About the "Teacher Feature"
The Teacher Feature is designed to acquaint you with "another side" of our Academy teachers in addition to their professional lives. Each month, an interview and a few photo clips of a teacher will appear in the Teacher Feature. We have great people serving here at the Academy, and we want you to get to know and appreciate them. - Mr. Zimmerman
The following article was published on Mar 1, 2010.
Mrs. Jan Neureuther
What do you do for fun?
I really enjoy going skiing with Aaron and the kids (Destinee, Kayla, Ian, Kalle, and Kadan). For the past few years, our big "family" Christmas present has been season passes to Big Rock. Last year even Kadan started skiing when he turned three, and Ian and Destinee have officially upgraded to snowboarding. A day on the mountain is very refreshing. In the summer, I like playing outside, swimming in the pool, jumping on the trampoline or four wheeling with my family. Running, hiking, playing baseball or soccer are also activities we enjoy. Basically, as long as I am outside in God's beautiful creation and with my family, I am a happy camper!
What books or books have you recently read?
Truthfully, while taking care of 5 children (and a husband) and tending to the house, my Bible is the one book that I get to read. Other than that, I have been doing some online special education reading and researching that will help me to enhance the Learning Resource Center here at GHCA. During the summer when I do have some free time to read for pleasure, I read any Karen Kingsbury books that I can get my hands on.
How did you spend the summer?
I ran GHCA's Summer Academy from 8-3 three days a week and then spent the rest of the time with my family. We spent a couple of days on the coast and took Kadan to "A Day Out with Thomas the Train." His expression was priceless as he saw Thomas round the bend and then got to ride on a big Thomas the Train steam engine. We sat in the caboose so he could listen to the whistle and watch the steam come from under the train. The rest of the kids enjoyed looking for hermit crabs and finding other sea life on the coast. From there we went to stay with my best friend and went to York's Animal Kingdom and Funtown/Splashtown. A ride on an elephant and holding a giant python were pleasers at York's, while riding all the HUGE rides and waterslides were the excitement at Funtown/Splashtown.
Of what church are you a member and in what ministries do you participate?
I attend the Houlton Wesleyan Church where I am surrounded by a very loving group of pastors and friends. I am the Children's Church Director and lead the opening singing for Sunday School. In addition, I direct the children's Christmas program and other specials for the children to sing in church. Until the beginning of January, I had also taught the 3/4 Grade Sunday School class. I have decided to take a break from teaching Sunday School in order to focus on building up the Children's Church program. After attending a children's ministry workshop, I decided to run the program from 10:15-12:00. Each week we have a store where the children buy items with their Bible Bucks earned during Sunday School and previous children's church weeks, a 15 minute praise and worship set, and then the message including crafts and games centered around that week's topic. We are just finishing with a 13-week study on how to spread the love of Jesus to those around us. We have already remodeled the entire children's church rooms and grown to around 30 children every week. I am excited to see what else God has in store for this program!
Do you have a life verse? Why have you adopted it?
Phillipians 4:13 has gotten me through everything in my life. Without God, I would not be able to do all the ministries I do and still be the godly mother and wife that God has given me the charge to be.
What have you done recently to better yourself professionally?
I have been reading various books and articles dealing with Special Education. I have also recently attending a 2-day training on the Woodcock Johnsom III achievement and cognitive battery of testing. This will allow me to do my own testing to qualify students to receive specialized instruction under the state standards.
What makes you want to get up in the morning?
See next answer.
What do you like about GHCA?
What makes me get up every morning is knowing that I have to get myself and five kids ready and out the door to get into my classroom by 7:30! Seriously, I LOVE my job here at GHCA. I am so blessed that God has given me such a passion to work with children in order to further His kingdom. Being surrounded by children every day brings great joy into my heart. My daily prayer is that God can work through me to touch the lives of the students that walk through these halls. Whether it is a PreK student or a senior, God has a plan for each of them; and I am blessed to be one little part of that plan.
If you could design your dream school, what would it look like?
Physically, I would like to see a facility with a gym and enough rooms to do all that God has a desire for us to do. A full-time Special Education Director would be a necessity. Spiritually, I pray that the halls would be flooded with God's overwhelming presence. What the students say, how they conduct themselves, and how they influence our community would show evidence that each student is living a Christ-centered life.
