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Vanessa Schroeder '97
Bethel’s small size and close proximity to her hometown were a few of the reasons Vanessa Schroeder was initially attracted to Bethel. During her years at Bethel, though, she learned that just because Bethel was small didn’t mean she wouldn’t gain big exposure to the real world.
“Bethel allowed me to branch out of my comfort zone and be involved in larger school physical education programs through pedagogical mentoring and in my student teaching,” says Vanessa, who graduated with a degree in health and physical education and a minor in coaching. “After student-teaching in 5A and 6A districts I felt I was ready to teach in any school.”
Even while in school, Vanessa was able to get hands-on experience as she served as an assistant volleyball coach at Goessel High School. Immediately after graduating she spent one year teaching K-4 physical education in Buhler, Kan., and was the assistant volleyball coach at Buhler High School. She recalls, “Bethel’s academic and job placement reputation was strong and I knew I would have a good change of getting a job in my field right out of college.”
She’s been teaching and coaching non-stop ever since. After her first teaching job she moved to Hesston and was a P.E. aide at Hesston Middle School while coaching track at Hesston High School. She currently is in her 10th year at Hesston College, where she serves as head volleyball coach as well as teaches racquetball, golf and Fitness Concepts courses. Additionally, she has served as head boys’ track coach at Goessel High School and began her first season as a track coach at Halstead High School in spring 2008.
Jason Gallagher '01
Jason Gallagher came to Bethel College knowing he wanted to play football, throw discus for the track team and enjoy the personal attention he’d receive at a small college. But like so many incoming freshmen, he didn’t know what he wanted to study.
He credits the mentoring he received in the Health and Physical Education and Teacher Education departments to help him realize his calling as a teacher and coach. “I couldn’t have made it without Diane Flickner encouraging me to become a teacher,” Jason says. “At first I didn’t want to become a teacher, but she was able to see my potential and natural teaching skills.”
After receiving his teaching certificate in 2003, Jason accepted a P.E. teacher position in Pratt (Kan.), where kindergarten through fifth-grade students receive 20 minutes of P.E. daily. He currently teaches at Southwest Elementary School in Pratt, as well as serves as head coach for the freshman football team at Pratt High School.
One of the most rewarding experiences of his job – in addition to “trying to remember the names of 500 students” – is the mentoring he is able to pay forward while serving as a cooperating teacher for student-teachers.