Susan (Backsmeier) Kloess ’79, MA ’07 earned her BA in education and her master of education in curriculum and instruction.
Kloess is acknowledged as the catalyst for the birth of women’s track at Concordia during her sophomore year of 1976-77. She captained the team for its first three seasons and led it to an Illinois State Small College Division Championship in 1978. Kloess competed in sprints, hurdles and the long jump. She was a part of four record-setting performances during her three years of track and, through 2011, two records still stand: the 100-yard dash (12.6) and the 440-yard relay (55.6).
Upon graduation, Kloess taught at St. John Lutheran School in Niles, Ill. and later served as a private tutor. Since 1991, she has taught third grade at St. Andrews Lutheran School in Park Ridge, Ill. Kloess has served as athletic director since 1999 where her duties have included supervising the implementation of the physical education curriculum and hiring and overseeing the coaching staff. Kloess has also coached the St. Andrews’ track & field, cross country, volleyball, gymnastics and softball teams and supervised the cheerleading squad.
Kloess remains active with Concordia as an adjunct professor for physical education. She has supported Concordia’s educational mission by supervising many student teachers. Her professional memberships have included Concordia’s Board of Champions and the planning committee for Concordia’s Celebration of Fifty Years of Women’s Athletics in 2009.
Kloess has chaired and served as a committee member for the Northern Illinois District Teachers Conference. She has been a presenter on physical education at two Lutheran Education Association national convocations. Kloess has served as a member of numerous National Lutheran School Accreditation teams, authored several publications on physical education and curriculum, and lobbied at the state capital in Springfield for the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (IAHPERD).
