Professional Development

On Saturday, I went to an AP Economics conference in Los Angeles.  While I'm sure a lot of teachers would hate to have to give up an entire Saturday, to talk about the subject that they taught all week, I'm always excited to go to these conferences and workshops.  Teaching is not something that you ever master.  It is something that you must continue to develop.  The same can be said for our content knowledge.  History and the social sciences is one of the few subject areas that you truly never stop learning in.  New history is constantly being created, new trends develop in the field of political science, and economic models are disproved and new models created.  I am always trying to find some time to read a great book on one of these subjects, but we all know time can be very scarce.

For me, this is what makes these conferences so great.  First, the simple ability to get together with other teachers who are passionate about their subject, and the success of their students is always refreshing.  Plus, for me, still being a relatively new teacher, it is always great to be able to pick their brains for new ideas, strategies they've had success with, and to have the opportunity to bounce ideas off of them.  While it was a long day, I left with many wonderful resources and ideas, and a renewed vigor to be the best teacher that I can possibly be. 

On a similar note, I have also begun to look into some opportunities for this summer, again in the area of professional development.  I have applied/in the process of applying for several week long institutes, and even some 6-8 week fellowships.  Here are a few of the ones that I have applied for or will apply for in the next week or so:

James Madison Fellowship:  A program where they choose a teacher from every state to spend the summer in Washington D.C. with an emphasis on constitutional theory.  If chosen as a fellow, they also award you $24,000 to put towards a Masters program.  The hardest part of the application, however, is finding a master's program I would be interested in that would meet the requirements.

University of Delaware's Masters in Economic Education:  This master's program is largely paid for, but they only select 35 in each cohort.  You would spend 6 weeks for two summers on their campus, and complete the rest of your work during the school year online. 

College Board AP Fellow:  This would award $1000 to go towards attending a week long AP Summer Institute.  Even if I don't get this, I will most likely still attend one for Economics.  The AP Summer Institute I attended for US Government was fantastic, and an invaluable experience.

FTE's Economics for Leaders: A fantastic week long workshop for teachers of economics.  Every time I've been around an economics teacher that has attended one of the FTE's workshops, they all say at some point, you have to try and go to one of these.  They only have five or six sites around the country, and only take 30 at each site, so it is fairly hard to get chosen for these.  I applied for the one in Santa Barbara, CA.

TAH's week long programs:  I also applied for a couple of the TAH seminars (Teaching American History) in political parties and Congress.  They are probably best known by teachers for the grants that many districts have across the country, and very well respected in the social studies field.  Plus, the program is free, and you actually receive a stipend for attending.

I'll keep you posted as I hear back from these great opportunities.  Hopefully, I'll be able to do one or two of them this summer.  I'm positive any of these experiences would make me a better teacher.

A Different Kind of Education

Megan, Mr. & Mrs. Temple, and Emily at Kerri and Tim's wedding. 

Theresa Lynn DeBruhl Temple (pictured above). You may know her as Terri, Mrs. Temple, or one of the WPHS lunch ladies; however, I call her Moma. She is one of the most intelligent people I know. Here is a little of her story:


She was born the oldest, only daughter, of five children. Her parents divorced when she was in elementary school. She moved more times than I can accurately account. She endured her teenage years in less than desirable circumstances with an alcoholic stepfather. She met a tall red-headed bag boy at the local grocery store at age fifteen. A few years later she graduated high school and got married to that bag boy a few months later. She entered the work force and within five years, after my birth, filled the role of stay-at-home-mom. Obviously, I spent countless hours with her. She taught me how to say my ABC’s, write my name, recognize colors, and countless other things. She even read my favorite book, Martha’s House, so many times that I had it memorized by age three or four and she thought I could read it (yeah, I’ve been fooling people for years). As I reflect upon my mother I can rarely remember a time that she was not reading something. She loved to read and still does. Her love of reading, study, and the world has led to her vast knowledge base. While she has never set foot in a college classroom she knows more than many college graduates. Let me be clear: if I were going to be on a trivia based game show like, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” she would be at the top of my phone-a-friend list.

