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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 grew up playing teacher with my friends, dolls, and stuffed animals. Teaching runs in my family. My grandpa was a pastor, my grandma was a teacher, and my dad is a pastor and was a teacher and school administrator. I just always knew that teaching is what God has called me to do. Last school year, I had the opportunity to share my testimony with the junior high and high schoolers. IT WAS AMAZING!
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I graduated from a public high school but attended a Christian college. The Lord got a hold of my life during those years in a dramatic way. When college was finished and my wedding behind me, I tried several times to apply to substitute in the public school system. Those plans kept getting thwarted for simple small reasons that actually added up to to the Lord directing my steps to the place he had for me. It was already November, but the 5th grade teacher at my school was taking over as principal, and he hired me to take over his course. I taught for a few years and then took a long hiatus to raise my own children. Two years ago I was in a position to step back into teaching as a substitute at the same school. Most of the elementary teachers I taught with all those years ago are still there. I think that is such a testimony to what a ministry Christian education can be, and to their dedication to the profession and a wonderful school. After subbing for a year, they asked me to return full time. It was such a full circle to have begun so many years ago, but be able to continue at the very same school shaping the lives of children.
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I started in Christian education and have been in other secular schools but have finally come back to a Christian school and will be able to teach where my son is in school. I am excited about being able to teach in his school and know what he is doing and who the people are that are having a huge influence on him.
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I was working as a Paraprofessional in a local public elementary school. I had been with the school system since 1997. In 2016, God opened the door for me to finish my degree in education. However, in 2017 my husband had a stroke in his brain stem. He spent a month in ICU and faced extensive therapy to relearn so many things we take for granted daily. Fast-forward to the fall of 2019, I graduated as an honor student, receiving my B.A. in Educational Studies, Kappa Delta Pi. God is good!
What I thought life would look like, is so totally different than what it actually is today. As far as “direct teaching”, it has been in the form of tutoring at a local Christian school. But through all of it, God opened the door to give me a desire He placed in my heart. I became a published children’s book author in 2020, in spite of Covid, and this fall my publisher is releasing my first “SERIES”. It’s designed to teach children how to “apply” the Word of God in their lives. I am so excited.
No matter the tribulation, trust Him. He promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Trust Him in the process. His plan for us is for good. -
I was working in an office job. Good money, good peers. However, I knew that I was supposed to be doing something else. I kept applying to other jobs and wasn’t hearing back. Still, I KNEW that I was supposed to be doing something else. So, I quit that job. Then, I applied to everything and anything that I felt God wanted me to pursue. I also bargained with God. I said I will serve as long as the job has X, Y, and Z. After receive a job offer for the school I am at now, I turned it down because of the money and the time commitment. Then, God reminded me that I was willing to serve for any job as long as I got X, Y, and Z. Guess what, X, Y and Z said nothing about money or time commitment. I had the opportunity to disobey God, but I chose to serve, and I have not regretted it since. Also, I don’t bargain with God anymore.
I have not told my students that story in that way, but they hear pieces of it.
