Teachers Prepare for School Year Ahead at Encounter Training

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

This week, 25 Columbia Union Conference elementary and four secondary teachers (including Elandya Howell from Sharon Temple Adventist School in North Wilmington, Del., pictured) gathered for an Encounter Bible curriculum training at Chesapeake Conference’s Spencerville Adventist Academy in Spencerville, Md. 

“It was a wonderful time of team collaboration and intense work that prepared the educators to work effectively with their students,” says Steve Laing, associate director for Secondary Education at the Columbia Union Conference Office of Education and one of the event coordinators. “The Lord continues to bless His educational ministry here in the Columbia Union Conference!”

Instructors Betty Nugent, project-based learning and special projects coordinator for the Florida Conference, and Desmond Suarez, a teacher at Potomac Conference’s Richmond Academy, led the sessions that taught the North American Division’s Bible curriculum.

Though the training was for the religion classes, Nugent shared examples of how the lessons can be applied in language arts, science, social studies, physical education and more.

Laing adds, “Spiritual applications are encouraged in all subjects. The emphasis in each classroom is to have Christ in every aspect of Adventist Christian education.”