DAKOTA CONFERENCE
Courtesy Laurie Foerderer
Teacher Serves in Backyard Mission Field things from sewing to watercolors, and as a youngster she taught Vacation Bible School and children’s Sabbath school. Early in life, she thought she wanted to work for a large, well-known greeting card company, and eventually she pursued a degree in Fine Arts from Indiana University. Instead, she was offered a teaching gig in Dickinson, North Dakota, even before she ell me what your heart’s Laurie set off on an adventure earned her teaching credentials desire has been–explain that kept her happier, more from Bismarck State College. what’s in your soul,” said Jim to fulfilled and more “off-balance” “I have surrounded myself his wife, Laurie. than anything else could have with some of the greatest educators I’ve ever met,” said She sighed, closed her eyes done. Fifteen years later she is Laurie, speaking enthusiasand responded, “To teach art.” closing that chapter to retire “Then that is what you must with her husband. tically of her past few years. do,” Jim said. And with these Teaching is one of the “The opportunities we have words of encouragement, hardest jobs (next to parenting) as a Christian teacher are in which a person can engage. overwhelming.” She has prayed Teaching in a high school with her students, wept with elevates that challenge, and them and encouraged them teaching art in a high school to come talk to her any time. pushes one’s creative endeavors It’s 4 pm and her office is still before. I can now appreciate to the extreme. filled with students. “Hey, you my fellow educators for the Yet Laurie Foerderer rose guys,” she says, “you need to to the challenge with aplomb. unique challenges each grade go home! I need to go home!” She had the opportunity to go level presents. But more than And reluctantly they leave, into a non-teaching, non-arthat, being able to spend so even the student who has been much one-on-one time with tistic career, but fortunately crying on her shoulder until my students has rekindled God—and her husband— his nose is running. the joy of teaching. Most guided her where she needed These kids come from a surprising is the joy I get from to be: Century High School in diversity of situations. Some teaching Kindergarten. They Bismarck, North Dakota. are “A” students, sporting a 4.0 LOVE to learn and are always Being an Adventist teacher in GPA; some are special needs. so excited to ask questions and a public high school system is Some have almost every matetry new things. akin to being a missionary in a rial thing they could desire; I think all good teachers foreign country, and you better others are barely surviving. love to learn, and it is this learn to speak that language. However, they have one thing passion we wish to share with Laurie did. in common: a teacher who others. God knew this passion In her classes she draws loves them and looks out for needed to be relit in me and from her many experiences them. Laurie states, “My hope He knew exactly how to do it. as a child sitting with her and prayer is that my students grandmother (also a teacher) know I care.” TJ Roberts teaches at the Sioux and making crafts seemingly Some students have horrible Falls Adventist Elementary from nothing. These projects things happen to them—and School. inspired her love of making this is true no matter which
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school they find themselves in—so they need teachers like Mrs. Foerderer. She cares for all 125 students who pass through her door daily. Imagine being responsible for the education and care of so many students and the effort to be available to each of them on their terms. That is a true missionary! Over the years, things evolve. One truism is that the students grow into adults and move on. But Laurie has been invited to and attended their weddings, baby showers and other momentous events, demonstrating that she is making a lasting impact on these students’ lives. When asked how teaching itself has evolved, she mentions that there are more computers, computer programs and virtual classrooms incorporated into the teaching schematics. This can be a good thing, but like all progress, some of it doesn’t improve the teaching stage. When asked how the community and parents can help teachers, Laurie states, “Come to the class and see what’s going on. Don’t be quick to judge if you haven’t stepped into a classroom.” She has two student trips happening even after she retires: one to the east coast of the U.S. and one to Greece. Then what? She’s not sure. Maybe a small group art class? Certainly Laurie has embodied the quote she chose to live by: “Kids don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” Reese Saxon is a teacher, artist and member of the Bismarck Adventist Church.
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JULY/AUG 2022 17