We are all on a specific path in life. Each path is distinctly different. Educationally speaking, God places each of us in a different place. Sure, we should all seek to be continual learners; however, for some people this does not mean additional formal education. Some are supposed to work right after high school, some are supposed to go to a trade/technical school, some are supposed to go to college, some are supposed to go on to graduate school, medical school, law school, or some other form of higher education, and some are supposed to be parents right away. In the end, the formal education story we have to tell is not as important as the educational journey we are on. Some of the most learned, wise, knowledgeable people I know have never taken a single class beyond high school! Education comes in many forms.

Lately, I have been reflecting on where my path has taken me. Many of my friends are done with school, have full-time jobs, have purchased homes, and have started families. Sometimes I wonder why my path is so different. I wonder if I am going in the right direction. And, sometimes (ok–often), I am a bit jealous of their lives.

This week in one of my classes the professor offered the following bit of his personal story for encouragement. He told us how he too, as a young graduate student, felt inferior to others around him with full-time teaching positions. However, he stressed not to worry. God has placed us on our particular paths. We have no need to complain, apologize, or doubt that which we cannot control. God has a plan. God will guide. As my professor encouraged: your path, as long as you are following the Lord in obedience, is the perfect path for you.

So, in light of my constant self-doubt and uncertainty I am reminded that God has a plan. My path is not exactly “traditional” or just how I imagined it would be—but it is mine. I am assured that the desires of my heart will be fulfilled in God’s good time. I will, one day, have a full-time job, my own home, and a family. For now, I am privileged to be a part of a Ph.D. program and have wonderful friends and family behind me as I “endure” this formal education process of my journey!

--Megan

The Joy of Reading: Sustainable Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries

Sustainable Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries is the fifth book that I read during the break and is also a text for the class I’m helping with. If you are a part of a search committee, pastoral leadership team, deacon board, youth ministry team/staff, a good ol’ fashioned nosey church person, or a church staff member you NEED this book. It offers invaluable information that you need to know. Much of it you have probably heard and refused to believe. If you, or your church, are too stubborn to utilize the consulting resources your denominational agencies offer the least you can do is read this book and gain some minimal clarity about the ins and outs of a “Sustainable Youth Ministry.”


Mark DeVries and I have never met face-to-face; however, I know we’d be best friends! He believes in the same kind of youth ministry I believe in and even uses the term I thought my New Pleasant students coined, “youth family.”

In the book he addresses everything from documents you need within a youth ministry, to how to create the right atmosphere, to how to keep the ministry going with or without a hired youth director. Everything from the behind the scenes details to the wide open in front of everyone details are addressed. It is a great handbook for those that oversee the hiring, evaluating, and “firing” of staff. And it’s a great text for youth pastors to read too.

In light of all my reading, particularly within the youth ministry field, and stories I have heard from NPBC I have been encouraged. I walked away from my ministry at NPBC in August tired, weary, and feeling as though I failed in so many ways. I felt I did not clearly cast my vision, prepare my team, train mentors and volunteers effectively, or show my students what it means to be a “family,” see a need and meet it, and follow God at all costs. However, in taking a God-required sabbatical from youth ministry to pursue further education I have been refreshed, encouraged, and revived. In fact, many of the things I did were right! I was by no means perfect, but for a first-timer I was on the right track. I learned a great deal of valuable lessons during my time at NPBC and I have gained even more since I arrived at Talbot. If, and when, God does call me to church ministry I feel better prepared and encouraged that I do have something to contribute. I am foundationally skilled at transforming a ministry from frail and floundering to faithful and “family-like.”


Buy Sustainable Youth Ministry

--Megan

The Joy of Reading: Deep Ministry in a Shallow World by Chap Clark and Kara E. Powell

Deep Ministry in a Shallow World by Chap Clark and Kara E. Powell is a book I both wanted to read and needed to read for the course I’m helping teach this semester. In the book Kara and Chap offer the “deep process” for taking a youth ministry to the next level. They begin by addressing why the church is consistently stuck in the shallow end, the theological kiddie pool, if you will. Kara stresses the importance of conversations, relationships, and genuine care over conversions and, dare I say it, religious manipulation. The first chapter lays out many solution pitfalls of youth ministries that realize they are failing. Kara points out that many churches try “More of the Same” (14), something that “Worked for a Friend” (16), and follow what “The Book Said” (17).

