November 12, 2019
Faculty Profile: Eric Bowling
What motivated you to become a teacher?
I grew up in a home where both my parents were teachers. My dad has a PhD in Education and was a college professor. My mom was an elementary, junior high, and high school, teacher, administrator and school superintendent. I initially didn’t want to be a teacher—I started my career as a therapist working with adolescents. I really enjoyed counseling teenagers, but my interaction and influence in their lives was limited to the therapy session. I couldn’t engage with them outside of therapy. God began to move my heart to from counseling to teaching and, through some unique events, I was able to transition into school administration, to classroom teaching, and back to a part-time admin role as the Director of Student Leadership and Service. My journey to being an educator has been unique!
What are your favorite moments with students?
Part of what I appreciate about being at Wheaton Academy is the opportunity to interact with students in an administrative role, a classroom role, and a coaching role (football and girls basketball). Through all of these, I really enjoy the relationships that I can build with students in the classroom, on the field, in leadership development, etc… My favorite moment is when a student understands how God has uniquely gifted them and then uses their gifts to bring Him glory and build the kingdom! That is exciting stuff!
What is the most important life lesson you want your students to learn in your class?
A few things 1) That God is always great and God is always good and 2) that our mission is to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
Why are you passionate about the subject(s) that you teach?
I am passionate about psychology because of it’s relevance to student’s lives both now and in the future. Psychology needs people who follow Christ to understand human thinking, behavior, and emotion from a Christian perspective. I love when students go on to study psychology further because of the potential to be “salt and light” on college campuses and in future careers.
What advice do you have for parents considering Christian education?
Pursue Christian education if you value Christ-following teachers, coaches and others to who want to partner with you in training and discipling your child. Christian education doesn’t replace the home and church, but it works in connection with both to help shape students in becoming more like Christ. If this is important to you, then you need to pursue Christian education.
At Wheaton Academy, we believe that students grow to become like their teachers (Luke 6:40)—that’s why it’s so important that 100% of our faculty, coaches, and staff are empowered to speak Biblical truth to our students.