Mrs. Maassel graduated from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso,
Indiana in 1986 with degrees in psychology and pre-physical
therapy. She continued on to the University of Maryland at
Baltimore and completed a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy in
1988. Shawn worked as a physical therapist in the St. Mary’s
County, Maryland school system full time until she and her husband
had their first child. She spent the next 9 years raising three
children, volunteering at their schools and at church (First
Lutheran) and doing home care physical therapy part time. In 1998,
when First Lutheran sought additional ministerial staff, Shawn
prayerfully and enthusiastically took the opportunity to apply for
the position of Minister of Family Life, Youth and Education. She
officially joined the staff at First Lutheran in this capacity in
September of 1999. In June, 2006, she
completed a Director of Christian Education colloquy program with
Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Our
Director of Christian Education oversees the family, youth and
education ministries of First Lutheran. Mrs. Maassel also serves as
the Administrative Director of Little Lambs Preschool. She teaches
our middle school confirmation program and finds joy in sharing a
message with the youngest children of the congregation each Sunday
during our worship services. Shawn is a certified group fitness
instructor with Body & Soul Ministries and is active in the Calvert
County community (Calvert County Interagency Council for Children
and Families, the American Red Cross and Safe Nights Steering
Committee.)
She
and her husband Paul reside in St. Leonard, Maryland with two sons
and a daughter.