Ministry in the Classroom: Irvin School of Education

No matter one’s major, all students at Hardin-Simmons University are equipped to use their future careers as a form of ministry. The Irvin School of Education (SOE) provides students with the tools needed to pass rigorous teaching certifications, effectively manage classrooms, mold minds, and to be leaders for Christ on their future campuses.  

The Irvin SOE has earned numerous awards throughout the years. The school was recognized as an Exemplary K-12 Partnership by the Center for Research, Evaluation & Advancement of Teacher Education due to its summer camp, Dream Catchers. Another accolade the school holds is the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) Educator Preparation Program (EPP) Commendations for 2019-2020 Reporting Year – for exemplary performance in Commendation Category: Preparing the Educator Texas Needs – Percentage of Prepared Teachers in Teacher Shortage Areas. The school, however, prides itself most on sending Christian leaders out into the world.  

Tim Maskill ’13 originally planned on pursuing a career in traditional ministry when he arrived on campus. Through the examples of leadership of Coach Jimmie Keeling and Coach Jesse Burleson on the field, Maskill’s perspective on ministry shifted dramatically. Maskill spoke of his decision to pursue education saying,

I was exposed to high-performing encouragers who planted the seeds of a different ministry—the ministry of education. My classes through the education program prepared me to be a light in the classroom. My student teaching and capstone classes taught me an understanding of becoming an engaging teacher.

Dr. Renee Collins, Associate Dean of Irvin SOE, described the ministry of teaching by saying, “Teachers make an impact on the next generation through using effective methods and providing resources that unlock the minds to form opinions, to ask questions, and develop new solutions to problems in the world.” 

Dr. Renee Collins

With their collective 60 plus years of teaching experience, Irvin SOE faculty teach in innovative and practical ways to prepare students for the realities of the classroom. Students experience hands-on learning through field-based experiences, practicum summer camp teaching opportunities, and classroom teaching experiences using research-based strategies. 

The faculty of Irvin SOE provide a one-of-a-kind education for students with their wide array of experience and expertise. The SOE faculty members have served in the world of education as principals, regional service center consultants, classroom teachers, directors of unique programs, camps, and presenters for professional development for districts/campuses in areas of special education, English as a Second Language (ESL), content literacy, emergent literacy, dyslexia, gifted education, writing, social and emotional issues, and classroom management. 

We can all agree with Dr. Collins when she said, “Teaching effectively provides hope to the hopeless, a community of life-long learners, a sense of order in a chaotic world of relationships, and opportunities to transform the world around us through developing critical thinking skills.”