Our Pastor and Staff 

Calvary Lutheran Church is blessed to have an incredible team of professional staff who work together to support the ministries of the congregation and
preschool in Post Falls, Idaho.

PASTOR MATT - Rev. Matthew L. Erickson, M.Div., M.Th.

PRE-SCHOOL STAFF

DIRECTOR & TEACHER - Mrs. Jodene Meehan

TEACHER - Mrs. Samantha McGrath

TEACHER'S AIDE - Kathryn Taylor

TEACHER'S AIDE - Ashlyn McKluskie

Rev. Matthew L. Erickson, M.Div., M.Th.
E-mail Pastor Matt

Pastor Matt is so thankful for the love and work of Jesus in his life. He is a father who is called to serve as pastor to Calvary Lutheran Church in Post Falls. Matthew is a disciple of Jesus, humbly seeking to do God’s will while leaning completely and fully on God’s grace. During the school year the highlight of Pastor Matt’s week is Pre-school chapel and he looks forward to every opportunity he gets to interact with the pre-school students.

Pastor Matt lives in Post Falls with his three daughters: Linnea, Sonja, and Mira. Life in the Erickson house is full of baking, hiking, Lego, ski adventures, and gentle love. Matt and his girls love Post Falls and are blessed to make their home here.

Pastor Matt has a Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Masters of Theology from Luther Seminary. He has over a decade of full-time ministry experience plus several years of part-time ministry experience. He has a deep passion for theology which means he loves to wrestle alongside you as you seek answers to life's deep questions. 

If you’re looking for a way to get to know Pastor Matt better, or even better to allow him to get to know you, the easiest way is to invite him out for a cup of coffee or a glass of beer. 

FAVORITE CHILDREN’S BOOK: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton.

FAVORITE BIBLE PASSAGE: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2: 8-10

PRE-SCHOOL STAFF

We are blessed and thankful to have experienced, professional staff working for our preschool. At Calvary Lutheran Preschool in Post Falls, we ensure that our team has the training needed to support your child, not only in their growth and learning academically, but also spiritually.

Our Post Falls preschool staff takes continuing education classes every year, so their teaching skills are fresh and current. Some of their recent courses include kindergarten readiness, phonemic awareness, and Love ‘n Logic.

All Calvary Lutheran Preschool staff members have passed a thorough background check and remain current in their infant/child CPR and first aid certifications. We are accredited through the State of Idaho as part of the Idaho Stars program.

MRS. JODENE MEEHAN, DIRECTOR & TEACHER
E-mail Mrs. Meehan

Mrs. Meehan has been with Calvary Lutheran Preschool in Post Falls, Idaho since 1996. She became the director in 2001. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on Early Childhood Development and a minor in Computer Science from the University of Montana. Prior to joining Calvary Lutheran Preschool, Mrs. Meehan taught in the public school system for six years. She loves spending time with her husband, Jim, and their three active daughters. All of her daughters attended Calvary Lutheran Preschool in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. In her free time, Mrs. Meehan enjoys playing volleyball, working with kids of all ages, coaching, reading, and gardening.

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

FAVORITE CHILDREN’S BOOKS: Bark George by Jules Feiffer and Go Dog Go, Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

ONE OF HER MEMORABLE PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCES:
"One of my favorite memories as a teacher was when a boy in my class, Marcus, had just finished passing out a snack. He sat down to eat his granola bar when suddenly he started to rip off his shirt. I was so shocked, as he was a very quiet boy, and I didn't know what to think. Mrs. Howard started laughing and asked him what he was doing. It turns out, he had passed out Hulk granola bars and was transforming into the Hulk."

MRS. SAMANTHA MCGRATH, TEACHER

Mrs. McGrath has been a part of Calvary Lutheran Church since 2013.  She has volunteered with children’s church, church council, and the preschool board.  Her two boys loved their time at the preschool and Sam volunteered for years before becoming a Teacher’s Aide and eventually a teacher.  Sam is constantly growing in the craft of teaching and is enrolled in North Idaho College’s Child Development Program.  Sam loves spending time with her boys and husband, Ryan, especially when they are camping or hanging out at the coast

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE:“Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14

FAVORITE CHILDREN’S BOOKS: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown 

ONE OF HER MEMORABLE PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCES:
Seeing the look on a child’s face when they realize they learned something new that they didn’t think they could do is always a rewarding experience.  My favorite was seeing the transformation in a very shy girl who didn’t want to say the alphabet out loud at the beginning of the year, who at the end of the year was saying it all loudly and proudly and then giving me a hug.  

MS. KATHRYN TAYLOR, TEACHER'S AIDE

Kathryn Taylor was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She’s lived in Alaska, Washington, California, Montana and Idaho. She is a graduate of the University of Idaho and is happy to be back in Idaho. Kathryn has four kids: Wesley, Asher, Finnegan and Piper. Kathryn is happy to have multiple children who have attended Calvary Lutheran. She has enjoyed being a Calvary parent as well as a staff member. Kathryn loves spending time with family and friends, traveling, quilting, painting and reading.

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Corinthians 13:13

FAVORITE CHILDREN’S BOOKS: Love You Forever by
Robert Munsch

ONE OF HER MEMORABLE PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCES:
“Picking up my kids after preschool is always a favorite part of my day, especially getting to listen as they share their stories and show me what they made at school. I love seeing how much the grow and learn over the year.”

MRS. ASHLYN MCLUSKIE, TEACHER’S AIDE

Mrs. McLuskie attended North Idaho College and complete requirements for the Nursing Program, but God had other plans for her, and brought children into her life.  Ashlyn and her husband, Gage, share two children Rose and Leon.  Gage has been a part of the calvary family since he was a child and their two kiddos have been in the preschool.  Ashlyn is so excited to work with preschoolers as working with young kiddos has always been a dream of hers.  She and her family enjoy hiking, reading gardening, homemaking, and spending time with all the people she loves

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE:“Above all hold unfailing love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8

FAVORITE CHILDREN’S BOOKS: Charlotte’s Web  by E. B. White

ONE OF HER MEMORABLE PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCES:
At the end of the school year, when the preschool had a “Field Day,” I was able to join the class while everyone was playing outside.  The teachers painted the student’s feet to make a Father’s day gift and watching them all laugh at the tickling of the paint brush on their toes was so cute!