Name: Tiffany Lynch
Graduation Year: 1997
Major: Elementary Education/Special Education
Current Position: Special Education Teacher
City and State: Springfield, Missouri
Tell us about your career and what you do now.
After graduating from Evangel in 1997, I began working at Pipkin Middle School in Springfield, Missouri. I taught students in cross-categorical special education classes. During this time, most of my students fluctuated between special education and regular education classes. When I started my ninth year at Pipkin, I took over the self-contained special education class from the teacher who had retired at the end of the previous year.
I stayed at Pipkin until 2015 when my husband’s job with Apple, Inc. moved us to Cork, Ireland. During this two-year hiatus, I focused on raising my children and learning about different cultures as our time in Europe permitted us to travel. My husband’s contract ended with Apple, and we moved back to the United States. In 2017, I returned to my position at Pipkin Middle School, where I teach not only the Functional Skills class, but also the Communication, Socialization, and Sensory (CSS) class in an intensive support classroom.
What is your favorite memory from Evangel?
I have a plethora of fond memories and cherished moments from the many relationships built with life-long friends whom I met while at Evangel. One of my favorites is attending the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s Night put on by the Activities Board. My friends and I had fun dressing up and watching student-led performances that were from those decades.
How did Evangel help you identify/develop your calling?
I knew God was calling me to work with children, but I was unsure in what capacity. I changed my major multiple times before finally deciding on Elementary Education and Special Education. It was during my first practicum in a special education class that I realized I had found my passion. The more time I spent in the classroom through practicums and in my education classes, the more I knew this was my calling. I am grateful to my instructors and professors for helping hone my skills and abilities to be the teacher I am today.
How did your experience at Evangel prepare you for life after graduation?
Evangel gave me the independence to develop myself and grow as a person. Being a smaller campus, Evangel allowed me the freedom of figuring out my life as an adult with the safety net of caring individuals who guided me along the way. Attending chapel daily helped me keep my focus on God, and the small class sizes helped me learn the importance of community interaction.
What advice would you give a current student preparing for the workforce?
Louis Pasteur once remarked that “luck favors the prepared.” If students want to be prepared for the workforce, then they need to find what motivates them. Motivation leads to commitment, which leads to purpose. The world, like Evangel, is interconnected, and God in his infinite wisdom gave us the ability to discover our passions for ourselves and to find how we each fit within the mosaic that is life. Fortunately, Evangel offers a multitude of extra-curricular activities and groups where students can become involved, gain experience, and build connections.
What would you look for if you were in a position to hire new graduates from Evangel?
I would look for someone who has integrity, is dedicated, and is able to collaborate well. I expect new hires to be as tenacious, if not more so, than seasoned professionals. They must be capable of adapting to situations in an ever-changing world.