About us
Vision of Teachers In Service, Inc.
A surplus of MK teachers
Mission statement of Teachers In Service
In pursuit of its vision, the mission of Teachers In Service, Inc. is to address professional needs of teachers and schools of missionary children, to contribute to recruitment and preparation of new teachers of missionary children, and to participate in activities related to teacher and schools of missionary children.
Bible Verses Significant to Teachers In Service, Inc.
NIV version
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded of you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the lamb. . . (Revelation 7:9a)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. (John 15: 16a)
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, (Ephesians 1:11)
However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who live him"--but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, (Ephesians 1:9)
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (Colossians 1:9)
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit, just as it has taught you, remain in him. (1 John 2:27)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. (Psalms 32:8)
…so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:10)
…and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength. (Ephesians 1:19)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (Ephesians 3:20)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1)
…being confident on this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
History of Teachers In Service, Inc.
Development of TIS infrastructure began in the fall of 1997 and included meetings with mission school administrators, college administrators and faculty, web research, reading, e-mail dialog, travel to Kenya, Philippines, and Korea, and most important, discussions with teachers of missionary children. Needs were identified and a variety of activities were set into motion to address those needs. As an initial location, TIS began serving MK teachers in Kenya in August 1999 and continues to this day.
TIS became incorporated in the State of New Mexico in 2003 and became a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization in 2004.
Teachers In Service facilitates on-site college courses and workshops, provides information about maintenance of teaching credentials, and responds to individual requests for specific professional needs. TIS is not officially affiliated with any institution or organization, though it works closely with Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Association of Christian Schools International, and other institutions. The TIS web site (teachers-in-service.org) contains links to all 50 state departments of education and therefore information about initial certification and recertification.
Valuable as it may be, addressing professional needs of MK teachers does not significantly contribute to recruitment of new MK teachers.
The MK Teacher Education Program (MKTEP)
The original intent of Teachers In Service was to address professional needs of teachers of missionary children through a variety of activities. However, after discussions with many MK teachers about turnover, short term teachers, non-certified teachers, and that there were some schools without an adequate number of teachers, it was decided that TIS should investigate the preparation of teachers at the college and university level who desired to become MK teachers. This investigation resulted in two conclusions. The first was a specific group of potential MK teachers was identified. This is the group of teachers who graduate from a university with a commitment to become an MK teacher but who change their mind during a period of time in which they gain teaching experience. It is also during this time that they begin paying off loans for their education. Teaching experience is valuable since it contributes towards preparation for teaching in MK schools. However, during this time of teaching there is a significant number of new and potential MK teachers who change their mind about becoming an MK teacher. Reasons for this change of mind include a pay check to pay off university loans, marriage, and a reliable car.
The second conclusion was that no college or university was found which had a specific program to prepare MK teachers through course work and field experiences that significantly addressed many items related to readiness or had addressed the loan repayment issue.
In light of these conclusions and because of the MK teacher shortage it was decided that in addition to addressing professional needs of MK teachers TIS would seek Christian teacher preparation institutions who would undertake a pilot study to develop an enhanced teacher education program specifically designed for prospective MK teachers. This program would have as one of its goals the elimination of the time gaining teaching experience after graduation while at the same time addressing the "readiness" issue to a greater degree than teaching would have provided. In doing so the new program would contribute to maintaining the original commitment of prospective MK teachers to teach in mission schools, and ultimately to supply the mission field with an increased number of teachers.
In February 2002 Nate Kruger of Wycliffe Bible Translators (as a representative mission organization) and Thom Votaw of TIS met in Southern California for meetings with administrators associated with teacher education at Biola University and Pt. Loma Nazarene University. The pilot program proposed consisted of two main parts. The first consisted of university courses that would basically follow a traditional teacher education curriculum for the State of California with specific items added for teaching in mission schools. The second consisted of a series of four, graduated field experiences, three of which would be out of the US.
Initially there were several students interested in the MK Teacher Education Program (MKTEP), as it came to be called, but most dropped out because regardless of how well prepared they would become, and even if mission agencies would waive teaching experience because of their completion of the MKTEP, they would still not be accepted because of their education loan repayment was more than would be permitted. Consequently, the loan repayment issue has become another area of interest and priority for TIS.