IT'S ALL HIS FAULT

It's all his fault that my intention to teach for 2-3 years is now ending after 51 years.  A few people have heard me say, "It's all my husband Bern's fault," meaning I am blaming or perhaps crediting him for my long career.  As I now look back, I see God's amazing plan that I never dreamt or imagined was ahead.
 

Bern and I grew up in rural Montana, graduated from the same Christian School, and headed off to Calvin College together.  We had begun dating in our junior year of High School and by the time we finished one year at Calvin we were committed to spending our futures together.  Our plan was to both become teachers--he for a lifetime, while my plan was to teach a couple years and then be a wife and mom.   God redirected our plans in an incredible way.  Bern's 45-year-old Dad died suddenly while Bern was in high school.  In order to keep the family dairy business going, each son had to miss a year of college to run the dairy.  Bern's turn came after his freshman year at Calvin.  While in Montana that year, he was called to substitute teach at the Christian School.  After 2 days of substituting he decided he had chosen the wrong career.  Not knowing what classes to take as he stood in the Calvin College registration line the next fall, he went with the suggestion of his high school classmate, who was also in line, and signed up for Pre-Med.  Needless to say, that made a degree in Education a requirement for me as I knew I would need to support his educational years ahead.

I went back to Calvin after teaching 2nd grade in Michigan for one year.  I was able to complete the undergraduate requirements in one year by attending a summer school session and taking extra credits that fall.  We were married the next summer and lived in Salt Lake City for 4 years where Bern went to Medical School and I taught a combined class of 33 first, second, and third graders. Although at the time this daunting assignment brought some tears and hard work, I now realize God was molding my heart to understand a variety of learners' strengths and challenges.  Many of the students were recent immigrants or Native Americans with little or no knowledge of the English language.  Bryce, a bright 3rd grader, was profoundly deaf due to complications from the Measles.  Bryce taught me to look for different paths to learning and to find ways to build teacher-student relationships in spite of barriers.  The training I was able to access through Bryce's needs became instrumental for a life-long journey in the teaching of reading using multi-sensory approaches.

I am and will forever be grateful to the Shoreline Christian School community for the 46 years I was given a contract to teach in so many areas.  Each year I was challenged to live out the lines in our Mission Statement that call us to celebrate the uniqueness of each student and to teach the truth that we live in God's Created World.  It has been a privilege for me to understand how individual students learn and process before I make lesson plans.  Mel Levine's book, A Mind at a Time, is a reminder that our Creator does indeed design each person uniquely.  I am also grateful that I have been able to witness the tremendous "difference-makers" some students become even when their years in school have been challenging. 

Designing and working in the Preschool and Childcare programs has been a part of my life that I will always cherish.   Recent research is still supporting that young children learn best through play.   It has been a great experience to work to establish programs that create joy-filled learning and interactions through creative and well-planned play that impacts long-lasting results for understanding relationships, problem solving, justice, and other key principles for healthy living.  I want to thank Shoreline Christian School for supporting the Preschool and Childcare programs for the past 42 years.

I also want to thank my supportive family, colleagues, parents, churches, and the school for the vision and daily commitment to be the community that strives to transform our world.  I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to partner with you.  Most of all, I praise God whose "fault" it really is that I was privileged to teach for 51 years.