Mrs. Michelle Berens
Personal Profile:
I became a Christian at age thirteen, and have spent the time since learning how to truly depend on God for everything! I married Bruce in 1989, and a job change required us to move from Wisconsin (where we had both grown up) to Dallas just two weeks later. Although our time there was a real opportunity for both of us to grow in our careers, four years of big hair and cowboy boots made us realize how much we missed the Midwest. We decided to come “home,” and God led us to Elmhurst. Our daughter Kate was born in 1995, and Grace followed in 1997. The four of us now live in unincorporated Glen Ellyn with our dog, Hayden. We all love the outdoors, and enjoy hiking, gardening and geocaching as a family. I also love music, books and decorating.
Professional Profile:
I attended Catholic school for twelve years, and graduated in 1988 from Purdue University with a degree in Computer Integrated Manufacturing. I went to work for IBM in Dallas, and as a member of the OS/2 Design, Development and Training team, had the opportunity to work all over the world. Then, about 5 years ago, I decided to leave the business world and get my teaching certificate. I had intended to teach high school math and science, but God’s plan and mine didn’t quite match. Instead, when Bruce and I moved back to the Midwest, I started my own consulting firm, which I ran until I became a mom.
Since my children have been in school, I have found every opportunity I could to teach. Between backyard Bible clubs, science camps, the Discovery Center and private tutoring, God began to make it clear that I should use my gifts to teach children. When I hesitated, He placed Mike Engbers in my life to convince me. So, I enrolled at National-Louis University, and received my Master’s degree in teaching in 2008
Philosophical Profile:
Every child is uniquely created and gifted by God, and as a teacher I must treat each one as a valuable individual, full of potential. I am thrilled to be teaching in a community that celebrates and encourages each child, while still expecting them to strive to do their best. By doing so, I believe we help our students discover who God has made them to be and to make sense of the world He has given them. This, in turn, will allow them to experience a sense of responsibility to God, themselves and others.
In addition to receiving a quality academic education, I pray that the children I teach will grow in their relationship with Christ during their time at Timothy. I also want them to have fun, challenge themselves, and grow in a way they never would have expected. I am naturally very curious, and I hope to inspire my students to develop their own curiosity. I want to help them think about the world critically and stand up for their beliefs. In a world where the media tries to tell us that there are no absolutes, I hope to show my students that there actually are. I will challenge them again and again with Ephesians 5:15: “Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise…”
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