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IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENT TEACHERS

By Kay J. Belknap, Head of School

An excellent teacher, who can find?  Yet excellent teachers are indispensable to the success of a school.  We know from our own life experience that a teacher can have great impact for good or ill in the lives of those whom they teach.  As a Classical and Christian school, we desire to promote Faith and Worship in every classroom no matter what the subject. 

What characteristics in a teacher enable them to participate in this endeavor?  At Veritas Christian Academy, we look for five traits in each one we interview.  We want each teacher to be:

A lover of God and a godly role model.  Young children have not yet learned to look at Christ rather than men.  They look at their teacher to see what godliness looks like in everyday situations and relationships.  Is the teacher enthusiastic about God and His ways – does love for Him shine through in words and actions?  As students mature, they are even more sensitive to the gap that may exist between faith and practice.  Those in Middle School and High School see unfairness and hypocrisy quickly.  They need to see that spiritual maturity is possible, and they need to interact with a teacher who has a strong faith and is willing to be honest about the difficulties and joys of following Christ. Students are inspired to worship the only One Who can change and sustain them in real life.

In our interview process, each candidate is asked, “Where are you spiritually?  What is God doing in your life right now?”  We hope to receive a response that reflects a love for God, humility, and a desire to grow in Christ.  We look for authentic Christianity and a gracious spirit.

A God-created, not man-created, teacher.   God is the One who dispenses talents and gifts.  Although people can attend classes and learn the mechanics of teaching, nothing replaces the joy that flows from the teacher gifted to teach.  Students know whether or not the teacher loves to teach and are inspired by those who carry out their tasks with an eager heart and willing hands.  The teacher who perceives his task in the classroom as a privilege and calling points the students to a God Who loves us and calls us into His service.  They are moved to follow and worship the One Who gives meaning and purpose to our lives.

In our interview process, we look for those who have always been drawn to teaching – in Sunday School, as a homeschooler, as a coach, in other schools, and in other avenues.  God-created teachers teach when they can, and they are somewhat restless when they can’t!

A lover of children who has had training and experience in classroom management.  Effective discipline is only possible in the context of love.  Teachers reflect Christ’s love to their students when they call them to respond properly to authority and to treat one another with respect.  Discipline administered in a loveless atmosphere breeds rebellion and self-centeredness, while grace in the classroom provides accountability and encourages self-discipline and self-control.  Students learn when they know that they will not be rejected when they fail but will be held accountable in a consistent, safe environment.

In our interview process, we look for teachers whose eyes light up when they talk about past students, who recognize the value of each child, and who enjoy seeking the solution that is appropriate for the specific situation.  As children are disciplined in love, they learn to submit to the God Who loves them and disciplines them for their good. 

A person who is knowledgeable in the appropriate subject areas/grade levels and is excited about learning.  Teachers cannot teach well that which they do not know and love.  As they seek to produce a love of learning that becomes a way of life for their students, their own progress as students must be evident. 

When we interview, we look for those who have received excellent academic training and who continue to learn by reading good books, taking classes, or participating in other opportunities to expand their world.  The love of a subject is contagious and also gives the promise of thorough preparation.  As our students see their teachers’ enthusiasm in the pursuit of  knowledge and understanding, they are pointed to the infinite One, the Creator, Who possesses all wisdom and knowledge.  Worship is the anticipated result.

A person who is willing to learn new strategies and methods.  Teachers need a teachable spirit!  When we interview, we look for those who want to be stretched and to mature as teachers.  Often, we are asking the applicant to throw away much of his training and to begin anew, to discard the typical way of instruction. The life of faith is not stagnant nor is it simply the application of what we’ve always done.  As students see their teachers stretching themselves and approaching ideas and problems with creativity and thoughtful solutions, they learn to seek answers for themselves and to trust God to lead them.

We have found these characteristics to be indicative of a teacher who is successful in the classroom.  We see our students thriving as they are taught by godly men and women who walk by faith and worship our Lord. 

CURRENT INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

Veritas Christian Academy seeks teaching faculty, support staff, and administrators who are committed to Christ and to communicating the truth of the gospel through their academic discipline and the witness of their life as a believer.   Teachers and administrators must be born-again believers, have at least a bachelors’ degree from an ACSI approved college or university, and subscribe to the Statement of Faith found on our Faculty/Staff Application.  Veritas Christian Academy is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

The school is located just east of the intersection of Highway 25 and Cane Creek Road in one of North Carolina’s fastest growing communities.  The town of Fletcher is located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains midway between Asheville and Hendersonville.  The “small town” feel is evident, yet major cultural, athletic and shopping experiences are within minutes of the school.  The anticipated rapid growth of the school over the next few years will require the hiring of additional faculty and staff.

Veritas Christian Academy, an independent, non-denominational, college-preparatory, classical school, is beginning its eleventh year. 

VCA currently enrolls 355 students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve and has 62 full and part-time faculty and staff.  The school’s facilities include an 11- classroom Lower School, a 16-classroom Upper School (including two science labs and a new computer lab), an art studio, a music room, administrative offices, a multi-purpose room, and a teacher workroom.   The cafeteria has recently been completely remodeled and a regulation sized gymnasium supports our physical education and athletic programs.  The grounds include a soccer field, a state-of-the-art elementary playground, and softball field.  The school is in the process of raising funds to purchase six adjacent acres for additional athletic fields and a new upper school facility that will include academic classrooms, science and computer labs, a student center, library, offices, a fine and performing arts center, and a varsity gymnasium.

Veritas Christian Academy, provides the following benefits for full-time employees:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Retirement Program
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Professional Development Funds
• Sick Days
• Personal Leave Days

Veritas Christian Academy’s salary schedule is highly competitive among ACSI member schools, and the Board of Trustees and administration are committed to improving all aspects of employee benefits and salaries.  The instructional salary scale is based upon experience and educational credentials.  Stipends are available for athletic coaches and certain other time-intensive extracurricular responsibilities.