Meet Nathan Wingfield: The Indiana District’s New Education Executive
The Indiana District is pleased to welcome Nathan Wingfield as its new Executive of Christian Education in June. With a decade of experience in Lutheran education—half of that as a school administrator—Nathan brings a blend of humility, conviction, and joyful energy to the role.
“I’m really excited,” he says with a smile, speaking from his middle school classroom at Trinity Lutheran in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. “I wasn’t expecting a role like this to come up, but I see it as an opportunity to support our schools and the people who serve in them.”
A Winding Path to the Classroom
Nathan’s journey into education wasn’t straightforward. “I started in secondary math ed at Concordia Chicago and didn’t love it,” he laughs. “I ended up transferring to Concordia Nebraska for physical therapy. I graduated and had even been accepted into PT school when my home congregation had a teacher resign just two weeks before the school year started. I stepped in to help for what I thought would be a year—and I never looked back.”
That “fill-in” year turned out to be the beginning of a vocation. “It’s probably still my favorite year of teaching,” he recalls. “I loved that class. By the end of the year, I knew I wanted to stay in education.”
After earning his teaching license, Nathan eventually found himself in school leadership—initially by necessity. “We had two principals in a row leave after a year, and I was asked to serve as interim. That one year turned into five,” he says. He earned his master’s in administration along the way and has remained deeply engaged in both classroom teaching and school governance ever since.
Passion for Lutheran Education
Nathan has taught all ten years of his career in Lutheran schools—first in Greenfield, Wisconsin, and more recently at Trinity in Sheboygan, where he currently teaches math and science and serves as athletic director. He’s also been involved with broader initiatives, including the board of the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee.
It was that breadth of experience and collaboration that sparked his interest in serving at the district level. “When I was contacted about the Indiana District position, I was surprised. But I’ve always enjoyed the interview process—it’s a chance to think on your feet, ask questions, and grow. The more I learned, the more excited I became.”
His conversations during the deliberation process confirmed what many already know: the Indiana District is a special place. “There’s so much opportunity here,” Nathan says. “Indiana has one of the strongest school choice programs in the country. That opens doors for families who might not otherwise consider a Lutheran education.”
Meeting Today’s Challenges
Nathan is clear-eyed about the challenges Lutheran schools face today. “Workforce issues are big. We have many experienced church workers nearing retirement and not as many entering the field. That’s a concern. We need to think creatively about how we recruit, support, and retain teachers and administrators.”
He also highlights the importance of financial modeling and long-term planning—especially in smaller schools where financial roles are often filled by volunteers. “Accreditation processes are starting to address this, but it’s something we need to keep working on,” he says.
And yet, even with the challenges, Nathan remains hopeful. “There’s such a faithful legacy in our schools,” he says. “I want to help build on that by supporting our administrators and teachers where they are and helping them focus on what they’re called to do—teach and form students in the faith.”
A Leadership Style Rooted in Service
Nathan’s leadership philosophy is shaped by his faith and a strong sense of humility. “I know I don’t have all the answers—and I’ll never pretend to,” he says. “But I believe deeply in collaboration. There’s so much collective wisdom in this district. I want to tap into that and connect our leaders and teachers in different areas.”
He also describes himself as “curious and competitive”—someone who enjoys asking questions, challenging assumptions, and seeking improvement. “As a principal, I always wanted to be evaluating: Are we being faithful? Are we doing what we say we’re doing? Are we supporting our teachers and schools well?”
His goals in this new role are clear: “I want people to see the district office as a place of support. I want administrators to know that I’m here to help them do the good work they’re already doing.”
Faith and Family
For Nathan, faith isn’t just part of the curriculum—it’s central to everything. “Education is about forming the whole student. That means helping them grow in their faith and see how it shapes all of life—not just Sunday mornings.”
That conviction is personal. His own family came to Lutheranism through a Sunday school invitation when his grandfather was in second grade. “That’s how they came to the faith,” he says. “And it reminds me how important these schools are for outreach, too.”
Nathan and his wife, a trained art teacher who stays home with their four children—Grace, Mary, Gideon, and Naomi—are preparing to relocate to Indiana this summer. “Our kids are excited. We’re excited,” he says. “We’ve been coming to Fort Wayne for years to visit family, and it already feels a bit like home.”
Looking Ahead
Nathan will begin his new role after finishing the school year in Sheboygan. He looks forward to being introduced at the Indiana District Convention in June, attending the administrator conference in July, and visiting as many schools as possible in the months to come.
“I hope people feel like they can reach out. I’m here to listen, learn, and serve,” he says. “I want to be the kind of partner who helps schools flourish in their local context. And I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
Welcome to the Hoosier State, Nathan—we’re glad you’re here!