Welcome, Leah Cashmer!
We're proud to announce that Leah Cashmer will be joining the Lutheran Northwest team and filling the roles of English teacher and yearbook teacher. Leah comes to us from Lutheran High School Indianapolis, and she brings recent experience as an English and history teacher and cheerleading coach. Leah also has more than 3 years of experience as a writing consultant and academic mentor at Concordia University Ann Arbor. Leah says, she loved mentoring…
“I loved mentoring because it allowed me to work with students one on one; it was always so exciting to see them grow as writers!”
Leah is from Southgate, Michigan. She graduated from Concordia University Ann Arbor, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and secondary education with a minor in theology and history. While at CUAA, Leah was involved in many campus activities, including competitive cheerleading, spiritual life and youth ministries, and academic mentoring. During her time at Lutheran High School Indianapolis, she taught, coached, and lead the yearbook club and the missions team.
At the opening LHSA meeting today, Leah’s father, Pastor Jay Cashmer from Christ the King Southgate, had the honor of officially commissioning Leah to her ministry with Lutheran Northwest.
Please warmly welcome Leah as a Crusader and get to know her through our Staff Spotlight 20 Questions below!
Staff Spotlight: Leah Cashmer
20 Questions
What’s your role at Lutheran Northwest?
English & Yearbook Teacher
Where are you from?
Southgate, MI
When did you know that you wanted to be in the Lutheran high school environment and what led you to pursue that path?
My grandmother was my 7th-grade teacher at Christ the King Lutheran School. She was an exemplary teacher and an even better example of what it means to be a Christian woman. Her teaching fostered a love for literature, and I knew that I wanted to be just like her. Since that year, I left my dreams of being a dentist behind (what was I thinking?), and pursued education.
What’s your favorite Bible verse?
Exodus 14:14 – “The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.”
What are three words to best describe you?
Reserved until not.
What was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I worked in a daycare with infants. You’d be surprised how similar infants and high school seniors are; both love to nap.
Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?
I was a gymnast and cheerleader, so I can still do a backflip.
If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?
I would like to have telekinesis, so I never have to get up for the remote.
What’s your favorite food?
I love chips and salsa.
What’s your least favorite food?
Potato salad: I don’t understand the hype.
What’s your favorite place that you’ve traveled and why?
I went to Haiti for a mission trip my senior year of college. The country is beautiful, and the people were so welcoming.
Where would you like to travel next and why?
I would love to travel to Italy - somewhat for the culture but mostly for the food.
What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?
I really love yoga! Maybe someday, I will show you a headstand.
What’s one hobby you’d like to get into?
I would love to get back into art. In high school, I took advanced art classes, but I couldn’t fit it into my schedule in college. I think it would be a relaxing hobby.
What’s your favorite sport to watch and which team do you root for?
I love watching football, and I will cheer hardest for the Crusaders of course.
Are you an early bird or a night owl? I am a night owl, which really means I drink a lot of coffee.
Are you a dog person or a cat person (neither or both)?
I am a cat person. I have a cat named Indiana Jones.
What’s one of your favorite memories from the past year?
My favorite memory was coaching my former cheerleading team to the first state appearance in school history.
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
My mom once said, “You don’t have to be perfect; you just need to be working to glorify God.”
Is there any advice you’d offer to current and future Lutheran Northwest students?
I know it’s not easy, but try to see the glass half full, and if you don’t, look again.