I vividly remember meeting Esther Sprengler my first few weeks at East Fork in Whiteriver, Arizona. From my front porch each morning, I’d watch Esther’s car pull up to school. The stray dog would greet her, excitedly wagging its tail. She was an older woman, but filled with energy. One day she came into my room with an armload of construction paper. The next day, she came in with a whole bunch of reading games. Her spirit was generous, and she’d often tell a story that ended with abundant laughter. Esther was a busy woman; a mother of four sons and grandmother of eight. But she always had time for you. East Fork Lutheran School has a long, rich history. Thanks to people, like Esther, it is the special place it is today.
Esther’s story actually begins at East Fork. At the Lutheran high school, her parents fell in love. Her father was white, son of WELS missionary, Ernst Sprengler. Her mother was a member of the San Carlos Apache tribe. Esther was born in the San Carlos Apache Reservation in 1959. She lived there shortly before moving north to the Fort Apache Reservation.
Her time at East Fork began as a student. Although school was a special place for her, it held many challenges. Her parents’ interracial marriage led to bullying from both the Native and white societies; it was hard to fit into one or the other. But her parents were still her biggest role models. They led by an example of hard work and taught their children to never give up. This mentality stuck with Esther. She first began to serve East Fork’s nursery back in the 1980s. This led to teaching Sunday School, leading women’s groups, and cleaning the church sanctuary. Esther’s dream, though, was to teach science. This didn’t happen right away. She worked in schools as a secretary, teacher assistant, and parent liaison before becoming a certified teacher in the state of Arizona.
When I first met Esther in 2023, she was hired by the district as a reading intervention teacher. Amazingly, the district assigned Esther to East Fork. This was a blessing for Esther to be near her grandchildren and her family of faith. Also what a blessing for East Fork! We value our Christian educators and here Esther was placed by the state. Esther was moved a few years later to another school and retired. However, in 2025 she had a homecoming: to teach social studies and Apache culture at East Fork. With her guidance students beaded immaculate jewelry, key chains, and bolo ties. East Fork has blessed Esther through her interactions with the students. She loves how the children remember you up through adulthood and continue to call you by your name (or name you held at that era). She wishes her students to continue to go to church, to pray about daily things not just for themselves, but others also, and to give thanks, always. Esther is no longer in the classroom, but her time at East Fork has continued. Her new challenge: getting us on the National School Lunch Program. Esther’s life makes me think of Paul’s note to the Corinthians, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). The roles Esther’s held as mother, grandmother, teacher, secretary, and lunch coordinator have served so many. The challenge of being a white and Apache woman, she has transformed into a strength. God has blessed East Fork and the surrounding community with Esther’s many gifts!
Written by Elsa Ponath, teacher at East Fork Lutheran School, Whiteriver, Ariz.
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