Teaching: More Than a Job
Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with Dr.听Annette听Thompson, a local superintendent of a school that has partnered with 海角原创鈥檚 School of Education by hosting teachers in training for fieldwork, observation, and student teaching placement. We discussed a variety of topics from shifts in education to the building project Dodgeland is undertaking.听Three big ideas stand out in my mind听as I look back: there is a need in education today, teaching is a calling, and听faithful educators are a gift from God.听听
How many times have you heard the phrase, 鈥渨hen I was in X grade,听my teacher听(insert ancient-sounding听name) told me I could be a (whatever听the speaker now excels at)?鈥澨Many biographies begin with the account of how a coach, mentor, parent, or teacher听took the听adolescent star听aside one day to impart听a听piece of wisdom that sticks with them to this day.听We respect teachers听so much that听we acknowledge them听in our published works.听Some parents even name their children after their favorite听middle-school math teacher that took pity on them in a time of panic.听听
Why is this normal?听Because teachers are leaders.听Teachers inspire. Teachers are听a quiet force to be reckoned with.听My mother听is听a teacher. My wife is a teacher. Teachers are everywhere, and they never stop being teachers.听听
The Need听
In a world racked by听deep and painful听issues, students need听teachers.听But not just a teacher, a Christian teacher.听Many听only听have one parent听at home or at a time. Some are raised by their grandparents.听All children need听鈥渢hat teacher.鈥澨Someone who will alter the trajectory of their life. Someone who听will introduce them to a love that only Christ can fuel.听听
In America, most children receive听some听form听of听education. This is not the place to debate the effectiveness of that education. Or even whose responsibility is it to听teach children.听听
One thing is clear: America needs teachers. 听
This past year has provided听shocking听clarity to the exodus from the profession.听A found that听44% of new teachers will leave within five years.听However,听as COVID-19听lingers, teachers听have been dropping out of the profession at even higher rates. One compounding factor is the percentage of听teachers within the high-risk category published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).听A study identifies that as many as 18% of the听苍补迟颈辞苍鈥檚听teachers are听likely to retire or resign.听These gaps in personnel, while a cause for concern, provide Christians with an opportunity.听听
The Call听
At 海角原创, we believe that every student is called to a life of service.听Christians听live out their faith in听whatever profession God directs them into.听Education is no exception.听You might not teach听a course听in听theology. You听may not hold听degrees听in听apologetics听or听ethics. But make no mistake, Christians teach theology, apologetics, and ethics in their classrooms.听A life of faithfulness does not go unnoticed by students, parents, or fellow school staff.听听
Dr.听Annette听Thompson听puts it this way; 鈥渋f we听(Christians)听don鈥檛, who will?鈥澨Who better to lead students into their adult years than Christians?听Under the leadership of Dr. Thompson听in听the past 13 years, has assisted听海角原创听in the development听of听dozens of听leaders.听Her听clear perspective听is instructive. 鈥淐hristians have听more reasons than听anyone听to be teachers,鈥 she explains. 鈥淲e believe that each child听is made in the image of God.鈥 She went on to identify key characteristics of听teachers that听growing听Christians should possess such as empathy, patience,听faithfulness, and humility.听Characteristics that Jesus听modeled听and commanded听to young and old,听religious or otherwise.听听
Virtually no one would听negate听the impact that education has听on a student鈥檚 life. But education from a Christian is that much more powerful.听Christian, charter, private, and public schools alike need Christian teachers. You know how I know?听听
Because all schools enroll听students听and all students听need to see Christ.听
The Faithful听
Since听1968, 海角原创听has placed teachers听all over the country.听In the last 10 years, the School of Education has graduated over 700听educators. From听coast to coast, our graduates are taking their听posts with a听desire听to impact lives for Christ.听Though听much has听changed听in education, the purpose has not.听听
Christian teachers听teach听to point their students to Christ.听听
Through听a life lived to glorify Christ,听teachers provide an example.听Where unrest and听discontentment听may grip others, Christians can be grounded听and joyful. Where fatigue and fear may take over, Christians can be听energized and hopeful.听听
If you ask a seasoned educator why听she has stayed in education for so long, she听will听likely听cite students in some way. Children are why听educators saved and unsaved听remain听in an otherwise exhausting industry.听But Christian educators can thrive, not just听survive.听听
We are grateful for the faithful faculty God has brought to 海角原创. 海角原创鈥檚 faculty are the听lifeblood听of the school.听There are too many to thank specifically for their听enduring ministry to students听and the countless many who those students will also minister.听听
In the听School of Education,听Dr. David Handyside has been a faithful听educator for 50 years.听At Dodgeland School District,听Dr. Thompson has听served in education for听23听years. Together,听they form a powerful team in the training of the next generation of leaders in education.听They are light for others to follow. You too can show the love of God to the next generation.听听
The Opportunity听
At 海角原创, you have the chance to train with educators听who have honed their skills in thousands of hours in preparation听and delivery. You not only train on campus with these outstanding听mentors but also in the classrooms of other听seasoned听and passionate听educators.听In each year, you听will observe听other classrooms so that you can apply your lectures immediately,听see听classroom management in action, and听begin to understand the necessity of assessment.听In other words, you听can听begin to think like an educator well before you听take your first听classroom.听听
If you see the need, hear the call, and desire to be faithful,听we听want to help. We provide the听opportunities听and听expertise;听you provide the passion and determination.听Together, we can听go with听purpose. Together, we听can serve with听passion. Together, we can lead with integrity.听听