Summertime and tennis are synonymous for me. I took my first city recreation tennis lesson at the age of nine and have been hooked ever since. Growing up in a small western Kansas town meant tennis was limited to certain seasons of the year. Maybe that's why I still find myself drawn to the courts every summer, even when it's probably too hot to play! For some reason known only to God, He gave me a love for this sport and the physical health to continue playing all these year

It’s a bit nerve-racking to attempt a blog that has anything to do with the topic of freedom. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but the word freedom seems to carry so many layers, connotations, and emotions that stepping on toes feels likely. However, my sincere intention isn’t to offend but invite. There is freedom in becoming who God made us to be. We should never feel compelled to conform to an image imposed on us by friends, colleagues, or social media. Such pressure can crush us.

There is something deeply encouraging about hearing how God is working through fellow educators. In a season when teaching often feels increasingly difficult, stories like the one that follows remind us that God is still calling men and women into education and faithfully equipping them to serve with wisdom, perseverance, and love. One of the greatest gifts we can receive as educators is the opportunity to hear from someone who has walked the road before us — someone who unde

I went to visit my mother this past weekend and had the opportunity to take a long walk through my hometown. There’s something comforting about being “home,” even though I haven’t lived there in over forty years. As I walked, I took in the familiar neighborhood. Some homes were beautifully kept, some were weathered with time, and some were entirely new. I noticed signs of spring everywhere—the scent of honeysuckle and peonies, the warmth of the sun, and the wind, my old frien

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 One of my very first end-of-year school memories happened before I had even officially become a teacher. During my junior year of college, I finished my education courses a couple of weeks before the local public schools dismissed for summer. Eager for classroom experience (and a paycheck), I signed up to substitute teach and landed a

For educators who know that the smallest moments often matter most. In honor of Mother’s Day, I thought I’d step away from my usual format and share one of the most vivid memories I have from my years of motherhood. It’s one of those moments that felt completely chaotic at the time. Looking back, however, it shines with so much meaning. I was serving as an assistant superintendent—long days, longer nights. My husband, stretched equally thin, was a superintendent in a neighbor

“Being an educator is the hardest job you will ever love.” “Education has been my life, my calling. I wanted to be used by God, however that looked.” “I want teachers to stay in education. I want them to feel and experience the joy of teaching like I did.” There is something powerful about hearing the wisdom of a life-long educator in her own words—unfiltered, honest, and deeply rooted in decades of experience in the classroom. The three statements above capture not only

Testing season has a way of bringing a unique kind of pressure. Even when we remind ourselves, “It’s just a test,” the weight of expectations still lingers. We know there is so much more to our students than a score and so much more to teaching than a data point. Yet the pressure to meet certain benchmarks remains very real. Deep down we know testing itself is not the problem. Standards matter as do high expectations. We all understand and accept this. We also know giving ou

Do you ever get tired of all the negativity surrounding education? I know I do. It can be exhausting trying to block out the noise. Even those with good intentions often default to what’s wrong—discipline issues, poor leadership, overemphasis on testing, lack of motivation, uninvolved parents. The list goes on and on. As Christians serving in education, how do we navigate all of this without letting it control our thoughts and shape our perspectives? The challenges are real.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of helping plan the very first Leadership Summit for the Association of Christian Administrators (ACA) in Phoenix. It was an exciting season—vision meetings, speaker calls, schedule drafts, sponsor conversations, prayers over details both big and small. We weren’t just organizing another conference. We were asking the Lord to knit together Christian school administrators from across the country into something deeper than a professional net

With an impending forecast for the possibility of 10-15 inches of snow in Oklahoma, I thought my middle school students would be excited. I certainly was. Snowpocalypse? Bring it on. I couldn’t wait to be snowed in for a week so I could bask in the warm glow of my fireplace while something delicious simmered on the stove, surrounded by stacks of books and absolutely no reason to put on make-up for days. But if you’ve spent more than four minutes with a middle schooler, you pr

Have you ever felt unloved? As educators, we frequently witness the impact of not being loved. On an almost daily basis children walk into our schools feeling unloved. These students often struggle to trust, hope, and belong. Feeling unloved shapes how they see the world, how they view others, and even how they understand their own identity and worth. Feeling unloved is devastating, especially for children who are still discovering who they are. We know this is true because w

I am always amazed by how much we can learn from children. As educators, we are so often the ones doing the explaining, guiding, and teaching. Nevertheless, if we pay close attention, we will discover that some of the most important lessons come not from our training but from the children we serve daily. Sweet Ellie. Age 7 I was reminded of this truth over the holidays when my granddaughters came to visit for a couple of weeks. I treasure every moment I have with them, especi

In August I took my daughter to Manhattan Christian College where she plans to work with both MCC and Kansas State to earn a degree in elementary education. My first thought was excitement for her future. As a strong Christian woman, I know she will fill her classroom with faith and compassion. She already has a record of working in a second-grade classroom during her senior year of high school. The students showered her with notes and care packages, showing they recognized h

The past few days have been…interesting. I’ve been forcing myself to do something I’m honestly not very good at—year-end reflection. I don’t slow down easily. I’m usually so laser-focused on what needs to be done next that pausing to look back feels unproductive. However, I know it matters. I vividly remember my first year as an assistant superintendent. Near the end of that year, I walked into my superintendent’s office with a long list of future tasks, ready to sprint into

My first year of teaching over thirty years ago was at a school district located in the same town as Whiteman Air Force Base, home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber. I was a young guy from just outside of Kansas City who had barely been out of the state, and suddenly I found myself teaching primary grade level children who had lived all over the world. These were seven and eight-year-olds casually dropping comments like, “When we lived in Germany…” or “When we were in France…” I reme

December has a way of sweeping in with all its sparkle, chaos, and endless to-do lists. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably already felt the shift—stores overflowing with decorations, commercials reminding us that we’re running out of time , and inboxes full of “perfect gift ideas.” We are absolutely inundated with gift-giving messages this time of year. If we’re honest, some of the presents we give will thrill their recipients, but others may not. Some of our student

As we enter the week of Giving Tuesday, my heart is full of gratitude for what God is doing among Christian educators in our community. This past year has brought growth, connection, and countless reminders that God is at work in our schools through faithful educators who desire to honor Him in their daily calling. At Victorious Educator Ministries (VEM), our mission remains the same: to walk alongside Christian educators so they never feel alone as they live out their faith

“ This is the day the LORD has made . We will rejoice and be glad in it ” (Psalm 118:24). I cannot read this verse without hearing the sound of a children’s choir. I remember learning this song in multiple languages as a child. I think there is a reason that it has stayed with me for all of these years. The muscle memory of thanking God every day is one of the most valuable gifts from my childhood in church. Certainly, people who come to faith later in life can still learn th

Have you ever had a student, colleague, friend, or family member who wouldn’t accept your help? As educators, we pour our hearts into the lives of people. We often see potential others can’t see in themselves. There are times when we offer guidance, encouragement, and support, only to watch them turn away from the very help that could change everything. I can distinctly remember one particular student who resisted every effort I made to support him. No matter what I tried, he