In Inter-America, teachers commit to making a difference in students’ lives
More than 1,000 teachers, educators, and church administrators gathered for Inter-America’s second territory-wide Education Congress held in Riviera Maya, Mexico, Sep. 10-13, 2014. The event celebrated teacher’s dedication and reinforced the vision and mission of the Philosophy of Adventist educatio. Images by Libna Stevens/IAD
September 17, 2014 | Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico | Libna Stevens/IAD
He had to repeat first grade three times. When he got to the fourth grade he didn’t know how to do his multiplication tables. Living at home in San Vicente, in El Salvador, with his nine brothers and sisters, there did not seem to be much hope for Elmer Omar Alferez. His report cards showed very low grades until the 6th grade when he was enrolled in the Colegio Modelo Adventista (Adventist Model School) in his hometown.
Elmer Alferez (left) stands proudly with his 6th grade teacher Daniel Avilez during Inter-America’s Education Congress. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
There he found a teacher by the name of Daniel Avilez who took special interest in Alferez and told him not ever let anyone tell him that he could not accomplish something.
“You will become the best math student in the school,” said Avilez. With that Avilez tutored him several times a week after school.
“He invited me into his home, fed me and would spend hours teaching me on a black board he had at home,” said Alferez. “I became an outstanding math student and even participated in several competitions.”
Alferez began canvassing during 7th grade to support his education and the rest of his high school years. He then completed a Theology degree at Central American Adventist University in Costa Rica, worked as a district pastor, obtained a master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry, and is now president of the Central El Salvador Mission in San Salvador.
“If you asked me what a teacher is,” said Alferez, “first he touches the heart and later the mind, someone that goes beyond teaching in the classroom, someone who teaches for life,” said Alferez as he stood next to his 6th grade teacher Avilez, and addressed the more than 1,000 teachers and church administrators during Inter-America’s II Education Congress held in Riviera Maya, Mexico, Sep. 10-13, 2014.
For four years as mission president Alferez has improved the six Adventist schools in his region by upgrading classrooms, doubling teachers’ salaries–the highest paid teachers in his country– and providing a chaplain to cater to the spiritual needs of teachers, students and their parents.
“My dear teacher Alvarez inspired me to dream what I couldn’t see for myself and I have vowed to serve my church and ensure that every student that comes to our schools is taught how to dream, how to cling to God and be a blessing to the church and the community,” said Alferez.
Alferez is a product of the Adventist educational system, one that seeks to equip students to improve the mind, the physical and the spiritual in service to others to prepare for the heavenly kingdom, said Dr. Gamaliel Florez, education director for the church in Inter-America, as he presented a special pin of service to Alvarez for his more than 25 years teaching in El Salvador.
Dr. Gamaliel Florez, education director for the church in Inter-America reminded teachers and educators that they have received “a calling to commit to working for the salvation of souls.” Image by Abel Marquez/IAD
Celebrating Adventist education
Celebrating teachers and their commitment to educating thousands of pupils, and reaffirming their role as ministers of the gospel was at the heart of Inter-America’s territory-wide four-day education congress.
“You have received a calling to commit to working for the salvation of souls,” said Dr. Florez. “The main gospel that you will preach will be the one you preach with your life, the way you live will be a greater lesson, your life will be your masterful lesson,” he added.
University, union, conference, and mission administrators joined the hundreds of teachers representing the nearly 10,000 teachers across the 910 primary, secondary, and universities in the Inter-American Division (IAD) territory in reviewing the philosophy of Adventist education, their role as educators and administrators, using curriculum essentials, improving classroom quality, marketing schools, committing to evangelization and retention, and being involved as financial promoters.
Dr. Lisa Beardsley-Hardy, education director for the Adventist World Church, thanked the teachers for taking care of young children in their classrooms. “It is not easy, because I know children come to the class with so many needs and you are doing your best,” said Dr.
