14 minute read
A Call to Teach
Amid class clowns, runny noses, and curious minds, five alumni lead their classrooms with wisdom and intention. The paths they took to get there and the reasons they stay are as unique and varied as the children they guide.
Bridget (Bechtel) Whitehead, '12 & '22
Bridget (Bechtel) Whitehead graduated with her bachelor’s in education in 2012 and her master’s in special education in 2022. She currently teaches third and fourth grade at Meadow Glade Adventist Elementary School in Battle Ground, Washington, and welcomed her first child in February with the man of her dreams, Ryan Whitehead.
"When I was eight years old, I was given an assignment that asked me about my career goals, to which I responded that I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. This goal accompanied me through high school, paused during a brief interval where I pursued a business degree in college, and reemerged when I traveled to Nicaragua as a student missionary. My journey as a teacher has humbled me, shown me how I can make a difference, and ultimately allowed me to share my faith in Christ.
"The assignment about career goals was not the only time I was drawn toward teaching as a young child. A particular third and fourth grade teacher of mine kept a myriad of animals—by some miracle, alive and thriving— which showed me the merits of being a grade-school teacher. What better excuse could there be to keep an exotic fish or an iguana? Other fond memories of my grade school years include reciting multiplication tables while journeying to and from the computer lab. Success in this endeavor earned a student ever increasing varieties of cutout banana split toppings.
"After arriving as a student at Walla Walla University, I quickly got involved in campus ministries and had the opportunity to visit Nicaragua with my cousin as a student missionary. I taught classes like English and science to students of a wide variety of ages in about eight different class rooms during the day. It was a thrilling experience full of unexpected happenings, frequent use of a ham radio setup, and certainly no use of the internet. The most meaningful parts of the experience were the interac tions with the kids, whether it be hanging out with them after school or simply being a loving mentor for them.
"I returned to WWU with a clear mission to become a teacher. From student teach ing in Milton-Freewater, to teaching in two different states, and finally landing in my current position at Meadow Glade Adventist Elementary School, I have been touched and rewarded by so many kids. Completing my master’s in special education has further allowed me to help my students thrive and succeed.
"I am grateful to have the opportunity to teach in a private school where I can share Jesus with my students. I learned back when I was in Nicaragua that teaching is all about giving, but I have realized that my job has also given back to me in so many ways. Watching eager students finally click with a concept, being thanked by former students, and hearing about the different careers my students are now pursuing has taught me a lot about gratitude. As a teacher, you will never have everything figured out, but you will have an amazing opportunity to be a lifelong learner—and that should never be taken for granted!"
Matt Cantrell, '11
Matt Cantrell graduated with his bachelor’s in 2011 and currently teaches physical education and social studies at Wood River High School in Nebraska.
"My journey towards a career in education began in high school. John Soule, a former physical education teacher and coach at Upper Columbia Academy, hired me as his student worker and teaching assistant when I was a junior. Then as a senior, Coach Soule brought me along as an assistant coach for basketball after I was injured. These experiences and his intentional interest in me helped me gain a desire to become a teacher and coach. Coach Soule showed and taught me a joy for what I do each day, love for Jesus, and love for others. These core principles have followed me throughout my education at WWU and into my career.
"When I went to Walla Walla University in the fall of 2007, I met amazing professors who further modeled that joy and love. Tim Windemuth was full of energy and passion for WWU and the athletic program. He was tireless in his efforts to serve, and it left a real lasting impression on me as I transitioned out to become an athletic director and coach. Marvin Denney was my advisor and the first physical education professor I had at WWU. Elementary PE class was one of my favorites with him. He always had a laugh and smile on his face and made my time in his class and in the PE office full of fun memories.
"Rodd Strobel had a huge impact on me as a teacher, coach, and person. I still remember his advice to pause and just sit in quiet for at least five minutes a day. The rush or busyness of life and teaching can drown out the important and not allow for space to talk with and hear from God. My engagement in running, cycling, swimming, and all sorts of recreational pursuits can be traced back to my time with Marv, Rodd, and Tim. So many amazing memories to look back on with them and my fellow physical education major students.
"Since graduating from Walla Walla University, I have spent seven years as an athletic director, teacher, and coach in the Adventist school system at both Palisades Christian Academy and Sacramento Adventist Academy. I have spent the last five years in the public education system due to family related moves. I miss the close-knit spiritual community I experienced in the Adventist system.
"As I transitioned into public education, I felt initially that maybe I needed to put my faith on the sidelines. But I have grown in my ability to engage my faith in the public-school setting through leading a staff worship once a week, supporting clubs like Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and building individual relationships with students where conversations of faith are more easily initiated. My time being mentored by Coach Soule and the amazing professors I had at Walla Walla University has prepared me to continue to bring joy into the classroom as I serve and love my students."
Alisha (Paulson) Anderson, '17
Alisha (Paulson) Anderson graduated with her bachelor’s in education in 2017 and her master’s in special education in 2021. She currently teaches kindergarten at Meadow Glade Adventist Elementary School in Battle Ground, Washington.
"Growing up I lived on the Upper Columbia Academy campus in Spangle, Washington. I was surrounded by teachers. My father and many of my relatives were teachers. My childhood revolved around school, and although I loved growing up where I did, I decided that teaching was not the job for me before even attending high school. I wanted to do something different.
"Part of the way through my freshman year at Walla Walla University, already having changed my major twice, I remember feeling lost and so I called my father. I remember saying, “I don’t know what I want to do. I don’t know why, but I think I want to be a teacher.” His reply helped solidify my decision when he said, “What would give you purpose and make you happy each day?” I decided that evening the answer to that question was teaching.
