The day she set foot in the first grade classroom at Liberty-Eylau Elementary, Gina knew she wanted to be a teacher. She played “school” at every opportunity teaching her 4 year old younger sister how to write the alphabet in the process. In the first grade, Gina’s teacher asked her to tutor a fellow student in reading with an icy popsicle from the cafeteria as a reward! As years passed, Gina’s desire to learn and teach only grew. She fell in love with Texas history in the 7th grade due to Mr. Perritte and by the 11th grade, her fate was sealed as a history teacher under the tutelage of Coach Bradley. After graduating with a B.S. in history from UT-Tyler, Gina taught American history, U.S. Government and Economics (along with a few other subjects) on many different occasions at her alma mater, Hughes Springs High School.

 

Working with students in church youth ministry allowed Gina to teach something far more important than history — God’s Word. Because her parents taught her the importance of a relationship with Christ, she had a deep desire to teach those principles to future generations. Along with husband, Shane, she served as volunteer youth coordinator at FBC, Hughes Springs for 10 years. Throughout the course of those years, they both taught Sunday school, youth camps and weekly youth services. It was also during this time, Gina joined alongside other ladies to teach at the yearly Fall Women’s Conference held at FBC, HS. She usually got the job of teaching about marriage!

 

Studying, researching and discovering truth are vital to teaching whether it be in the history classroom or a Bible study. Gina loves to explore many different sources in order to find the truth of the subject. Her standard of assessment is how a teacher or source lines up alongside God’s Word, Jesus and His principles. It is her utmost desire that God use her teaching to honor Him and lead people to Christ.

 

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14