T. J. Heupel ’02 recognized by American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

Timothy Jay Heupel II ’02 – who goes by T.J. – was recently recognized by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) with the group’s K-12 award recognizing his outstanding contributions to world language education through the innovative use of technology. ACTFL is a national professional membership organization representing more than 12,500 language educators from all levels of instruction and all languages. 

T.J teaches Spanish at Faith Lutheran High School in Nevada and has integrated various digital tools into his classroom such as Quizlet, Memrise, Conjuguemos and Boomalang in order to foster student engagement and deepen student language skills. He has created a dynamic, interactive learning environment that goes beyond traditional teaching methods to best serve his students.  

“I decided to apply for this award in the spring of this year when I read a post on the organization’s website requesting self-nominations,” he explained. “I submitted a 17-page document that included detailed descriptions of my use of technology in Spanish language education along with letters of recommendation from two former students and a colleague. I was thrilled to win this award. I have worked hard to create more engaging learning opportunities for my students, but I never expected that my work would be considered worthy of national recognition. I did not grow up speaking Spanish, but I hope to be an example to others that this is not a reason why you cannot become proficient in another language and use it in your career. My first two years at Faith Lutheran I taught Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 classes. After my second year, I was offered the opportunity to teach Spanish 3 Honors, Spanish 4 Honors and AP Spanish Language and Culture. I had taught upper-level Spanish classes at Metro-East Lutheran, but now teaching only upper-level classes is an incredible blessing that I am thankful for every day. I think that my main task is to prepare as much as possible to motivate and challenge the great students that I work with.”  

The Lutheran school system allows teachers with the possibility to teach throughout the country and even the world. I am thankful to everyone at Concordia who made me a better person and challenged me to be the best version of myself that I can be.

T.J. grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where his father – now retired - served as a pastor. Both of T.J.’s parents attended Concordia University, St. Paul, and he had two middle school teachers who were positive role models to him who attended Concordia Nebraska. 

“They were the ones who were got me considering becoming a teacher by attending Concordia Nebraska,” he said. 

He has a bachelor of science in secondary education with concentrations in Spanish and English from Concordia Nebraska. He also has a master’s degree in Spanish language education from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  

After graduating from Concordia Nebraska, he accepted a call to teach Spanish at Metro-East Lutheran High School in Edwardsville, Illinois. In summer 2002, he moved there with his wife Jill (Kiehl) Heupel ‘00 who has a degree in psychology from Concordia Nebraska. T.J. taught in Illinois until 2015, when accepted a call to teach Spanish at Faith Lutheran, where he continues to serve today. 

“I'm so proud of my husband,” said Jill. “He learned Spanish against the odds. He is from South Dakota and had never traveled outside of the country until after he was teaching. He learned Spanish primarily in the classroom and was able to excel enough to be teaching upper-level Spanish and AP classes. He is even an AP grader in the summer. He is passionate about teaching and has a special relationship with each of his students. His students all know they are important to him, and they feel seen and valued. T.J. has never been a teacher that settles into a routine. Each day is different and well planned out. He does not recycle lesson plans from year to year. He knows the value of the school that he teaches at and strives to give students the very best classroom experiences. He has been diagnosed with either cancer that has spread or a rare autoimmune disorder in the last few weeks. Even around all of the doctor's appointments and the unknown future, he is still in the classroom as much as he can be.”  

T.J. said he has many fond memories of his time on the Concordia Nebraska campus. 

“I enjoyed the Christian-focused community among my peers and my professors. It was very enjoyable to spend each in a supportive and fun environment. I still miss it!” he said. “Like so many students, Dr. Pfabe and Dr. Roebke played key roles in helping me discover my purpose. Dr. Pfabe encouraged me to continue taking Spanish classes beyond my freshman year, and Dr. Roebke was a supportive mentor when I was homesick as a freshman.” 

He said the professors at Concordia Nebraska showed him how to be compassionate and supportive while having high academic standards for students. He added that the required classroom observations and practicums at different schools seemed tedious and at times offered painful learning experiences but provided him with valuable opportunities to make mistakes that he could learn from before having his own classroom. 

He said his time at the university also helped to strengthen his faith. 

“It is always the people, through God’s provision, who make small Christian universities special,” he said. “Chapel services, compline services, small-group devotions and other opportunities helped developed my faith.” 

Simply put, T.J. said he loves his job. 

“I enjoy working with so many students who are kind and interested in learning,” he said. “I enjoy working in a Christian community where teachers and students can share and discuss their faith. My faith is edified by conversations with teachers and students as well as weekly faculty devotions and weekly chapel services. Also, I enjoy learning and there is no better way to learn than to teach and to learn from your students input and inquiries.” 

T.J. and Jill were foster parents for 10 years when the couple lived in Illinois. They adopted four of the children they fostered. They also have two dogs, Paco and Ruthie. 

“I started out in the social work field. I worked with children in foster care and their foster parents,” explained Jill. “I used to come home and complain to T.J. about foster families who treat their biological children differently than their foster children. He eventually said ‘maybe we should foster before we have our own.’ We got licensed and fostered 10 children over 10 years. We eventually adopted our four children from the foster care system.” 

The combination of fostering in their home and Jill’s social work job became stressful for the couple, so Jill decided to pursue a career as a photographer, so she started her business Jill Heupel Photography. 

“I had always been an artist and always had a camera in my hands. I worked for a local photographer the entire time I was at Concordia,” she said. “I walked away from social work and began my career as a portrait photographer… My husband and I have found a way to overlap our businesses. He teaches many of the students that I get to photograph. He has a very caring and fun relationship with his students, and he will do just about anything to motivate them in the classroom. On request, T.J. will come along for part of a senior photoshoot and photobomb one of the images while wearing a sombrero. It has become a pretty fun thing for both of us as well as his students. It is also a way for him to be able to connect with his student's parents.” 

“When I was a public high school student in the 1990’s in Sioux Falls, I would have been dumfounded to know of God’s plans for my future,” said T.J. “At that time, I was just beginning to learn Spanish and now I am teaching upper-level Spanish classes at the best high school in Las Vegas. I would not be in this position without becoming a Lutheran teacher. The Lutheran school system allows teachers with the possibility to teach throughout the country and even the world. I am thankful to everyone at Concordia who made me a better person and challenged me to be the best version of myself that I can be.” 

The secondary education program at Concordia Nebraska provides students with the theoretical knowledge and practical application needed to be a successful high school teacher who encourages intellectual and emotional growth at a critical time in the lives of students.