Mrs. Thelene Tornow
Personal Profile
“Until I feared I would lose it, I did not love reading. One does not love breathing.” Narrated by Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, these lines exemplify my own love of reading. This passion propels me to foster an appreciation of reading and of good literature in my students. My other passions revolve around my family and home: my husband and our son and daughter.
Professional Profile
I graduated from South Dakota State University with degrees in English and Journalism, as well as with my education credentials. As I was looking for my first teaching job, I was looking west. I distinctly remember pausing before the mailbox, holding an application addressed to Timothy Christian Schools, and saying “I do not want to live in a city.” A few days later Dan VanProoyen called me, and the next day I was in Illinois, interviewing for an English position. In August of 1990 I moved 600 miles east, and began my sojourn here. In January of 2005 I earned a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from Dominican University.
Philosophical Profile
I believe that education is always valuable; it is not just a means to an end. It is not just a step toward a diploma or toward a career. A good education makes us more thoughtful, more complete people. A good, Christ-centered education challenges us to use our hearts, souls, minds and strength to love God and to care for His creation.
I also believe that teaching is really an exercise of hope and faith. I hope my words, examples and actions edify the students. I have faith that God can take my feeble, faulty attempts in the classroom and make something of them, whether I ever see the results or not.
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