"The teachers I had growing up left an incredible impact on me. Could I ever be qualified enough to have that kind of responsibility? I chose to spend a year as a student missionary teaching in Kosrae, Micronesia, after my sophomore year at WWU. The quote, “God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called,” continually echoed in my mind throughout the year.
"I am currently in my sixth year of teaching. This job has taken me around the Pacific Northwest, to Loveland, Colorado, and now back where I teach kindergarten at Meadow Glade Adventist Elementary School. I had never been a homeroom teacher for kindergarten before this year. The fears, doubts, and worries came creeping in before the year started. Do I have what it takes? Will I start out their learning right? What do kindergarteners learn? “God qualifies the called.”
"I absolutely love teaching kindergarten. I am constantly being told, “You are a great teacher,” or “You are so silly.” I am given meaningful, handmade gifts often and sincere compliments daily. I am always learning which is another reason teaching has been just the right fit for me. What I have found to be true, in teaching any grade, is that students want and need to feel safe, heard, and loved. All of these needs must be met before true learning can take place. Teachers must also be in tune to their own needs as well. I feel honored each day to be a part of my students’ lives and to learn alongside them."
Toni Busby, '94
Toni Busby graduated in 1994 with a bachelor’s in elementary education. She currently teaches 7th and 8th grade at Rogers Adventist School in College Place.
"Seventh and eighth grade is hands down my favorite age to teach. Apart from being past the age of needing noses wiped and shoes tied (I have experience with teaching PE to kindergarteners), I love that they’re at the age where they start to see the shades of gray. They start to see that a person can make a wrong choice and still be a good person. That makes for great conversation. I teach language arts, among a couple other subjects, and I love that it allows me to have so many different perspectives on a topic. My kids are constantly teaching me new ways to look at things.
"The second reason I love this age is that, for the most part, the kids still care about what you think and yet they are still young enough that you can make a big impact on their lives. There are millions of little moments where you realize the opportunity you have to impact souls for Christ, to make them better people, better citizens.
"I remember specifically one former student who came from a rough home, with a mother who had drug problems. He called me one day during the summer; he had been caught stealing and didn’t have anyone else to contact. After driving to meet him at the store, we had a really good conversation. I asked him where he wanted to go in life and what would stand in his way. In the end, he didn’t end up coming back to school the next year, and I never knew what happened to him.
"It was probably 20 years later, when he called me again. I have no idea how he got my number, but this time he had very different news. He said, “I just wanted you to know that I made it—I made it out of that drug world and I’m successful. I wanted you to know that you impacted my life.” In those moments, no paycheck—big or small—matters.
"My goal in teaching these days is threefold. I want them to enjoy reading. I want them to walk away knowing they can write an essay, having confidence in their abilities. But most importantly, I want them to walk away feeling seen, to know they are important and loved. If I’ve accomplished those three things, I’ve been successful.
"Verlie Ward was a significant person in forming my teaching philosophy. I was a foster kid and nobody from my family had gone to college. I had no clue what a bulletin was, nor credits, nor credit requirements. When I stood up to her and said, “Just because I don’t know something doesn’t mean I’m not important,” she was very supportive. She stepped right up. I saw the interest and care she showed me and her other students.
"I’ve discovered this focus on relationships is crucial if I want a student to learn anything from me. Sometimes we get stuck in the rules and forget that these are people—people that don’t always fit with the rules as perfectly as we want, but they are still something of value. Much as Jesus saw value in every person he came across, though they were each a mess.
"I am probably a bit unique as a teacher. We probably all are—we all bring our background and baggage to the table. Just because we’re grown doesn’t mean that we’re not influenced by when we were in seventh and eighth grade too!"
Carol Bovee, '88 & '95
Carol Bovee earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in teaching from Walla Walla University. She currently serves as principal of Sierra View Junior Academy in Exeter, California.
"Trying to explain why I am still an Adventist educator is like trying to fit all my earthly belongings into a Walmart shopping bag. The one word that will fit in that bag, though, is joy.
"To be completely transparent, not every moment of teaching is filled with joy. The pay certainly doesn’t reflect an emphasis on the mission, the high expectations can burden overworked shoulders, and those parent-teacher conferences in the church foyer can induce fatigue.
"However, such complaints are completely offset by the euphoria that comes in those beautiful classroom “a-ha” moments, when a nonverbal student whispers an answer and when diplomas are dispensed on graduation day. Happiness comes in hilarious moments where the whole class dissolves into shared laughter, or a quiet and quick look with the one student who got your joke, or even when a joke falls completely flat and all groan in unison.
"There is nothing more fulfilling than a former student calling to say, “Mrs. Bovee, I just wanted you to know I graduated from college and I have a teaching job lined up for fall. You made me believe in myself, and I want to pass that on.” Then that moment arrives when the mischievous 10th grader, who has avoided books like the plague, checks to make sure no one is listening and then quickly admits, “This is not something I ever thought I’d say, but I’m actually starting to like reading. It’s so weird…” There are the Sabbaths I sink into the pew at church and the baptistry opens to reveal a radiant student, ready to dedicate their life to God. These moments are magic elixirs that roll tiredness and discouragement away and replace them with a joy that only comes from serving God.
"Throughout my career in Adventist education, I have not always been able to live where I chose, to teach my favorite subjects nor to work at an easy job. But through every move to new relationships in unfamiliar environments, every subject taught, every grade level experienced, and now in my work as an administrator, I can see God clearly at work—in my students, but also in me. I have learned the most important lessons, through my years teaching with God, that He will direct my paths, guide my words, walk with me through difficult situations, and He will fill me with joy."