Dr. Lisa Beardsley-Hardy, education director for the Adventist world church said education must become the essential face of the Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of ministering to the whole person. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
Beardsley.
Doing your best within the context of the mission of Adventist education, means having “education become an essential face of the Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of ministering to the whole person,” she said.
Beardsley revisited the history of Adventist education and drew lessons from Battle Creek, Michigan, to challenge teachers to continue the mission and instruct and prepare future leaders.
The mission is not just up to teachers, but it is a team effort as pastors, education directors and church administrators must be in sync with the mission of the Adventist educational system, said Dr. Florez.
“Your pastors, they prepare one, two, three or four evangelistic campaigns every year, yet our teachers have an evangelistic campaign every single day in their classroom,” said Dr. Florez as he addressed union, conference and mission administrators.
“Presidents, you must have your pastors back education, back our schools and institutions,” emphasized Dr. Florez. “Some 70 percent of our students are out of the Adventist school system. We need you to help our members understand the importance of Adventist heritage, Adventist education for their salvation and service in the world to come.”
Dr. Lowell Cooper, general vice president of the Adventist World Church, reaffirmed that the classroom is an expansion of the church with teachers as ministers of the gospel. Image by Abel Marquez/IAD
Statistics show that in Inter-America, Adventist education is not growing proportionally with the growth in membership, just the same as it is with the church worldwide, explained Florez.
It’s clear the mission needs to be understood by church members, said Dr. Lowell Cooper, general vice president of the Adventist World Church.
“The church needs to see the institution [school] as an extension of the church,” said Dr. Cooper. “The classroom is an expansion of the church, therefore the teacher is minister of the gospel.”
That role of the teacher is one of the most important one in society, went on Dr. Cooper. “A teacher is always touching eternity, for the institution of today is the culture of tomorrow.”
Adventist education statistics are not what they should be, leaders said.
Need for more Adventist students
“Today we may be looking at two Adventist students per each 100 members,” said Dr. George Knight, author and retired professor of educational philosophy and church history at Andrews University. “We live in a paradox at the very time that Seventh-day Adventist parents are neglecting Adventist education for their children.”
Dr. George Knight, author and retired professor of educational philosophy and church history at Andrews University reminded teachers to provide excellent education for this world to their students, introduce Jesus as Savior and inspire them to share God’s message. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
“We need to be more distinctively active to make sure Adventist families in our congregations have a chance to put their children in Adventist schools, because the most heartbreaking loss in the church is among the families when they neglect their children’s spirituality,” added Dr. Knight.
Dr. Knight reminded teachers to look at the life of Jesus and how he planted seeds during his life on earth.
“Teachers never forget the three non-negotiables of Adventist education: an excellent education for this world, introduce Jesus Christ as Savior to students and inspire them to share God’s message,” said Knight.
“You are dealing with the most valuable commodity of this world—God’s children who have infinite possibilities,” added Knight. “Your schools should be seen as a place that they see Jesus and where they set the goals to pass on the gospel, no matter what their profession.”
Sense of calling
Teachers were challenged to continue pursuing a close relationship with God while studying the Scriptures and praying daily as they touch the lives of their students every day.
Dr. Ella Simmons, general vice president of the Adventist world church challenged teachers to rebuild Adventist education in their territory. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
“Pay attention to your private life with God,” said Dr. Cooper, “for He will take care of your public life for you have a calling, a commission, a commitment,” he said.
It’s about seeking God first, claiming His promises and moving forward, reaffirmed Dr. Ella Simmons, general vice president of the Adventist World Church, during the congress.
As she reflected on the life of the Prophet Haggai, she encouraged teachers and leaders to respond to the call, rely on God and take seriously the responsibility of rebuilding Adventist education.
“We must commit to the total and relevance of Adventist education,” said Dr. Simmons. “We must commit ourselves to rebuilding the temple of Adventist education, to bring all our children into Adventist education, to reach beyond our homes.”
