May 14, 2019
Prince Teachers Honored as 2018-2019 Educators of the Year
The mission statement of Prince Avenue Christian School is “to partner with Christian families to provide scripturally based discipleship while pursuing excellence in academics, fine arts, and athletics from a biblical worldview.” None of this mission would be possible without the highly qualified and extraordinarily talented, dedicated, and godly teachers that are hands-on with Prince students day in and day out.
In the spirit of recognizing the commitment and dedication of the faculty at PACS, each year the school recognizes individual teachers as the Colossians 3:23 Educators of the Year, nominated by their peers as remarkable and doing “everything as unto the Lord”.
This year’s Educators of the Year are 3rd-grade teacher Helen Zeagler, middle school science teacher Dr. Bob Wentworth, and high school English teacher Elizabeth Sadler. Helen, Bob, and Elizabeth received a crystal vase and a generous donation by a friend of the school.
Helen Zeagler joined the Prince faculty in 2014 after spending eight years teaching in public school. She also tutored for standardized testing, worked as a substitute teacher, served on a Parent/Teacher Advisory Board, and worked as an Administrative Assistant in a family business.
Helen is described by her peers as always having a smile on her face, a kind word to share, a positive attitude, and a servant’s heart. One colleague explained, “She possesses a unique sense of deliberate calm and readily stops what she is doing to address a child’s needs, whether social, emotional, educational, or spiritual.”
Helen says she values the opportunity to work at Prince and to pour into the lives of children in such a way that they can grow in their understanding and relationship with Jesus. “I pray daily that these students will receive Jesus as Savior and allow Him to be the Lord of their lives.”
Dr. Bob Wentworth began his career at Prince in the late 1980s. He left PACS in the late 1990s in order to attend graduate school. Following graduate school, he worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and then with the University of Georgia. He returned to Prince in 2015.
Bob is described by other teachers as one who seeks to shape the hearts of students as much as he shapes their minds. “He sees every interaction with his students as a chance to encourage them to grow into better men and women.” Bob is also described as enthusiastic about science using unique lesson designs to gain and keep his students’ attention. One colleague stated, “His wealth of knowledge combined with his overall temperament and classroom management skills set him apart as the best of the best.”
Bob appreciates working at Prince because it allows him the opportunity to help young people have better lives. “I try to help them find simple solutions to complex problems and to grow in their relationships with their families, with other people, and with Jesus. I hope that they will follow the Lord and that they will both be and become the person He wants them to be.”
Elizabeth Sadler has just completed her 10th year in education having joined the Prince faculty in 2016. She teaches high school Dual Enrollment English as well as Advanced Placement Language and Composition. She currently serves as the Prince Middle School Tennis Coach and Academic Team Sponsor.
Elizabeth is described by her colleagues as a teacher who is encouraging and compassionate that challenges her students to perform at the highest academic levels. She is known to be an expert in her subject matter who is firm, fair, and consistent. One peer explained, “I am amazed how her students’ conversations are mixed with talk of academics and humor. I see that as an outward sign of a teacher who is a master of her craft with a big heart for students.”
Elizabeth describes Prince as a unique and special place to teach. “I value the closeness of the community and how willing and eager everyone is to serve each other.” She also explains that teaching English in a Christian school allows her the opportunity to help students see that their faith invades and enriches every aspect of their world. “When we study math, we see God’s reason; when we study science, we see God’s order; when we study history, we see God’s plan; when we study the arts, we see God’s beauty; when we study literature, we see God’s Word.”
The Colossians 3:23 Educators of the Year program began in 2007 and is supported through the funding of an anonymous donor. Each recipient is recognized at the school’s Recognition Day ceremonies in May.