Terri Spencer graduated from Criswell College in 2020 with a degree in Education. She is a first-grade teacher at Founders Classical Academy. Her journey toward ministry began when she worked as a preschool teacher and realized that teaching is her passion. She wanted to teach full-time but lacked the proper credentials. When she heard about Criswell’s Education program through her husband, Dr. Spencer, she felt led to pray and then enrolled.
Terri’s favorite memory at Criswell is a funny moment in Dr. Berry’s hermeneutics class. Male students with beards always sat in the front row and were called “the beard brigade” by female students. One day, the female students and Dr. Berry decided to wear fake beards and steal their seats. When the bearded brigade showed up, they found their seats taken by fake-bearded ladies, making everyone laugh. Dr. Berry, on the other hand, chose to wear his fake beard on his head. Terri sees this memory as evidence of the close-knit community and camaraderie at Criswell, which extends to both students and faculty.
Terri’s advice for young men and women who desire to go into education is to be patient and not discount anything as unimportant. She believes that every step along the way is crucial and plays a part in what one will do in their career. Even when facing challenges or questioning why they are doing what they are doing, Terri encourages young people to trust in God and to take every opportunity to learn and grow. She believes that being a teacher is a way to serve one’s community and make a difference in the lives of others.
