Of course, there are more people in this school endeavor: support staff, administration, parent volunteers, the Board, partner churches, etc. But, our teachers are the ones in the trenches. They are most directly carrying out our mission. In its essence, at the end of the day, the bottom line, where the rubber meets the road… our teachers fight the battles for the hearts and minds of our students.
I'm jealous at times, like when I see a few teachers taking the seniors mid-day to Starbucks for some "extra instruction." When I hear about a defiant 3rd grader who eventually melts into the love and grace of a teacher and begins to trust… I want to be involved in that! Part of me wants to be doing their job. But, a larger part of me sees the calling that God has put before me, to lead and enable teachers to do what they do. I delight to see 2nd graders lining up to hug their teacher at the end of a day, and I delight to hear about a teacher going surfing on the weekend with some of our teenage boys. It's a privilege for me to play the role of assistant, to tee up the teacher for success. Am I'm thrilled when they exceed my own knowledge and ability to instruct on a subject. The teachers' success is what brings me joy in my job as Headmaster.
Of course, it helps that we have such wonderful and talented teachers. They are joyful and exuberant role models who blend high moral standards with grace and humility. And, it doesn't hurt that they have an average of 13 year of teaching experience among them, many with advanced degrees.
And, for all the praise we could heap on our teachers, they are selflessly thinking and relentlessly pursuing ways they can enable the parents and help them succeed with their children at home.
So thank you to all the teachers in the trenches!
In Christ,
Stephen Sprague
P.S. I count coaches among the teachers, but the alliteration didn't work as well (coaches in combat?).