A Heart for Teaching
With the opening of our Student Support Center, our TCS family keeps growing! We are pleased to welcome Jennie Farrant to TCS. Jennie serves as an Intensive Reading teacher. “I have been in education for over ten years in a variety of capacities,” she says. “I started my teaching career as a first grade teacher before deciding to focus on serving students with learning differences. From there, I have worked as a tutor, a teacher at a school for dyslexic learners, an assistive technology trainer for college students, and a co-teacher. I feel like I have done it all!”
“I guess you could say teaching is in my blood,” says Jennie. “Both of my parents are retired teachers, and I can still remember going to my dad’s classroom when I was little. I would rearrange the desks and pass out books and pretend I was the teacher. I can still recall how much joy it brought me!”
“After college, I planned to go into the field of Educational Psychology and work as a school psychologist or counselor, Jennie continues. “However, I quickly realized I wanted a career where I could work with students daily and build deeper relationships with them. While working with preschool students with special needs, I realized I had a heart for the students and was inspired to pursue a teaching certificate in Interrelated Special Education from UGA. Reading and language arts are my loves, so I later returned to school to get my masters degree in Reading Education. Down the road, I got a job teaching at a school specifically for dyslexic learners and began training with the Academy of Orton-Gillingham. This really ignited my passion for working with students who struggle with reading and has equipped me to support them.”
Jennie says, “At The Christ School, I love having the opportunity to work with students in small groups and really focus on their needs and how I can best teach them. There is no greater fulfillment as a teacher than in seeing my students learn and grow and hearing words like, ‘I used to hate reading, but now I love it!’ That warms my heart and is why I do what I do! I also love seeing my students grow in confidence. I want them to know that God has made them so uniquely and perfectly and to be confident in that.”
“I have so enjoyed working at TCS,” says Jennie. “I have an amazing team in the Student Support Center, and it brings me such joy to work alongside them each day. It already feels like a little family!”
“One of the other things I love about teaching at TCS is the opportunity to be in the same building as my family each day,” she says. “I know our two boys are being loved on and taught with excellence each and every day. My greatest hope for them is to grow in their love for God so they can then love others. We have a sign in our house that says, ‘Love God. Love People. The End.’ That about sums it up!”
Jennie was born and raised in the metro Atlanta area. “I have loved being a Floridian for the last year and a half,” she says. “I am all about the warm weather! My parents and three siblings still live in the Atlanta area. We are able to visit each other often since it is not too far away. A fun fact is that I have a twin sister! We are fraternal twins and could not be more different. She is very outdoorsy and loves horses, while you are more likely to find me curled up with a book or shopping.”
“My husband, Aaron, and I have been married for sixteen years,” says Jennie. “We have two boys, Eli (TCS 4th grade Lion ) and Austin (TCS 1st grade Lion), who bring immeasurable joy to our lives! We love playing games as a family.”
Jennie shares her favorite Bible verse:
“My favorite passage of Scripture is Philippians 4:4-9. I have it written on an index card so I can read it regularly. I especially love verses 6-7 because they remind me to turn my worries over to God and His peace that passes ALL understanding will guard my heart and mind.” she says.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.