parents who live here in Grand Island, as well as a younger sister who also teaches at Trinity.
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Favorite Bible Verse: " Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Mr. Gibson is new to us for the 2024-2025 school year. He is married to Emily and has 3 children: Andrew, Phillip, and Elizabeth. He comes to us from Indiana, but was a 2009 graduate of HLHS. Welcome Mr. Gibson!

Mr. Krall is returning to us this year after a warm stay in Florida last year. He loves the Huskers, the Phillies, and coffee. He's also excited to be on a bowling league team with other HLHS staff this year!

Mrs. Liess grew up in Grand Island. She received her Bachelor of Education and Master of Educational Administration degrees from Concordia University in Seward. She also has a Master of Physical Education degree from the University of Northern Colorado. She is married to Kevin Liess, and they have 3 children: Skyler, Jordan, and Carson. She enjoys coaching and watching her children's youth sports, traveling, playing sand volleyball and pickleball, board games, movies, reading, and summer weather. Her favorite color is purple, and she will rarely say no to a Dr. Pepper. Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13.

Mr. Liess was born in Grand Island and attended Trinity Lutheran and is an alumni member of the HLHS class of 2006. He received his Bachelor of Education from UNK. He is married to Chelsey Liess, and they have 3 children: Skyler, Jordan, and Carson. He enjoys traveling, Husker athletics, and spending time with family.

Mrs. Murdoch has earned her bachelor's degree in Secondary Education at UNK and her Master's degree in Political Science at UNO. She has experience as a congressional intern and staffer, a high school teacher, children's ministries director, and in working with the visually impaired. She is currently active in her children's school, various Grand Island community projects and committees, and her church. Mrs. Murdoch and her husband, Nate have four children; Bennett, Maxwell, Evelyn and Rutheah. In her spare time, she enjoys going to her children's sporting events and activities. She is very excited to take on teaching social studies at Heartland Lutheran!

Naomi grew up in Crete, Nebraska, and then attended Concordia University, Nebraska. After graduating with a B.Mus. Music Education PreK-12 in May of 2017, she moved to Grand Island to teach at Trinity. Naomi teaches music, art, and technology for grades K-6. She will serve as the 7-12 counselor at GI Lutheran this year.
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Her parents are Nathan and Nellie Ristvedt, and she has three siblings: Joel (Karle and Finn), Caleb, and Tabitha.

Naomi enjoys making music of all kinds and plays the flute, saxophone, piano, and sings. In any possible free time, she likes to read, write, shop, watch movies, and spend time with family and friends.
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Favorite Bible Verse: "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)

Mrs. Schrage joined the HLHS staff in April 2020. She has been a part of the school since 2018 when her son, Sam, started attending HLHS. She is originally from Texas and moved to Nebraska in 1998. She is married to Glen Schrage, and they have one son, Sam, and a daughter-in-law, Mollie. Mrs. Schrage enjoys hanging out with family and watching and cheering on the Red Hornets!

Mrs. Zehendner has been teaching at HLHS since the very beginning. In that time, she has served many roles, including yearbook advisor, history teacher, and volleyball coach. Her family includes her husband, Chuck, and their three children: Taylor (HLHS ‘18), Jessica (HLHS ‘21), and Colton. Mrs. Zehendner and her family live on a farm near Pleasanton and are members of Zion Lutheran in Kearney.