Great teachers deserve and need to be commended.
Molding the country’s youth, instructors who stand in front of the classroom are expected to guide the young minds before them, and for those who voted in the Cochrane Eagle’s Best Of Cochrane survey, Susan Booth reigns supreme, being named best teacher.
“It’s very humbling,” said Booth, who teaches at the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary and College (CSBSC), where students acquire an education to become the next generation of religious leaders.
Booth, originally from Greenville, S.C., is well travelled with her husband, Steve, who is the academic dean and professor of New Testament and Greek for the seminary, as well as the director of the undergraduate program for the college.
The Booths have been in Cochrane since January 2000, having lived in Texas and Budapest, Hungary, both for seven years, before coming to Alberta.
Susan teaches college-level studies at CSBSC, specializing in biblical studies. She also continues to work on her education, working toward a PhD in applied theology, which is the process of learning to apply one’s studies in everyday life.
The school boasts approximately 60 students from all corners of the globe, including China, Thailand, Brazil and Canada. Susan said the diverse student body is certainly a positive.
“It makes for an interesting mixture and learning environment,” she said, adding that she hopes her students leave the school with a solid grounding, knowing and loving the Lord and have a heart for the ministry.
“Our culture is looking for meaning and to share the hope we have in Jesus,” Susan said. “Get out there and share.”
This year marks the 26th anniversary for CSBSC in Cochrane. It has a comprehensive theological library and on-campus one, two and three-bedroom housing.
The school offers several degree opportunities, including masters in divinity, arts and Christian ministry and biblical studies.
In the next academic year, a four-year bachelor in Christian studies will be available to those coming out of high school.
Barry Nelson, the school’s director of development, said many of the programs at CSBSC are geared toward mature students, while the new offering will provide a broader opportunity for younger, high school graduates.
Susan said she sees her family staying in Cochrane and working at CSBSC for some time into the future.
“We love it here,” she said with modest smile, openly touched by the honour of being voted the best teacher in Cochrane.
