Spencerville Adventist Academy Welcomes New Spanish and STEM Teachers

The Spencerville Adventist Academy (SAA) fam- ily is excited to introduce two new staff members to the 2023–24 school year.

Salma Moretta recently completed 34 years as a Spanish teacher in Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools district where she taught students in elementary, middle and high school grades. She says she had an incredible experience working in that “mission field,” one that taught her how to min- ister to students and colleagues entirely through her actions.

Now, working in a Christian environment, she can speak to her students about Jesus. “Knowing that I am able to openly talk about Jesus with my students and fellow teachers fills my heart with joy,” says Moretta. Her plan is to channel this joy into her everyday lessons to make Spanish class an enriching and unforgettable experience for all her students.

Moretta and her husband, Carlos, have three daughters: Natalie, Nayeli and Nicole. In her free time, she loves to garden, spend time with fam- ily and friends over a good meal, drive through the countryside, travel, and learn about different cultures. She says she is thrilled to be SAA’s K–8 Spanish teacher and is looking forward to having a wonderful experience!

Joel Shetler was born and raised in central Virginia. After graduating from high school, he attended Union College (Neb.) where he studied Science Education. It was there that he met his wife, Rebekah, whom he married in June 2022. Upon graduating, Joel spent a year teaching science at a small Christian school in Nebraska. Starting to get homesick, the couple began praying for an opportu- nity to relocate to the East Coast. And their prayers were answered.