She is so right.

Often churches realize they need change and instead implement more of what they already have and call it something new! Or, we hear that our friend down the street is doing x and it’s working great so we assume it will work for us too; however, too often we get jealous of our friends successful ministries and instead of celebrating their successes we wallow in our failures. As ministers we must do better about that! Finally, we are all guilty of reading a great book with great programs, ideas, concepts, and ministry plans and trying to steal its ideas. Never mind the fact that the book was about a multi-million dollar mega-church with a $200,000 youth budget, 500 students, 15 support staff, in the middle of Los Angeles and we work off a $2000 budget, have twelve students, no support staff, and are located in the middle of nowhere. We need to get real. We need to realistically address our situation and take what we have and make it all God expects, desires, and calls our ministry to be.

The whole book is about a “plan” to take ministries from shallow to deep. Kara and Chap suggest that we follow four steps (25):

1. Now--discernment
2. New--reflection
3. Who--observation
4. How--application

They address the plan in accordance to discipleship, assets, mentoring, parents, communication/teaching, missions, worship, and expectations. Along the way they offer suggestions, examples, and possible pitfalls. This book is an all around asset to youth ministry! I really enjoyed reading it.

Buy Deep Ministry in a Shallow World by Chap Clark and Kara E. Powell


--Megan

Reading During the Super Bowl

I mean really, who finishes reading a book during THE GAME?


The “Super Bowl” just isn’t the “Super Bowl” without a house full of teenagers, children, and their families. This year was quite different from years past. Chris and I sat in the living room all alone (even Mo didn’t join us). I made popcorn and read a book while watching the game and Chris fried some mushrooms and zucchini. It was rather anti-climatic. There was no checking stats at half-time to award door prizes, no arguing over the last snacks, no random hall sliding, no laughter, no opening devotion, nothing. It felt strange. Calm. Quiet. Empty. Lonely. I mean really, who finishes reading a book during the game?

I missed the friendly taunting that takes place as one group’s team scores to take the lead or an exciting play arouses the group with cheers, boos, and chatter. I missed printing off 15+ guessing sheets and shopping for silly prizes. I missed cooking wings, chicken nuggets, mini-pizzas, cookies, brownies, and other goodies all afternoon. I missed that sick feeling you get from eating way to much junk food in the place of a decent dinner and following it with incessant, uncontrollable laughter. I missed cleaning up half the night following the party. In short, I missed the chaos.

This year was just different. I watched the game. Worked on some homework. Did P90X. Ate dinner. Got ready for bed. Wrote this post. And went to bed . . . Thinking of all the people and all the fun I so deeply missed. How I cherish those memories!

--Megan

The Joy of Reading: Youth Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Youth Ministry by Houston Heflin

Youth Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Youth Ministry by Houston Heflin is a text I ran across while perusing Amazon. I have been interested in reading up on Youth and Young Adult ministry texts so I quickly ordered and devoured it. It was a short book but packed with great info. Heflin offers five units in the book that overview the tasks of youth ministry and the necessary roles of a youth ministry. It was a great little book and would prove very helpful if I teach an “Intro to Youth Ministry” class (which I hope to do) in the future. I may come back and add more information on this book later---I have currently submitted a formal book review to AYME on this text--hopefully, you can read my take on it there.  If you aren't able to read it there one day, I'll be sure to post it here!

Buy Youth Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Youth Ministry

--Megan

The Joy of Reading: Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick

Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick is a less-scholarly book (no offensive Steven). It is all about faith, vision, prayer, and spiritual prowess. Steven challenges us all to pray with certainty that God can and will act. The whole premise of the book is based on Joshua’s “Sun Stand Still” prayer in the Old Testament. (If you’re not familiar with the story check it out in Joshua 10). Throughout the book Steven offers stories of his life, those he ministers alongside, and those he has been privileged to minister to. He offers a five step “plan” toward our own “Sun Stand Still” prayers. Instead of giving it all away---help my buddy out and purchase the book! It is a quick and easy, yet, challenging read. It will challenge your faith and renew your soul.

Buy Sun Stand Still

--Megan

Long Days

There are some days, where I absolutely love my job.

