A Commendation to our U.H.
I have often said about myself that I make a great number 2. I can lead when called upon. I will lead if no one else is. But my preference is to stand behind a good leader and make them better. To take things off their plate, so they don’t have to worry. To see things from a different perspective. I also am good at following orders once a decision has been made. I like to think of myself as Trumpkin the dwarf in this manner, I have given my advice and now it is time to follow orders.
As I think about ECS and the things that make it different than other schools, lots of things come to mind and I have been writing about some of them. Ironically, we are a school that isn’t very shiny on paper. In the past, I would have said, “Didn’t look good on paper.” But now, I would upgrade it to that we aren’t as shiny as we could be. And I would say that it is entirely on purpose. When you look at us though, we are kinda like the 2002 Oakland A’s, a bunch of misfits that just work.
I started to write something about each teacher, but after 3, I was already at 500 words. So, I gave up. DELETED!
We only have a few certificated teachers. What we do have are the right kinds of people. We have people that care about the cause, of raising worshippers of Christ and who know a bunch of things. Christian comes first. Our teachers are not uneducated though. We have bachelor’s and master’s galore, mechanics and theologians, pastors and 40-year fireman (who was an elder, counsellor, discipler). We have mothers and fathers. We have people who take church seriously.
We have people who don’t freak out. The saying goes that if you want something done, give it to a busy person. Our school is full of busy people, who are looking to take more dominion of the world that God has created for us. We actively work to invite people into our work and world. Classroom teachers get to craft their curriculum in order to bring in their interests. It helps that our teachers are interested in lots of things. You can basically throw out any subject, and our people will be or will work to be excited about it. When life gets crazy though, as most of our lives do, our people don’t freak out. If the leader freaks out when things go bad, everyone who is following will also freak out. Our teachers keep their cool, ever when something may or may not be on fire.
The thing that might be the most special about the school though is the guy who assembled all of us: Mr. Sarr, our U.H. I have been under him for a long time, first as a student back at Grace Academy, as a student in youth ministry at Grace Bible, and as a sound tech in worship team. He has been a part of my life and helping lead me for over 22 years which is weird to think about.
He is a man who understands how one has to care about the people and the mission, because the people are the mission. He is not side-tracked by pragmatism, though he is very practical. He is wise and knowledgeable, knowing when to pull in outside counsel and to depend on those around him. He is very quick to help in order for us to be able to do our job better. He is the biggest reason that I don’t think I could teach at another school. He will support me when I am in the right and help me when I am in the wrong. He is a Christian first in all of his roles. I am excited when my kids get in trouble and are sent to Mr. Sarr’s office because I know that they are getting wise counsel, and he can see things in my kids that I don’t. I get another read on them that helps me to better parent them at home. He is no drama about it all, whether it is a kid hitting someone at recess, turf being stolen right after the permits are granted, or if the budget is tight and God has to provide again to make ends meet. He knows that God is in control of it all. He is quick to rest in him.
I am thrilled to serve alongside of him.
To make gnomes angry.
To incite the grinches that are atop our Mount Crumpet.
To batter the gates of hell.
There are few people I would rather have at my side than Jonathan Sarr.
You should want your kids under him.
He makes ECS what it is.
Come and find out more at our info night tomorrow 6:30pm at Evangel Classical School