Teachers as financial promoters
Rebuilding Adventist education also has to do with promoting it within a financial context, said Elder Filiberto Verduzco, treasurer for the church in Inter-America, as he went over financial figures on the funds invested into the Adventist educational system throughout the IAD.
Verduzco asserted that the Inter-American Division has fully supported Adventist education by offering thousands of dollars as a subsidy for the thousands students who study in church schools. There are more than 153,000 students attending IAD church schools and universities.
IAD Treasurer Filiberto Verduzco challenged teachers and church administrators to be active financial promoters in their schools churches. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
Figures revealed that an average student who receives schooling for 16 years through primary, secondary, and university levels, receives more than $11,000 (US dollars) in financial assistance throughout his/her study years.
That assistance does not include work-study programs and fundraisers that go toward education costs.
“Adventist education must be funded,” said Verduzco. In order for the financial system to be supported “teachers need to fully support the philosophy of Adventist education, support activities to maintain strong institutional financial operations, and support the fundraising for student and institutional development.”
Some of the activities Verduzco presented for teachers to be active in promoting the school included: participation in promoting school among different audiences, collecting funds for institutional development, raising funds to financially support students, generate revenues from educational industries, maintaining strong relationships with church leadership, and more.
Passionate teachers
Some 27 teachers were awarded for their outstanding service in education during a special ceremony held Sep. 13, 2014. Image by Magda Salinas/IAD
Teachers were honored with medals and awards for their sacrifice and commitment to the mission of Adventist education during a special ceremony.
Among the 27 awardees was Irma Huerta Escutia who teaches sixth grade at Instituto Soledad Acevedo de los Reyes Adventist School, which covers grades K-12 in Montemorelos, North Mexico. From very early age, Huerta knew she wanted to become a teacher. For more than 30 years she has seen hundreds of students come through her classroom.
“Children are part of my life and I love the opportunity to touch their lives,” said Huerta. “My students are at the age where they have many doubts, many questions that sometimes they don’t feel comfortable asking at home,” explained Huerta.
The responsibility of teaching is one that must be done with love and patience, said Huerta, and “one that takes me to lead them to Jesus every day to help them make the right choices.”
Irma Huerta Escutia (center), a 6th grade teacher at Adventist school in North Mexico, poses for a photograph with North Mexico’s Church President Pastor Arturo King (left), and Juan Jorge Acuña, education director, after being awarded for her committed service as a teacher. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
Huerta was reminded during the congress of the legacy Jesus has left for us to follow. She wants to take the message back for students to “Love God, respect others and fulfill your responsibilities.”
For Ruth Rolle of Grand Bahamas, Bahamas, teaching has been a passion for more than 40 years. She’s taught first grade at Grand Bahama Academy, a K-12 grade Adventist school, for decades and just recently was appointed as the principal of the school.
Out of all her years as a teacher, she taught three years for the Bahamas government, and has always had the mission and vision of Adventist education clear in her mind.
“Teaching is such an awesome responsibility because we are training kids and preparing them for eternity,” said Rolle.
Rolle saw the school being built some 30 years ago and smiles as she recalls the hundreds of children whom she taught. The school, she said, has some 250 students and two-thirds are non-Seventh-day Adventists. She has seen many children come through the school who have questions about God, and knows how important her role as a minister of the gospel is in the classroom.
Ruth Rolle of Grand Bahama Academy in The Bahamas has served in the Adventist educational system for more than 40 years. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
Rolle sees the challenge of retaking the vision of Adventist education for teachers who have been educating in the Adventist school system and the new teachers who join and may not realize how crucial understanding that vision and mission of Adventist education is.
For Gerardo Romo, leaving his job as professor at a university in Baja California, Mexico after nine years, to teach chemical engineering at Montemorelos University, in North Mexico, two years ago has been a real treat. He never studied through the Adventist schools system and was baptized a little over 13 years ago, yet Romo has grasped the vision of Adventist education and finds it so exciting to connect with students everyday.
