Graduation Year(s): 2002, 2012
Major(s): B.A. in Elementary Education, M.A. in Teaching
Current Position/Job Title: Grammar School Principal, Gloria Deo Academy
City and State: Springfield, Missouri
Tell us about your career and what you do now.
I have been an elementary school teacher, teaching grades K-6, for 15 years. After graduating from Evangel in 2002, my husband (Michael) and I moved to Guam for 8 years. We served together at a small Assemblies of God school in Guam and I was also able to teach at the K-12 college prep school where I had been a student for most of my school career. We moved back to Missouri in 2010 to finish my M.A. and start a family. When my oldest daughter was ready to start kindergarten, I went back into teaching. I taught at Gloria Deo Academy – a Christian classical school with a university style schedule, where my daughter started attending. We have two daughters that attend GDA and love the Christian classical model. I also started teaching online at TCK International Academy, through the Assemblies of God, serving our Third Culture Kids living both stateside and abroad. I served as the Elementary Principal for TCKIA from 2020-2023. I have been serving as a Grammar School (PreK-6) Principal for Gloria Deo Academy at the Nixa campus for the last 6 years and have had the pleasure of working with a great team of teachers and administrators there for the last 10 years.
Tell us one achievement or accomplishment that stands out in your career!
It has been a joy to serve in Christian education with the goal of shaping young people for the future through a Biblical worldview. I have considered it an honor to be a part of a great team of educators that are also believers in Christ and who also value the discipleship of Christian young people to shape these future world changers and leaders in the making! One thing that stands out to me in my career as an educator, having grown up overseas as a Third Culture Kid, was to be able to relate and minister to students and families that are also serving in that capacity all over the world. It was a privilege to serve them in both a teaching and administrative capacity. Every school that the Lord has directed me to during my career has brought me in contact with people that have taught me so much and those that I will consider friends for life. I am truly grateful for serving amidst such incredible brothers and sisters in Christ.
What is your favorite memory from your time as a student?
One of my favorite memories is getting to go on a missions trip with the children’s ministry group at EU. We went to Nicaragua to serve there together.
How did your school help you identify/develop your calling?
I felt that the Lord specifically called me to Evangel. I had planned to attend a different university, however, at an altar call, I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me specifically about this school. I knew the funding would be my confirmation. I had never been on the campus and had no family in town. I was moving from overseas to live in the U.S. and it could have potentially been very difficult for
me, culturally. However, when I signed up for a tour of the campus after already enrolling, I felt a tangible peace that this was where I was supposed to be. Evangel had a wonderful education program. I was not sure that I wanted to be a teacher until I took some of the education courses there and that “sealed the deal” for me. Evangel had a team of wonderful mentors and gifted teachers in their Education program and I learned so much from them.
How did your experience as a student prepare you for life after graduation?
Evangel provided a safe and loving environment for me to grow into adulthood. The friends, professors, and mentors I made there were all part of what shaped me into the young adult I was becoming. Learning the responsibility of juggling school, work, and community life (sports, clubs, social time, etc.) was a great learning experience for me. Being a part of the graduate studies after years in the classroom also helped me grow in my career choice as a master teacher.
What advice would you give a current student preparing for the workforce?
Be humble; accept and seek out advice from godly mentors that you trust. Look for opportunities to learn from whatever experiences you have – especially difficult ones.
What would you look for if you were in a position to hire new graduates from
Evangel?
I would look for someone who isn’t afraid to ask questions and admit when they need guidance or help. All too often, I have seen young and inexperienced teachers struggle or not be successful because they thought they could do everything on their own and they didn’t want to admit that they needed help.
Recognizing both your strengths and weaknesses and being able to ask for advice in those areas is such a valuable/lifelong skill to have.