Since it is the last week of school and we are soon sending our students out to the freedom of summer, or to promotion to the next grade, or perhaps even to a new school, I thought it appropriate to tag some of my thoughts about my choice to move away from my alma mater after 30 years.
I have taught at Ripon Christian for 17 years after a 3 year stint in another Christian school. But I also grew up at RC, attending for 13 years, grades K-12.
I have invested back into what was originally given to me.
My parents worked hard to make sure that all 4 of us kids were able to receive the foundational Christian principles of church, home, AND school. They made ends meet to pay the tuition for all of us for 13 years each. If you want to do the math in today's world of private school tuition, that's nearly a half million dollars over the life of my 3 sisters' and my own student years at RC. And consider, that's on top of all the taxes paid to support public education for the students in our community as well. How in the world did they manage that?
Why did they commit to that?
It was an investment they made to prepare us for the world. A baby needs to be fed and changed. A toddler needs to be taught to stay away from the stove. A 4 year-old needs to be supervised near the street. A teenager needs to be taught how to drive a car and to work hard at a job. These lessons are crucial to living a healthy and prosperous life. I think education serves a similar purpose, Christian education specifically.
Is the world dangerous?
You bet it is.
Learning what to do as we move through this dangerous world is a lifelong process, and I think it is best taught by loving adults committed to training up children according to the high standards required by the Lord. Teaching at a Christian school has provided me with that platform.
I'm sure I took my Christian education for granted, and I'm sure I didn't thank my parents enough for the sacrifices they made to put me through Ripon Christian. Now that my own children are at RC, I know what my parents' sacrifice is all about...and I'm sure my children also don't yet fully appreciate their Christian education.
My mission for 20 years has been to lead kids from Christian families. And I don't regret a second of it.
For almost a year, though, I've felt led to look into leading kids from other walks of life in public education, something I never thought I'd do. It's time to begin a new adventure and be that light out in the public school setting. It's time for a new mission, a different assignment.
When I was considering my profession way back when, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but through much prayer and encouragement from others I took the plunge into education and found out I loved connecting with kids. Over the years I have been blessed with many supportive families at RC who have joined with me in holding high expectations for their kids, and I am appreciative for the faith building that goes on here. I have worked for and with wonderful people who challenge me to be a better teacher and who are also receptive to my ideas about education.
Now, though, I believe the Lord has set it upon my heart to form relationships with a different set of families. Yes, to teach the academics, but more importantly to form a bond and to mentor children from various backgrounds to be the best they can be. My goal is to be a light in the world. Or shall I say, I'm following the Lord's goal for me to be Christ to another community.
Everybody keeps telling me with raised eyebrows and grins that it's going to be very different. I respond with an "I know," but I also understand that I will know a lot more and be challenged with new issues when I dive in this coming summer and fall. I also get a sense that there will also be clear rewards that occur in this new atmosphere.
I plan to work hard, maybe harder than I've ever worked, and I am excited to learn something new yet related to that which I am already successful. I will commit to being receptive to my new colleagues and families, and I look to the Lord to help me discern best choices in new situations.
Pray for me as I move on, but also please pray for the community that I will be moving into as I teach 6th graders at Mary Lou Dieterich Elementary in Modesto. And pray for RC that they continue the high standards of faith development, academic achievement, and service to God in this world.
I thank my RC family for preparing me for this stage of life. It is definitely bittersweet (also both scary and exciting) to take this step in a new direction, but I believe the training that the teachers at RC continue to provide for the students is for this very purpose - to build God's kingdom here.
I am now sent out to do the same.
Goodbye RC! (But you know I'll still be around.)
And hello MLD!
I have taught at Ripon Christian for 17 years after a 3 year stint in another Christian school. But I also grew up at RC, attending for 13 years, grades K-12.
I have invested back into what was originally given to me.
My parents worked hard to make sure that all 4 of us kids were able to receive the foundational Christian principles of church, home, AND school. They made ends meet to pay the tuition for all of us for 13 years each. If you want to do the math in today's world of private school tuition, that's nearly a half million dollars over the life of my 3 sisters' and my own student years at RC. And consider, that's on top of all the taxes paid to support public education for the students in our community as well. How in the world did they manage that?
Why did they commit to that?
It was an investment they made to prepare us for the world. A baby needs to be fed and changed. A toddler needs to be taught to stay away from the stove. A 4 year-old needs to be supervised near the street. A teenager needs to be taught how to drive a car and to work hard at a job. These lessons are crucial to living a healthy and prosperous life. I think education serves a similar purpose, Christian education specifically.
Is the world dangerous?
You bet it is.
Learning what to do as we move through this dangerous world is a lifelong process, and I think it is best taught by loving adults committed to training up children according to the high standards required by the Lord. Teaching at a Christian school has provided me with that platform.
I'm sure I took my Christian education for granted, and I'm sure I didn't thank my parents enough for the sacrifices they made to put me through Ripon Christian. Now that my own children are at RC, I know what my parents' sacrifice is all about...and I'm sure my children also don't yet fully appreciate their Christian education.
My mission for 20 years has been to lead kids from Christian families. And I don't regret a second of it.
For almost a year, though, I've felt led to look into leading kids from other walks of life in public education, something I never thought I'd do. It's time to begin a new adventure and be that light out in the public school setting. It's time for a new mission, a different assignment.
When I was considering my profession way back when, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but through much prayer and encouragement from others I took the plunge into education and found out I loved connecting with kids. Over the years I have been blessed with many supportive families at RC who have joined with me in holding high expectations for their kids, and I am appreciative for the faith building that goes on here. I have worked for and with wonderful people who challenge me to be a better teacher and who are also receptive to my ideas about education.
Now, though, I believe the Lord has set it upon my heart to form relationships with a different set of families. Yes, to teach the academics, but more importantly to form a bond and to mentor children from various backgrounds to be the best they can be. My goal is to be a light in the world. Or shall I say, I'm following the Lord's goal for me to be Christ to another community.
Everybody keeps telling me with raised eyebrows and grins that it's going to be very different. I respond with an "I know," but I also understand that I will know a lot more and be challenged with new issues when I dive in this coming summer and fall. I also get a sense that there will also be clear rewards that occur in this new atmosphere.
I plan to work hard, maybe harder than I've ever worked, and I am excited to learn something new yet related to that which I am already successful. I will commit to being receptive to my new colleagues and families, and I look to the Lord to help me discern best choices in new situations.
Pray for me as I move on, but also please pray for the community that I will be moving into as I teach 6th graders at Mary Lou Dieterich Elementary in Modesto. And pray for RC that they continue the high standards of faith development, academic achievement, and service to God in this world.
I thank my RC family for preparing me for this stage of life. It is definitely bittersweet (also both scary and exciting) to take this step in a new direction, but I believe the training that the teachers at RC continue to provide for the students is for this very purpose - to build God's kingdom here.
I am now sent out to do the same.
Goodbye RC! (But you know I'll still be around.)
And hello MLD!
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