It is hard to believe that in just a few weeks I will be ending my time as a teacher with Seasons.
I joined Seasons four years ago when it was still known as Classes By Beth Plus, upon our return from the mission field. During an uncertain time in our own lives, as we transitioned from living internationally to living back in the United States, Beth Hempton challenged me to take a love of teaching, something I had been doing in Asia, and transfer that love to working with homeschooled children across the country (even Europe).
Homeschooling wasn’t new to me. We already had been homeschooling our own children since the birth of our first, who at this point was approaching 18. She is also a teacher now at Seasons, having taken up the mantel of French instructor, a course I first started while I also taught a handful of science courses.
Online portals also weren’t new to me, having used them in different iterations throughout my varied career as a journalist, communications director and pastoral teacher. So off we went, me improving my ability to write lesson plans as well as grade homework on a weekly basis.
But it quickly became clear that Seasons was much more than an online class program. It was about the families who participated and a desire to not only see their children do well in each class, but to see these families overall become better homeschoolers. As a Christian-based program, Seasons wants each family to pursue a Godly relationship first, an education second.
Now, as a teacher of two science courses and three English literature courses, I love the way faith and curriculum easily intersect during each class. I’m sure some of my students will remember a few lectures turned sermons, but the yearning to see each of them fulfill their purpose in Christ has always meant more to me, and to the other instructors at Seasons.
My only reason for leaving Seasons is because my main purpose — training pastors internationally — has increased to the point where maintaining both opportunities is no longer possible.
Many of my students will remember Mr. Schwarzen coming to them in the wee hours of the morning while somewhere else on the other side of the world. Others will simply remember that Mr. Schwarzen likes to wear his overalls to class (as evidenced by my teacher photo above), waiting patiently for his wife to bring him a lovely cup of tea while teaching.
But what I hope most families who have taken my classes remember is how I have loved the opportunity to build relationships with each student and their parents. I want them to know who God is and who they are in God. This is the Seasons way.
For more information on Seasons and the classes it offers, click here.