Samuel “Sam” Eckman is the inaugural principal of Christ the King Lutheran High School, opening Fall 2026. With over two decades of experience in Lutheran education, he is deeply committed to Christ-centered learning, relationship-driven leadership, and long-term faith formation. Born in Thailand and raised on his family’s farm in South Alabama, Sam is one of four Eagle Scout brothers and a proud Auburn Tiger fan. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Education from Concordia University Nebraska and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University Portland. Since 2005, he has served at Immanuel Lutheran School in Washington, Missouri, as a 7th-grade teacher and most recently as Assistant Principal. Called in 2025 to serve as the founding principal of Christ the King Lutheran High School, Sam is dedicated to building a sustainable, Christ-centered environment supported by compassionate teachers and students. He and his wife, Robbi, have been married nearly 20 years and live in Washington, Missouri, with their children, Daphne and Dylan, and their dog, Winona “Winnie,” and are active members of Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Donna Krull is a lifelong Lutheran and educator with 29 years of experience teaching mathematics and will serve as a math teacher at Christ the King Lutheran High School. She currently teaches multiple math courses at Union High School, and is the chair the Math Department. Krull is passionate about connecting mathematics to God’s creation, often expressing her awe at the “mathematical patterns and infinite complexity” the Lord has woven into the world. She is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Washington. Krull holds a BS in Math Education from Missouri State University and an MS in Education from Southwest Baptist University, with certification in grades 7–12 mathematics. She and her husband, Phillip, have four children and enjoy homesteading-style hobbies including gardening, canning, raising chickens, beekeeping, and cooking.

Leah Preus joins Christ the King Lutheran High School as our science teacher, bringing a strong background in biology, mathematics, and data-driven research. She holds a Master of Arts in Biostatistics from the State University of New York at Buffalo and bachelor’s degrees in both Biology and Mathematics from Bethany Lutheran College. Preus has been recognized with multiple academic awards and has contributed to several peer-reviewed scientific publications. A lifelong Lutheran, she is excited to integrate faith into her science instruction, helping students think critically, ask meaningful questions, and explore God’s creation through both academic study and a Christ-centered lens. Preus is married to Rev. Andrew Preus and mother of seven children.

Stacy Landers, retired Principal Engineer at Honeywell National Security Campus in Kansas City, is the General Shop Teacher for CTK. Stacy was first a Certified Public School Shop Teacher in Washington. His college training included woodworking, machining, electronics, and sheet metal. Stacy met his wife, Linda Martin, in Washington. Stacy and Linda moved to Kansas City, where he took a position as an Associate Process Engineer writing detailed instructions for assembly of military radars and other electronics. While working, he attended engineering school at night. His career lasted for 40 years until retirement and return to the Washington area and their home near New Haven. Shannan Robinson is their daughter and a 2nd grade teacher at Immanuel Lutheran School in Washington, MO. After retirement, Stacy taught classes as an adjunct professor at East Central College. During his career at Honeywell, he became the lead engineer for development and assembly of SMT (Surface Mount Electronics), such as we see in computers and cell phones today. He was the Chairman of Trustees at Immanuel for four years, continuing as a trustee today. A large part of his career was spent training production operators with little experience in the processes used to build complex electronics, utilizing many different processes evolving from all manual to automated assembly and reverse engineering of printed wiring assemblies. Production problem solving was a never-ending component as the products were constantly evolving and complex. Some of these products became part of the nation’s defense systems. A lifetime of learning has been his experience. He says the future requires never-ending learning.