In the second chapter of our book, Deidre and I reminisce about how and why we entered the teaching profession. She was a young twenty-something when she began, but I was an experienced-looking older novice who was given remedial eighth-graders my first year in the classroom. Saying that I learned more from my “on-the-job” training than from any college class I took is a definite understatement!

Why are you in the education profession? Is it something you “fell into” as Deidre originally did, or was it always your plan/dream to become a teacher? One of the reasons we wrote our book and have begun this blog is to support the educators who are currently working “in the trenches” in our public, private, and homeschool classrooms. We want to hear from you personally so we can discuss the experiences that motivate and keep you going as an educator, and the challenges that threaten to drive you away. As we summarized in Chapter II, “You are involved in the second most influential career in the world. After parenthood, teachers affect the future in powerful ways.” You are a valuable asset in the classroom – we don’t want to lose you!

Sue – Voice II

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God has the ultimate plan for our lives. Perhaps teaching is God’s plan for you, but you are not sure of it right now as you stand before young people each day. At twenty-one, I could not fully understand yet that God had designed and destined me to teach until I began to fully accept that God really did have the plan for my life. I stopped trying to create my own plan and learned how to follow Him. I now know that I did not just “fall” into teaching, but discovered as I committed my ways to Him, that it was God’s plan for me. If you find that teaching is what continues to open up to you no matter what you do or say, then you may need to cry “uncle,” and ask God to strengthen you. After all, when God told the Israelites that He had a good plan for their future, they were actually in bondage and captivity. Some educators may also feel that they are in bondage if they teach at a low performance, poor, or chaotic school. Let me encourage you to trust God with your life. Believe and open yourself up to the possibility that you were put right where you are because your gifts, talents, and creative ideas are needed in that very place. Trust in God means to fully let go of your reins and completely fall into His arms. Actually, they are always there whether you acknowledge it or not.  No matter how bad the fall looks, trust Him to catch you. Experience has taught me that He will.

Deidre – Voice I

I just returned from an amazing trip to Alaska. I thought West Virginia was God’s country . . . and then I saw parts of our 49th state. Everywhere we visited was magnificent in scope and showed evidence of God’s handiwork. From the flight across the country where I soared above the fluffy clouds to the breathing spouts of numerous whales I observed from the deck of our cruise ship, I was reminded of how small and insignificant I am in comparison to God’s creation. Later, as we waited in the crowded Seattle airport for our return flight, I considered that every single person scurrying by me with luggage, baby strollers, or carry-on bags was known by God. That same Creator of all I had seen on our trip knows them and He knows you. Now that is truly amazing!

Sue – Voice II

I agree with Sue that  West Virginia is truly God’s country, although I never thought so as a child. Growing up in NYC with The Statue of Liberty, The Twin Towers, and The Empire State Building as ordinary features just added to my narrow, youthful mind. At one time, my impression  of West Virginia was that it was just another “Hicksville USA.” Why in the world did John Denver ever write such a lovely song about such a wood-filled place, I would ask? That was until I had the opportunity to visit Sue and her family there, and found myself in awe while driving through those breath-taking mountains. When my husband and I actually drove through a mountain that God had allowed mere man to forge out of His spectacular creation, my heart pounded like a woman in love at first sight! I realized that my perception of West Virginia was all wrong. My previous judgment had remained in an infant state because I had made little effort to mature it until I was offered and took the opportunity to actually experience the Mountain State.

Question: How many times do we view others based on our own limited views, experiences, or knowledge of what we feel “we just know?”

Thought: God made us all unique and with a purpose. We must recognize that just like every place has the simple and the spectacular all mixed in together, so does each individual. We must seek to find the good – the spectacular – in everyone. Don’t ever limit God or His creation.

Deidre – Voice I

Another school year is beginning. Teachers, you never know who is sitting in your classroom. Some of my former middle school students are doing amazingly well. Many now have classrooms of their own, are managing their own businesses, enjoying nursing careers, at least one holds a professorship at a major university, several are world travelers, and my most consistent overachiever may soon be interpreting at the United Nations! Make good memories this school year and enjoy each moment.

Sue Whited, Voice II

When I reflect on the new school year, I remember Principal McGee from “GREASE.” She dramatically plays the xylophone as she reminds the students how they can perhaps be the next Eleanor Roosevelt, President Eisenhower, or Joe DiMaggio. As she calls out the prominent names, the different characters who portray the high school students, lift up their chins, poke out their chests, or display wide grins as they think on the possibility of being someone great. The bottom line is that all students really are already great within because of their Creator. They just need our help  to discover it.

Question: How does the teacher or parent in you help bring out the possibility of greatness in each student or child you will directly impact in this new year.

Answer: We must remember to “look-up” and ask God to show us the heart of that child as He sees it. We must be mindful that each person has been given unique  gifts, skills and talents in order  to perform  or complete a specific assignment in this life. Parents and educators alike  are given  the privilege to help a child discover his or her reason for being. As God begins to show us things, our compassionate eyes become more aware and are opened to see new levels. This better insight enables us to love and mold  the ones we least like and to discipline and challenge  the ones who are so easy to love. All  of these actions can be  done  within such  a balanced intricate  realm  that the best in each child is forced to surface beyond what we initially thought was ever possible.

Remember, you have the power to help every student you teach this year reach his or her next level of growth.  Please don’t waste it.

Deidre Hester, Voice I

Recipe for affecting change: Start with the beleaguered teaching profession and add two best friends of different races, cultures, and ages who meet in the classrooms of a middle school. Simmer with a candid two-way discussion of diverse topics, and baste with an underlying strong faith in God and His Word. The eye-opening result is One God, Two Voices: Life-Changing Lessons from the Classroom on the Issues Challenging Today’s Families by Deidre Hester and Sue Whited, which updates and expounds on the authors’ earlier work, For Such a Time as This . . . We Are But Small Voices. Expect to be challenged, convicted, and perhaps changed!

The mission of onegodtwovoices.com is to provide a united platform that will encourage and support the education profession, help break down racial and cultural divides, and uphold God’s Word as the standard for our daily living in order to leave a lasting legacy for our children.

The “Two Voices” are educators with a passion for teaching and a love for students. We are also from two very different backgrounds, races, and ages. Can you imagine what happens when we start to discuss today’s current educational, racial, social, and polical issues? Let’s just say, it gets interesting! We forgot the most important thing – we are the best of friends and happened to be drawn together by our Christianity; our love for God and His Word.

Please join us and become a “voice” in our conversation.