Marian Baker, a leader in the multi-age, multi-grade classroom model application, is the new principal here at the Gettysburg Adventist School.  While she considers it a blessing to have the privilege of serving here in Gettysburg, we are the ones that are being truly blessed!   Her resume is impressive.

She has been involved in the educational ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church since 1968. She graduated in 1971 from Columbia Union College in Maryland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a minor in History, and Junior Academy endorsements in Religion, History, Home Economics, and English. She later received her Master of Science in Education Degree from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania with specialties in Supervision and Administration. She continues to maintain those teaching certifications and endorsements there as well as in the state of Montana, and the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. 

While teaching in the Columbia Union Conference, she served on various conference and local boards and committees, conducted in-service meetings on various topics related to multi-grade teaching, supervised numerous student teachers, was involved in mentoring beginning teachers, authored articles on teaching in the multi-grade classroom, wrote instructional manuals for Home Study International, and worked on several major denominational curriculum development projects. In 1989, she had the honor of receiving the Thomas and Violet Zapora Award for Excellence in Teaching. (Qualifications for receiving the Zapara Award include spiritual credibility, concern for students, commitment to quality, student evaluations, and relationships with colleagues. The Zapora Award is a highly esteemed award given to one recipient, at each of the twelve Adventist Schools of higher learning, each year.)  
 

Ms. Baker has taught in large city schools and small rural schools and in her own words, “My greatest joy comes while serving in our smaller multi-grade schools. I love the opportunity to develop long-term relationships with students and their families, and to work with children over a long period of time. It is my belief that each student is a unique and special person created by God to make a difference for Him in this world.”

To her, it is an, unspeakably, wonderful reward to help a student find Jesus as a Friend and Savior, to discover his or her special gifts, and to find the joy of giving back to others.

Family has always been a central focus in her life, growing up in a very rural section of Pennsylvania surrounded by a large and nurturing extended family. She comes from a family of artisans, machinists, engineers, contractors, and teachers. Her mother, a spry young lady in her 80's, still runs the family business.  (It's good to know that Ms. Baker comes from such good stock as we hope she is with us many, many years!) Ms Baker has two children, an entreprenuerial son who owns and operates a sports car business and a daughter that works for a publishing company as a writer and editor of teaching guides, materials and curriculum.  Baker considers moments spent with family her greatest treasures.

An animal lover, she shares her home with one ancient cat, one lazy cat, and one always-full-of-mischief cat. She enjoys the great outdoors, hiking, biking, gardening, camping, and listening to the wind in the trees. To relax she cooks, quilts, braids rugs, embroiders, tats, knits, crochets, works in her wood shop, and re-models.

Our new teacher and principal, Marian Baker, is looking forward to bringing each and every child up to their fullest potential academically, spiritually, physically and emotionally. She proclaims that with God as her very best Friend, Savior, and Strength, life is an amazing adventure. She is wholeheartedly looking forward to  both rewards and challenges of teaching here in Gettysburg.  Marian is a woman determined to succeed for the sake of the children. Support in prayer, volunteerism, or any way you can, will be greatly appreciated!