Echo Spring 2023 - 17

" Student voice is something I value in
my classroom, " he said. " Students took
an assessment at the beginning of the
year to discover their individual strengths
and learning styles. Through multiple
opportunities, students became familiar
with how their learning styles influenced
their method of understanding and
problem solving. "
In addition, he said, allowing his students
to take ownership and maximize their
learning is one of his favorite aspects of
teaching.
" When my students tell me how they
are having conversations at home with
their families about the problems we are
solving in class, by giving students voice
and choice, I have fostered the culture
in my classroom where students feel
valued and heard, " he said. " It not only
gets my students excited about learning,
but it allows learning to break past the
walls of my classroom. "
Is it any wonder Joe earned the 2022
Rising Star Secondary H-E-B Excellence
in Education Award, the 2021 Southern
Methodist University Excellent Educator
Award, Top Teacher honor by Fort
Worth Magazine, the 2019 Rising Star
Finalist Elementary H-E-B Excellence
in Education Award, Tarrant County's
Talented 10: Educator Finalist, State of
Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year
Finalist, the 2018 Region 11 Elementary
Teacher of the Year and the GrapevineColleyville
Elementary Teacher of the
Year? The recognitions for his excellence
in teaching, both locally and statewide,
are numerous.
How do all the amazing accolades find
their connection to LBC?
" My time and experience at Lancaster
Bible College were something I will
always treasure, " Joe said. " Not only did
I learn so much about the Bible, but
I found out more about my gifts and
talents and how to use them to glorify
God. The two most significant things I
gained from LBC were the importance
of persevering in tough times and what
it truly means to be in community with
other believers. Looking back, I can
honestly say that I would not be where I
am today without having gone through
those LBC years. "
In 2018, Joe married his wife, Brittany,
a Texan accountant he met at church.
Their daughter, Alyse, is 1½ years old
and will be a big sister in October
when her new sibling arrives. Teachers
themselves are always learning, too,
so Joe is enrolled in online graduate
courses through the University of
California Irvine in the Instructional
Design track.
" The Lord is always teaching me
something new with every season of
my life, " he said. " Currently, the Lord is
using others around me and His Word
to remind me to continue to find my
identity in Him, rather than in my career,
my family and my accomplishments.
When some of those things occupy so
much of my time and energy, it can
be easy to fall into an identity trap. It's
always a beautiful reminder of who we
are in Christ since the Lord will never
fail us. "
As a teacher, this is an important lesson,
but also for every professional who
strives for excellence.
Learn more about the bachelors, masters
and doctoral degrees in LBC | Capital's
Education Department at lbc.edu/
education.
ECHO 17
http://www.lbc.edu/
Echo Spring 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Echo Spring 2023
