Teacher to Teacher - December 2008 - (Page 5)

Other personal transition issues include finding a place to live, obtaining and maintaining reliable transportation, setting up bank accounts, completing health insurance applications, learning to budget, making responsible purchases, paying back college debt, and managing time. While many of these challenges are merely part of growing up, the administrator and mentor teachers should be willing to extend their counsel and accountability from the professional to the personal issues. Showing this personal interest will not only help the new teacher but will also protect the school ministry from having to deal with an employee’s unfortunate decisions. About the Author B rian Carruthers is the Dean of Education at Bob Jones University and oversees more than 40 faculty members and over 700 students in the School of Education and its five divisions—Teacher Education, Special Education, Psychology, Health, Fitness & Recreation, and Graduate Studies. Prior to his arrival at BJU, he was a teacher for one year and an administrator for seven years at Westwood Christian School in Miami, Florida. He also served as an administrator for Falls Road Baptist Church School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, for eleven years. He and his wife, Ann, who teaches Spanish at Bob Jones Elementary School, and their three daughters, Sarah, Kristen, and Lori, have adopted several university students that they enjoy spending time with and getting to know them. His role as Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Baptist Church in Simpsonville allows him further ministry to local Christians. As a native Canadian, he is also burdened for people beyond the borders of the United States and has participated in mission trips to Canada, Spain, Mexico, and Guam. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, yard work, computer work, and playing the Wii. He and his family share their home with Punkin, a miniature dachshund, as well as two cats, Jack and Mia. He holds a BS in Biology Education, an MS in Educational Administration and Supervision, and an EdD in School Leadership. He is currently pursuing a Master of Ministry degree at Bob Jones University. His life verses are Proverbs 3:5−6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” The Spiritual Transition Along with helping the new teacher with personal transition, experienced colleagues need to encourage him in his continued spiritual growth. Administrators and mentor teachers would be naïve to believe that new teachers just out of college are spiritually mature and do not need any motivation or accountability. For probably the first time in his adult life, he is no longer under the direct authority of parents nor in a Christian college environment. Depending upon the depth of his spiritual understanding and the level of his personal convictions, the new teacher may find that his independence brings challenges. Along with helping the new teacher with personal transition, experienced colleagues need to encourage him in his continued spiritual growth. The administrator and mentor teacher can encourage him in his daily walk with the Lord and in faithful church attendance. They may also explore setting up accountability partners to help with issues, such as use of free time, dealing with temptations, selection of friends, and spiritual growth. While some may feel that these issues are outside the scope of the administrator’s or mentor teacher’s concern, I would argue that the school’s leadership should look for ways to positively influence their new teacher’s spiritual direction. Done respectfully and kindly, these overtures can create bonds of trust and compassion. And time spent in molding a young person who in turn will spiritually influence the children in his classroom is never wasted. Teacher to Teacher | December 2008 page 5

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Teacher to Teacher - December 2008

Teacher to Teacher - December 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.