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 24, 2009.
Mrs. Renda Elmore
What do you do for fun?
Anything with my family is top on my list. With our family spread out now, that is harder to do, and I enjoy anything we do together : skating, skiing, snowmobiling, bowling, canoeing, outdoor summer games, watching a movie or just talking. For relaxation, I love to read ; I also like Sodoku, Chinese mahjong, and anagrams. Sometimes I like to just do math. I enjoy a mind challenge; I actually find that relaxing. For our 25th wedding anniversary, my husband, Jim, and I vacationed in the Cayman Islands where we swam with stingrays, and I even had an iguana jump into my lap.
Of what church are you a member and in what ministries do you participate?
We attend Houlton Wesleyan Church and over the years have been involved in a variety of ministries such as women's Bible studies, Angel Tree, Christmas coffee, small group Bible studies and women's Bible studies. Hosting groups for church guests is my favorite because you meet different people from different places and of different ages but all believers. One time we put up 6 teen age boys from a traveling summer choir. What a pleasure to meet young men strong in faith having joy in their singing.
How did you spend the summer?
I spent a lot of time studying, taking on line courses in order to be a better teacher . I also spent time planning for this school year. We took the family to Washington, D.C., for a historical sight seeing trip. We vacationed at Myrtle Beach, SC. We all love the water. We always play miniature golf. This is the first summer in years that I didn't have a garden, but I still bought and froze and canned all the vegetables, pickles, and jams that we use for the year, These kept me pretty busy.
What book or books have you recently read?
I read the Last Jihad and The Last Days by Joel Rosenburg. I am more aware of possibilities of how the last days could come about in our times. At present, My husband and I are competing for the novel, Fireproof, on which the movie is based. (He's winning. I'll have to wait my turn to finish it). I'm always reading books from junior high and up in order to find good books to add to the book list I've compiled for my students. One outstanding book is Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston about the man trapped in a climbing incident where he had to cut off his arm to save himself.
Do you have a life verse? Why have you adopted it?
Actually my husband and I share a verse and a song. Romans 8:28 and "I know not why ... but I know whom I have believed". We sang this song at our wedding and its been our theme song for 25 years. Through everything we've lived through, we may not have known why God allowed some things, but we know who has brought us through - Jesus Christ.. Because we love God and are called according to His purpose, God has worked good in every situation.
What have you done recently to better yourself professionally?
I have taken a number of courses, and I always read the ACSI periodic journal, "Christian School Educator". I want to be the best teacher I can so that the students I have each year will benefit from being in my classes.
What makes you want to get up in the morning?
Late night studying makes it difficult to get up, but knowing I have another day to be in the class room, teaching and helping prepare students to be the best they can be in every way makes me want to get up. Also, knowing I have a loving family who are committed Christians is the other reason.
What do you like about GHCA?
I appreciate the comradery among the staff. I love working with a group of people whose priority is to influence students for Jesus Christ.
If you could design your dream school, what would it look like?
A large meeting area would be the top of my list. Walking to MSBC in the winter months, with coughing, sniffing students ?? I dream of a facility where we would not have to take students out in the elements. A school library would be my personal desire. A room for teachers supplies be nice as well. I would like a school with a gym and soccer field all together.
