A word from … Mona Tessmer

THANK YOU TEACHERS!

Teachers are entrusted with our most precious gift—our children. Each of our sons and daughters will spend thousands of hours with teachers over the course of their educational journey. While on this journey, FRCS promises to deliver an exceptional, discipleship-based, liberal arts education that raises up Christian scholars and culture makers for Christ.

Whew! That’s almost too big for me to wrap my arms around. I’m glad that someone smarter and more visionary than me created our school with that vision in mind, as well as a plan for achieving it.

But today, not only because it’s Teacher Appreciation next week, but especially because it is, I want to acknowledge those on the ground floor who are taking this charge head-on—our teachers, at every grade level and program.

I imagine a job description for any FRCS teacher would include: Must be uniquely qualified to show students the world through the lens of the Bible and create in them a desire to be lifelong learners, WHILE molding their hearts to rely on Jesus, WHILE providing an engaging education that instills solid academic skills, equipping students for college and beyond, WHILE considering differentiated instruction needed for all personalities, learning styles, and abilities, WHILE sensing outside issues of what’s going on in a student’s life at home or inside their hearts, WHILE walking alongside students through relationship challenges, mental health journeys, and uncertainties about their futures, ALL WHILE walking alongside them in developing the virtues of a Christian scholar (faith, courage, integrity, creativity, eloquence, humility, diligence, firmness, love, and balance).

Clearly, this is not just a job but—especially at our small Christian school—a calling. Paul speaks of the spiritual gift of instructing and communicating knowledge.

“We all have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve, if it is teaching, then teach.” Romans 12:6-7

Teachers, thank you for accepting this call. Our family has been personally blessed by the fruits of your labor. My husband, Dan and I, have two sons, Sammy, in 10th grade at FRCS, and CJ, a college student and 2022 graduate of FRCS.

Last year, members of the Board were encouraged to lead an end-of-summer devotional for teachers. God gave me a nudge to bring along CJ, who spoke about how teachers had impacted him while at Front Range.

CJ first spoke of his thankfulness for a quality education that helped him academically succeed in a tough college major. Teachers sacrificed their time, well beyond class, to help him with his studies. Second, and even more important, he felt well grounded to make his faith even more personal coming out of high school. He was not afraid to explore it out of the safety net of high school and home, and he often found himself engaging in faith conversations. And finally, he was so grateful to his teachers for just being there for him, through challenges and joy, through ease and difficulty, through fear and hope. He felt seen, heard, known, loved, and valued.

Teachers, hear this from a mom, Board member, and part of this community—I know I am speaking for many: THANK YOU for answering this humble but great calling. THANK YOU for your investment in our children and future generations. THANK YOU for letting God’s love flow through you and into our children. THANK YOU for your excellence in teaching academics. THANK YOU for acting as a role model in shaping our children’s values and beliefs. THANK YOU for your genuine care, guidance, and support for our children. THANK YOU for sharing your hearts in an open and honest way. THANK YOU for knowing there can be complexity in a child’s faith journey and hanging with them. THANK YOU for every task you perform, large or mundane, that you do without recognition. And finally, THANK YOU for consistently pointing our children to the source of all answers—Jesus Christ.

Finally, let me share a verse from Deuteronomy 32, that Moses sang to the Israelites, encouraging them to heed his teaching to follow God.

“May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb.” v. 2

Likewise, you, teachers, are the rain and the dew that nourish the tender grass, our children, along their journey. Your tender hearts have received a call, and you have responded, nourishing and blessing our children. I hope these words of true thankfulness are encouraging; I know they are felt by many. Teachers,

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20

Community, hug a teacher next week! Reach out and let them know how much they are loved and appreciated.

And … teachers and administration, if you’ve read this far, let me share that the Board is bringing in a coffee cart for our wonderful staff on Tuesday, May 6! We hope to see you/hug you there!!