Parents, teachers, and students measure up ministry opportunities abounding in public classrooms

For Kevin Richardson, it was about making a contribution.

While earning a bachelor's degree in science education from Georgia Southern and master's in education leadership from the State University at West Georgia, Richardson knew he would eventually return to the town and community where he was born and raised.

Now as principal at LaFayette Middle School, Richardson, a member and trustee of First Baptist Church in LaFayette, gets opportunities to contribute every day.

 

An important role

"It's important for people to have no doubt as to what your beliefs are," says Richardson on the role of being a Christian in the public school system. "Obviously, the example I set here for teachers and kids has an impact, so I want them to know what I believe."

For believers across the state and country, it's a fine line to walk: How does one express his or her faith and beliefs without being seen as trying to turn the schoolhouse into a churchhouse?

Joy Goodman says it's not as hard as it may seem. A veteran educator of 24 years, the last 19 at Reidsville Elementary School in Vidalia, she contends that providing the right learning atmosphere is important for witnessing to occur.

"There are ways to bring about discussions on religion and God," she says. "In teaching early American history, for example, we would talk about the Puritans and their meaning of 'a light on a hill.'

"I also make sure kids know the ground rules on hearing others' beliefs. Everyone gets an opportunity to voice his opinion."

In the past year, the role of Southern Baptists in public education has been pushed to the forefront by a call to pull all Southern Baptist students from "government schools." Caught in the crossfire of this are Christians who have chosen these schools as their mission field.

 

Flesh and bone

Prior to going to Reidsville, Goodman, a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Vidalia, taught in several Christian schools in Maryland and Georgia. When her two daughters, now in their 20's, reached school age she wrestled with the decision of whether to send them to public or private school. She chose public largely due to the fact that they would be in her building.

Just like Goodman, many parents will give a school a second look due to the caliber of the people who work there. Over time, teachers can serve in roles such as counselor, mentor, coach, educator and even parental figure.

Mickey Conn, head football coach at Grayson High, sees taking an active role in the lives of students as an opportunity to give flesh and bone to Biblical concepts. One way of doing this is through character education.

 

"Why I teach"

"Teaching kids character roles makes a difference," says Conn, a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Snellville. "Even though the Bible isn't being used, the same principles are there.

"There are impressionable young men and women in our classrooms who need positive reinforcement and positive leaders in their lives," he added. "That's why I teach and coach."

Shortly after being named the first head football coach of the Gwinnett County school in 2000, Conn helped start a Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at Grayson. During football season, it became difficult for players to attend meetings.

In response, Conn began abbreviated FCA meetings immediately after practice once a week. It was there that volunteer chaplains came in and spoke to players - still in their sweat-stained jerseys - on the field.

The challenges of a public school setting can actually bring about bigger rewards for Christian teachers. As the wife of a youth minister at Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, Erin Wilbanks has plenty of opportunities to interact with youth. In her role as special education resource teacher at nearby Alcova Elementary, she comes into contact with children who require a little more patience, love and understanding.

"I never really considered not teaching in the public school system," says Wilbanks, who received her bachelor's degree at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. "Among the many things that public school has to offer, I just enjoy being in the same vicinity as people of all different backgrounds and experiences," she continues.

"Being that each of my students has a disability uniquely his or her own, ranging from emotional disorders and attentional problems to specific learning disabilities, I would say the biggest challenge in my position would be meeting each student's needs on a daily basis."

In addition to supporting her husband's ministry, Wilbanks also has an accountability group of five high school girls she meets with once a week.

"Being in a public school has made me a more rounded person and more accepting of people as a whole. It's only added to my teaching skills and ministry," she says.

Through 31 years in the public school system - the last 22 as a counselor at Winder-Barrow High School in Winder - Anne Pack has had numerous first-hand encounters with those students needing a moment to be heard.

"I know what my limitations are in terms of what I can say or do in sharing," says Pack, "but there are a lot of hurting teens out there needing help."

 

Something to share

Pack maintains that sharing their faith, by word or deed, is a responsibility and opportunity given to Christian students and teachers alike.

"Our kids have something to share and so do we," she says.

During her 18 years in education Vicki Albritton, a member of Gum Branch Baptist Church in Hinesville, kept an index card on her desk. The statement on that card became her mantra for being a public school teacher.

"Lord there is a reason you have placed me in this room at this time with these students. Please give me the wisdom and patience to be the kind of teacher you want me to be."

Currently serving as executive director for elementary curriculum in the Liberty County School System, Albritton has in the past taught elementary grades in the United States and Germany as well as college level courses. She has additionally taught high school special education classes and served as an administrator, including three years as principal at Frank Long Elementary School in Hinesville.

"I chose to be in public schools, even in a time when we could afford private schools," she says. "There's nowhere more important for Christians to be present. It's more so now because fewer young people have a solid foundation either at home or in a church setting."

Simply treating students with compassion and dignity can lead to many ministering opportunities in the classroom says Albritton. Just staying available as a believer also plays an important role.

Those opportunities include a teen borrowing Albritton's Bible for an independent reading project and students asking her to pray for them.

"I think students are affected by seeing their teachers at church as well as school. They hold you to a higher standard of behavior and expect you to live that out in your daily life," she adds.

At times, the calling of teachers goes much deeper than explaining calculus, the intricacies of the molecule or how to diagram a sentence. Personal involvement is needed, in one case to the point of providing not just hope in the classroom but a home in which to live.

Kristy Bateman is currently living out this concept. A seventh grade math teacher at Lewis Frasier Middle School in Hinesville, Bateman became aware of a student who was dealing with problems at home.

"I sympathized with her," recollects Bateman. "However, I did all that I could as an educator and didn't see where I could help anymore."

The desire to help didn't fade, though. After consulting with her husband and the school social worker, she approached the student's mother, who had been praying for someone to help with her child.

In mid-March, the mother and student had just been thrown out of their home and were planning on moving away. Wanting the child to finish out the year at her school, the mother asked Bateman if the student could live with her.

Bateman is currently in the process of becoming the child's temporary ward.

Susan Lane, a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church in Marietta, can attest to the ministry of Christian teachers in, and outside, of the classroom.