Three Iowa-Missouri Conference teachers are among the first in the North American Division to receive the Journey to Excellence Teacher’s Award from the Office of Education in conjunction with the national broadcast of The BLUEPRINT, a new film on Adventist education independently produced by Martin Doblmeier and Journey Films. The BLUEPRINT Award is being presented during the 2013-14 school year to longtime Adventist educators who embody the vision of helping every learner excel in faith, learning and service.
Richard & Kayla Booth
Richard began his teaching career in Humboldt, Iowa in 1976. Kayla started her career in her home state of Kansas in 1981 teaching at Pittsburg. Richard and Kayla were both single when they met at Union College while working on their master’s degrees through the Loma Linda University summer school program. They have been a teaching couple since their marriage on July 28, 1985, creating an educational team that has spanned nearly 30 years.
In 1987 Richard and Kayla moved to Moberly, Missouri to teach at the Maranatha Adventist School. Kayla took a break from 1989 to 1998 to raise their two children, Rachelle and Brian. Since 1998, Richard and Kayla have taught together, making them the longest serving teaching couple at the Maranatha Adventist School and in the Iowa-Missouri Conference.
“Richard and Kayla have given the Moberly school a solid foundation on which to build an education of excellence,” states Dr. Joseph R. Allison, Iowa-Missouri Conference superintendent. “Their academic skills and spiritual influence have impacted two generations of Maranatha Adventist School students and their families. This recognition by the North American Division Office of Education is well deserved.”
Karen Rhodes
Karen began her teaching career at the Des Moines Junior Academy in 1976. She taught there until 1979 when she moved to the Idaho Conference to teach at the Eagle Seventh-day Adventist School.
In 1987 she returned to the Iowa-Missouri Conference to teach at the Springfield Seventh-day Adventist Junior Academy in Springfield, Missouri. Karen has continued to teach at the Springfield school for 27 years, making her the longest serving teacher at this school and one of the longest serving teachers at any single school in the Iowa-Missouri Conference.
“Karen teaches the youngest students at Springfield. The quality of instruction she provides her kids sets them on a course of academic success and spiritual growth,” shares Dr. Joseph R. Allison, Iowa-Missouri Conference superintendent. “The Journey to Excellence Award recognition is fitting for someone who has given so much to Adventist education.”
