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Share your story of how you came to be where you are in Christian education. Have you shared this story with your students?
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I had a strong calling into Christian education my second year of college. In many ways I feel like Forest Gump, mostly unqualified and surprised where God has put me. In looking back I see so many seeming random experiences that flow together now in a way that points to God’s providence. I can truly say that where I now find myself was a clear part of God’s plan.
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Unlike most people, I never really thought of becoming a teacher. I was working at a couple of places after graduating from college and did not like my job or what I did, so when a friend from the church offered me an opportunity to teach at her school, I took it up thinking that it would be temporary whilst searching for a better job. There were definitely challenges I didn’t experience when working in an office before, and because I didn’t have any teaching background classroom organization and discipline was definitely tough so I thought about quitting a couple of times. What really makes me stay is seeing how the children grow, the support I’ve received from my fellow colleagues and the chance to be able to openly share about my faith and how God help me through some of my life crisis. I always tell my students life sometimes does not turn out to be like you wanted it to be, but put your trust in the Lord and surrender to His will and He will out you where you were meant to be.
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During most of my school career I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I remember answering a journal prompt in fifth grade about being a teacher, complete with a wholly subpar drawing of myself in front of a blackboard. In high school, I was a gifted student, particularly in my English and history courses. Choir became my passion. I still wanted to pursue being a teacher, but was unsure of whether I wanted to go the music education route or do English education. After making the Texas All-State Choir my junior year, I decided to go to Baylor University for music education. I received an excellent education. I had fabulous professors who truly invested in my school career. On I went to job interviews, specifically seeking an elementary music educator job. I was eventually offered a position teaching middle school choir. I taught choir at the middle school level for six years in public school, four of those were in Texas and two were in Kentucky. It was the most draining thing, not nearly as fulfilling as I thought it would be. After my sixth year, I decided to stay home with my children and homeschool them. We had decided that the public school system was not the right choice for our family. This whole time I had been watching the progress of a new Christian school in our town from afar, secretly wishing for an opportunity to teach there. See, teaching was still my calling. The entire year I spent at home, the year prior to my oldest beginning kindergarten, I was looking for ways to get back into teaching. One day a friend of mine sent me a message over Facebook with the school looking for an English teacher in their secondary school. Remember how I was trying to decide between teaching English or music? Well, we have now come full circle. Teaching English has fit me in a way that I music never did. My job is not only fulfilling for me, but I feel as though I am finally doing what God has created me for. Teaching no longer feels like a chore. I am excited to get back to work after, most, holidays. I missed my students and teaching so much during these past two summers that I literally had to find activities to do to keep my mind away from it! I love my career, and it would not have happened without going through the rest of my struggles in the education world. I see God’s hand in every part of my journey, and I know that His will is perfect.
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I had been teaching at a private school for a number of years. Over the years I had become a part time administrator after we had a few unfortunate situations with our administration team. Our high school which I had been helping to plan had failed and I was concerned about what options my own children would have. I had considered applying for an open position at another school but felt God tell me to be still and not move in fear. A month later my headmaster shared that the head of school at another school was interested in offering me a position and I had his blessing to accept it.
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I have shared part of my story. I went to college to teach Middle and High. O worked in local schools for many years. Then I was head of a local organization that shut down due to the Pandemic. I prayed and asked God to lead me so clearly because I needed direction. The next day, I saw an ad for teachers and God tugged again on my heart. Within 2 days, I had an interview. Now I teach elementary school and I am loving it.
