Dr. Jim Roy is a professor of education. He took a moment to answer some questions about what future educators experience in the classroom.
Q: What can I teach with a PUC education degree?
A: Preschool through 12th grade in both public school and Adventist school systems.
Q: Why should I take education at PUC?
A: Our faculty and staff focus on what works for young people and on practical application. There is a real support system where our students get nurturing and attention. We offer all the tools for success as a future educator.
Q: Is there a club for education majors?
A: Our student-run and faculty-supported Future Educators Club is very active on and off campus. The club works to cover school expenses for kids in Peru and in the area. We also get together for pre-vespers to eat, sing and share, or even plan trips to the coast.
Q: Do you help us find teaching jobs?
A: Our faculty is well connected locally and with Adventist schools around the nation. We get calls all the time from colleagues and former students looking for new candidates. Each year, our “Placement Book” gets sent across the nation to let schools know who’s graduating. Our graduates consistently get the jobs they want. Some teach English at international schools for a year or two, in places like Taiwan, Thailand and Japan.
Q: Does faith tie in to the education program?
A: Spirituality is part of everything we do, so we incorporate it as much as possible into our curriculum. I love that our students expect that spirituality will be a part of their classroom experience. We hope that our program will help them achieve personal spiritual growth, which they can incorporate into their careers and the lives of our young people.
Q: What’s a favorite teaching moment?
A: It’s when a class is fully involved in the topic and asking tons of questions. I also love it when students tell personal stories about how they chose teaching as a career. Their stories make me feel like I’m walking on sacred ground in the classroom.