Name: Emily Myers
Graduation Year: Undergraduate 2015, Master’s 2018
Major: Elementary Education
Current Position: Sixth Grade Teacher
City and State: Nixa, MO
Tell us about your career and what you do now.
Since graduating from Evangel in 2015, I have been a sixth grade Language Arts teacher at Inman Intermediate in Nixa, MO. I am passionate about teaching and learning, and I love serving my students and their families. I am also passionate about leadership. I am involved in various leadership roles including serving on the Instructional Leadership Team and as the Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) Tier 1 coach. I have also coached girls’ basketball at Nixa High School for the last four years. I just recently accepted the position of Elementary Assistant Principal at Inman Intermediate and John Thomas School of Discovery in Nixa, and I will officially begin this new role next school year! Teaching and leading is where the Lord has called me to be. I am beyond blessed with the opportunity to start this new chapter in my life and be able to serve and have an impact on a greater level.
What is your favorite memory from Evangel?
I have so many memories from my years at Evangel. I played basketball for the Lady Crusaders, went to Guatemala and Cambodia on missions trips, had incredible professors who prepared me for the education field, and met my husband in the Mabee Fitness Center! It’s hard to pick just one memory, but I was blessed with the opportunity to speak in chapel, and that is an experience I will never forget! It was incredible being able to share my heart with my peers, professors, and family.
How did Evangel help you identify/develop your calling?
It was very important to me to attend a Christian University to be surrounded by Christ-loving people and encouraged daily by those pursuing their callings. I walked onto the Evangel campus knowing my purpose in life was in the field of education, and my experiences over the next few years solidified that calling. The schools I was placed in for practicum and student teaching experiences opened my eyes to the needs in schools, and this ignited in me a desire to be an educator and serve students and their families. I think it is incredibly important for Christians to be in public schools, and my time at Evangel helped develop me as a Christian educator.
How did your experience at Evangel prepare you for life after graduation?
Throughout my time at Evangel, both on the basketball court and in the classroom, I gained many valuable skills that have helped me to be successful. I am always striving to be the best I can be as I set goals and strive to attain them. Evangel taught me to pursue my purpose with fervor and to trust the Lord in the process. There will be challenges along the way, no doubt. While playing basketball my junior and senior years, I tore my ACL and had reconstruction surgery twice. While heartbreaking, this experience taught me that despite disappointments and setbacks, God has a plan for my life, and I must stay faithful as His servant. The scripture that guided me through college and continues to drive me is 1 Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
What advice would you give a current student preparing for the workforce?
Never stop learning! As a teacher, I love sharing my passion for learning with my students. I enjoy professional development in many forms: attending conferences. reading books and articles, networking with other professionals, and learning via social media. It is essential in any field to continuously pursue knowledge, develop ourselves as professionals, and refuse to be content with where we are. When we stop learning, we stop growing. Be a learner for life!
What would you look for if you were in a position to hire new graduates from Evangel?
I would look for graduates who pursue life with passion. Many skills can be taught, but a strong work ethic, passion, and purpose are engrained in a person. I would want to hire someone who strives to serve others, regardless of his or her position, and acts with integrity. I would look for ambition and an eagerness to make a difference where God has called him or her to be.