“Teaching students in an Adventist institution brings such a wide perspective because it has to do with the integral development of the student,” said Romo. “It’s a lot more work but it’s so much more satisfying touching the lives of your students.”
“Working at Montemorelos University has taught me to see how God leads his educational mission, and you can see the challenges that come up and how fast they get resolved,” said Romo.
Romo wants to see the image of Adventist institutions more visible for Adventist schools to not just be known more for their moral values taught but as an option of quality education. “We have many opportunities to improve and great responsibilities to be Adventist educators.”
IAD President Pastor Israel Leito said one of the major improvements in Adventist education throughout Inter-America has been in the infrastructure across primary, secondary and university institutions. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
Improving Education
Improving Adventist education is what top church administrators and educators have been strategizing to accomplish for decades throughout Inter-America but more so during the last 10 years, said IAD President Pastor Israel Leito.
“We have been bringing together education as a whole system with all three levels—primary, secondary and university, and that has generated more participation where unions are taking a stronger role to improve the infrastructure for the schools they oversee,” said Pastor Leito.
The church has also made provision for teachers for continuing education through IAD’s online Herbert Fletcher University. Also, new Bible textbooks are available to students, new soft loans have been made available to improve institutions, and the number of accredited schools has doubled in the past five years, among other improvements.
A challenge still facing the educational system in Inter-America is bringing up teacher salaries and ensuring all teachers at schools and universities are Seventh-day Adventist church members, said Pastor Leito. “The percentage of non-Adventist teachers is not high but it is crucial for all teachers to maintain the Adventist education philosophy.”
For Dr. Florez, the teacher salary issue presses at his heart. “Our teachers are ministers of the gospel in the classroom yet in some places in our territory, a pastor could earn approximately $800 per month, yet a teacher $150. It is one major reason a lot of our teachers leave our Adventist educational system, and that is something that has to change,” said Dr. Florez.
Inter-America’s II Education Congress centered on the theme: “The teacher as a minister of the gospel.” Image by Magda Salinas/IAD
Change it must, said Pastor Leito. Top church leaders will continue to work together to improving teacher salary throughout Inter-America. “It is a reality we want to see improve. Not only salaries but perhaps other benefits as well for our teachers,” said Leito.
During the event, church leaders congratulated educators, teachers and administrators in Mexico for having the largest Adventist educational system in Inter-America with its 205 institutions.
The church in North Mexico has put together a comprehensive Adventist education model that will oversee curriculum design, teacher’s continuing education, organizational infrastructure, finances, and the welfare of the teacher and his/her family.
The comprehensive model has been planned for more than four years and began its implementation in six schools already this year. The goal is to reach the the 42 Adventist schools in North Mexico, with its more than 600 teachers and some 7,000 students attending, said Juan Jorge Acuña, education director for the church in North Mexico.
Already, top church administrators from Mexico’s other four major church regions have met to learn of the model for their hundreds of schools.
Teachers participated in various seminars and presentations during the four-day event. Image by Libna Stevens/IAD
The church in the Dominican Republic and Guatemala have also come up with a new strategic plan to provide their Adventist educational institutions where quality education, teacher salaries and benefits can uniformly be available to teachers and schools.
A special offering was collected to go towards providing continuing education for hundreds of teachers at the 81 Adventist schools in Haiti.
Speakers and presenters during the congress also included:
From the Adventist World Church: Mike Lekic, associate education director, Luis Schulz, associate education director, John Wesley Taylor, associate education director, Susana Schulz, assistant editor of Dialogue university magazine, and Dan Tucker promotions, director of promotions at Adventist Review Publishing. From the Inter-American Division: Israel Leito, IAD president, Dr. Elie Henry, executive secretary, Myrna Costa, vice president, and Myrna Colon vice president of Antillean Adventist University.
To view photos of Inter-America’s II Education Congress, click HERE