Education
- Faculty Profile - Deb Roth
Deb Roth
Director of ACCESS program, faculty member in education and student success, coordinator of disability services
620-327-8239
debr@hesston.edu
A.A., Hesston College, 1983
B.A., Goshen (Ind.) College, 1985
The dream of becoming an educator has been a part of my life since I was a young girl. I enjoyed taking my first education classes at Hesston College in the early 80s from Al Yoder (HC faculty emeritus). When the opportunity arose for me to teach these education courses, I could not pass up the chance to pass on my passion for the teaching and learning process to exploring education students!
Teaching in a middle level classroom for 17 years in both private and public school settings provides me with a lot of practical experiences to share with students. Being a parent of sons in the elementary, middle and high school levels in the local district also gives me a unique perspective of education.
As I visit with prospective students, I am always anxious to hear of their stories, their love for children, their passion for a certain subject area, a favorite educator that has impacted their lives or a sense of calling to the field of education. I stress to students enrolled in my education classes that teaching is a course of study that can take one in many directions over a lifetime. Hesston College students transfer to state universities as well as other Mennonite institutions to complete their teaching degree. I know of alumni who are putting their teaching degree to use in the inner city, in other countries and by homeschooling their own children. Others are administrators, educational consultants, and have specialized in a particular educational field such as special education or literacy.
In the education courses at Hesston College, I encourage students to look at a teaching career realistically and challenge them to think through both the struggles and rewards that lie ahead. My goal is to model the art of reflection for these future teachers and guide them in this lifelong professional activity. I believe that next to the call to be a pastor, answering God’s call to teach is very real and should not be taken lightly.
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