Who is Mrs. Bartholomew?
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The Short Story I grew up in Denver, CO, where I went to Riverview Christian Academy. I graduated from Oral Roberts University and did my first year of teaching in Texas. Next, I lived overseas as a missionary. I was homesick after 4 years and returned home, where I taught for 4 more years at Cherry Creek Hope. I met my husband and we moved north! I have been teaching Kindergarten at ORCS for 2 years and LOVVVEEE it! In total, I have taught for 9 years and worked in education for 3 years and love my calling! |
The Whole Story
My husband and I moved from Denver, CO to Minot, ND 4.5 years ago. We met and married in Denver, CO and moved here for his job, nope not oil or Air Force, he is a youth pastor at Minot First Church of the Nazarene. Why be a teacher? I have always worked with children. It started by volunteering in the church nursery. I would love to say it was for a noble cause, but really I didn't want to sit in the sanctuary. As I grew older I began teaching sunday school and my calling began to grow. In college my calling was confirmed in one of my education classes as our Dean challenged us to make sure we were in the right class. She looked in our eyes and said teaching is not a career. You will only make it in this field if you are called by God. At that moment I felt the pounding of truth in my heart. This is how I would change the world! My adventure began in Tulsa, OK when I graduated from Oral Roberts University with my BS in Elementary Education. After months of nerve wrecking waiting and praying I got a job in Houston, TX to teach 5th grade. There, God called me to teach overseas. Off to Botswana, Africa I went. My first year, I taught a 5th-12th grade combination classroom. Once we had more staff I taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. The next 2 years were truly and adventure as I worked in the remote villages doing week long camps teaching health and the Bible. |
After 4 years in Africa, I began to miss home, but I took the long way home and traveled around the world with my roommate. Back in my hometown, Denver, CO, I took up teaching again and taught 3,4,5th grade (yes altogether), at Cherry Creek HOPE. I loved having my same students for 3 years. We bonded and grew together. My next adventure involved my handsome husband and moving to North Dakota. For the first 2 years, I worked in various aspects of education. My first experience was being a para educator in a Kindergarten class for a semester while I waited to get my ND Teaching License. Then I went to work for Pathfinder Parent Center as the Parent Involvement Director. Here I supervised the federal grant for 40 schools and worked with DPI to create a professional development program in the area of parent involvement. Due to federal funding cutbacks the grant ended and I yearned to go back to the classroom. The opportunity I have been waiting for came along- a teaching position at Our Redeemer Christian School! I am so excited to be teaching Kindergarten at Our Redeemers for the 3rd year! I love inspiring learning through discovery. |