Friday, was definitely one of those days.

My day started like most of mine do, with the alarm clock going off at 4:00 AM.  I stumbled out of bed, to start the process of getting ready. By 5:00 AM, I was out the door, with my breakfast in hand, and on the road.  I arrived at school at 6:00 AM, still dark outside, to begin preparing for the day.  Classes began, and by noon, I was done with my "teaching" for the day. 

Now, on most days, I am able to leave at 2:00.  However, Friday was no ordinary day.  As 2:00 PM came and went, I was in my room, grading papers, looking forward to the events to come.  Before I left the school, I stopped by and watched part of the boy's soccer game.  I didn't get to watch all of it, but they ended up tying, which bumped them up into 4th in the conference, the cutoff to make the playoffs.  I headed over to King High School, one of Poly's biggest rivals (who all of our teams were playing on Friday), to watch our girl's soccer team play at 5:00 PM.  Our girls team have had a great season so far, and is in a tight race for 1st place in the conference.  The game against King, who is tied for third, would go along way to deciding the conference champion.  In a great game, they were able to hang on for a 2-1 victory.  So far, 2-0 against King.

As soon as the game ended, I hung around just long enough to congratulate some of my students on the big win, before heading back to Poly for the Senior Night basketball games.  I got back to school in time to see our girl's start the second half.  They were down, but played hard and fought back.  With a few clutch free throws down the stretch, the Lady Bears were able to hang on for a 46-43 win.

Poly 3- King 0

The guys game tipped off right around 8:00 PM. Poly jumped out early, with King coming back to take the lead.  It was a back and forth game, with all the intensity a rivalry game would normally entail.  The game headed into overtime, and Poly was able to hold on for the 70-67 win. 

Poly 4-King 0

I headed back to my car as the clock struck 10:00 PM.  Tired, I headed back down Highway 60 to head home, finally arriving at home just a little before 11:00 PM. 

I'm amazed how many times I get asked "why do you teach?" On this same day, actually, I had a student ask why I wanted to teach, and not do something, you know, more important.  It is these long days, where I come home late, exhausted that I often love my job the most.  Friday I not only got to teach a subject that I love and think is so vital to know, but I also got to spend my day around some amazing kids.  I got to see them struggle with new ideas in the classroom, work through their own thought processes to understand and comprehend new ideas, and use knowledge they already had.  I got to witness first hand them struggle, fight, sweat, display emotion, work together, and demonstrate the talents they have worked for years to hone.  I saw them triumph, celebrate, and show true joy.

I am lucky enough to be a part of these students' lives.  There is nothing else I would rather be doing.  That my friends, is why I teach.

The Joy of Reading: New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus by David Bivin

Over the course of the last month I have been able to do something I have not had time to do in . . . well, longer than I can remember. After the completion of my January term class and the literature review assigned I had the privilege of reading books I wanted to read. Here are the books I read:

New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus by David Bivin

Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick (I sort-of know him)

Youth Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Youth Ministry by Houston Heflin

Deep Ministry in a Shallow World by Chap Clark and Kara E. Powell

Sustainable Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries

The first book is an excellent read! If you are not familiar with David Bivin you should look him up. His take on Jesus’ words, teachings, sayings, and the biblical text is incredible. He lived and worked in Jerusalem for more than forty years studying with both Christian and Jewish scholars. He has carefully studied Jewish culture, history, language, and a host of other things. While the book is sprinkled with tons of interesting insights and I could go on for pages I’ll just mention a few things you may find of interest.

1. Many people suggest that Jesus was not a Rabbi; however, countless passages in scripture suggest otherwise. Furthermore, all kinds of people addressed Jesus as “Rabbi.” As Bivin points out in the text, “a lawyer, rich man, Pharisees, Sadducees, and regular people address Jesus by such a title” (9). In addition to the title Jesus’ lifestyle was consistent with the “normal” rabbi’s of his time. Rabbi’s, or itinerant rabbi’s, were travelers. They were like itinerant preachers today. They traveled around from place to place teaching. Their disciples followed--being “covered in the dust of their rabbi” (13-14). And many rabbi’s also had trade skills---like carpentry, fishing, tent making, etc. Pretty interesting, huh? This concept totally slams what Roy Zuck claims in his book, Teaching as Jesus Taught (however, it is a good book as far as Christian Ed. is concerned).

