If you ask Zachariah Rippee, a 2015 SBU graduate, what makes an SBU education valuable,
he will instantly tell you that it’s all about the people you meet there, especially
the faculty and staff who intentionally invest in the lives of their students.
“I feel that the single greatest asset that SBU offered me was a chance to learn from passionate, professional individuals who not only cared for their students, but who strongly believed in the material they teach, and practiced it in their daily lives,” Zachariah says. “I am a better person because of my exposure to these people!”
The relationships Zachariah formed with his faculty helped shape him as a person and helped him grow in his Christian faith. As he has pursued his career in education, Zachariah is grateful for the example set by his professors at SBU.
“My faith was grounded and strengthened by seeing the way the SBU professors presented themselves to the classroom with honor and integrity,” Zachariah recalls. “They were examples of Christ in the classroom.”
Since graduating from SBU, Zachariah has had numerous opportunities to emulate the example of his SBU faculty as he seeks to influence the next generation of students. Zachariah currently teaches in the Willard High School Success Program. Working in this alternative school gives Zachariah an opportunity to help reach at-risk students and use the passion and skills gained at SBU to positively impact their lives.
“My participation in SBU’s education program has been a great asset and prepared me well for developing group lessons and curriculum.”
Zachariah also has had the unique opportunity to publish two children’s books that he wrote and illustrated.
“These books have been a great source of blessings for me and great platform for me to encourage others about the joy of reading,” says Zachariah.
In the summer of 2017, Zachariah had the opportunity to present at the Greater Ozarks Cooperating School Districts conference on the topic of “Developing Empathy for That Difficult Student.”
“The goal was to discover how each of us as teachers can become an anchor point for children caught up in the storm of life,” Zachariah reported.
Zachariah is passionate about teaching and encouraging students and knows that this passion was cultivated by the professors at SBU during his time as an education student.
“I am thankful to have had the opportunity to learn in a classroom where I knew I was valued!”