2. We Christians often bless our food . . . This custom that we believe has been borrowed from Judaism and Jesus is flawed. Offering a blessing before meals has been customary for centuries; however, blessing the food is new. Bivin points out that the original custom was to bless God by stating, “bless the One who provides the food” (46). Our blessing of the food we eat is just one of the many ways we have misunderstood and misinterpreted a Jewish custom. So, the next time you sit down to eat--think about what you are doing and why you are doing it. Blessing food is not a biblical concept. Blessing the One who provided the food---that is more like it.

3. If you know Jewish practices well you know that followers of Judaism are supposed to pray daily. A central Jewish prayer is know as the Eighteen, or more formally as Shemoneh Esreh, or Amidah, or Tefillah (59). However, some rabbi’s would give their worshippers a shortened version of the eighteen for times when it was not possible to complete the full prayer (however, a fluent Hebrew-speaking Jew could complete the prayer in about five-ten minutes) (59). Nonetheless, it may be quite feasible that Jesus offered an abbreviated version for his followers as well. We call it: The Lord’s Prayer. After reviewing the information Bivin offers in the book, including the full Eighteen prayer, I am fairly convinced of this premise. I wish I had discovered this information several years ago when my church focused VBS on the Lord’s Prayer. I believe the learning experience would have been greatly enriched for the youth with this info.

Buy New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus
Check for the rest of the book overviews throughout the week!
 
--Megan

Signing Day

Signing day, especially the middle one in early February, is almost like a holiday for many Southerners who are college football fans.  As a Clemson fan, I know a lot of the top recruits by name.  I know who the targets are, who the five star recruits are.  For the hardcore fan, signing day is the day they look forward to the most once the bowl games end.  The thing that the average fan sometimes forgets, no matter how "sure-fire" the recruit is, how successful they become, or how big of a "bust" they become, right now they are high school students.  They are so excited at this point in their life.  Many are living their dream, and their hard work over the past year, four years, and in most cases much longer, have paid off.

Tomorrow on signing day, I want to honor my students this year, and my three years at Chesnee, who participated in one of the three NCAA signing days.  I have so much respect for these students, because I know the hard work and dedication that it takes to reach that point.  Working with the football team at Gardner-Webb for two years gave me a much better understanding of just what a different level college athletics really is.  So here is a list of my former students, sport, and school.  (Let me know if I forgot any!)

Poly High School

Kara Howard (Softball) University of Kentucky

Cori Reinhardt (Softball) Cal State Monterey Bay

Sara Macias (Water Polo) University of Southern California

Jillian Yocum (Water Polo) Univerisity of California Irvine

Nicole Frank (Soccer) Lamar University

Kenzie Estes (Cross Country) Northern Arizona University

Casey Foster (Soccer) University of California Riverside *{signing in Spring}

Chesnee High School

Haley Gregg (Softball) North Greenville University

Raheem Hughes (Football) North Greenville University

Zack Miller (Football/Track) North Greenville University

Austin High (Cross Country/Track) Lees-McRae University

Stephen Cantrell (Baseball) Wofford

David Jones (Baseball) Southern Wesleyan University

Sierra Wilkinson (Softball) Spartanburg Methodist College

Holly Woodrum (Softball) Lander

Jalen Martin (Basketball) Erskine

Corey Frye (Baseball) Anderson University

Justin Blackwell (Cross Country/Track) Spartanburg Methodist College

Marcus Ovalle (Wrestling) Spartanburg Methodist College

Allyson Brislinger (Volleyball) Huntingdon College

Cedric Proctor (Football) South Carolina State

Josh Jones (Track) University of South Carolina

Gaffney High School
Hillary Key (Softball) North Greenville University
Julie Sarratt (Softball) University of South Carolina
(yeah, I know... I never taught there, but I claim these two also)

There may be a couple more in the spring that I'll be able to add. Sorry if I forgot anyone... just let me know and I'll add them.  I'm so proud of not just these kids, but all of my students who have gotten music, theater, band, cheering, and just regular ol' academic scholarships.  SO PROUD OF ALL OF THEM!