Teachers are the heart of WMCS!
Every Tuesday during the spring, the West Michigan Christian Schools Collaborative highlights a teacher from one of our five schools.
We have many gifted faculty members who work tirelessly to train up students at all PK-12th-grade levels. They use their giftedness and teach children how to SHINE and RISE UP to their God-given potential. They shepherd the WMCS students to GROW as Christians and default to leaning on ALWAYS CHRIST. It’s a teacher’s goal to encourage every student to LOVE. LEARN. LEAD.
Celebrating Daniel Garland of Western Michigan Christian School (7-12th grade)
Daniel grew up in the mid-west area of the nation, moving around from state to state with most of his time spent here in Michigan. He graduated from Jenison High School in 2009 and received a degree in special education from Grand Valley State University. He originally went to school for video game design, but God had different plans. After doing some volunteer work with local schools Dan discovered a love for teaching, which led him to WMC in 2018. Daniel is an ESS (Education Support Services) teacher for grades 7-12, which consists of providing students with extra instructional assistance. This help can range from pulling a student from class to re-teach a lesson, to putting interventions in place to help a student learn more effectively, to assisting and co-teaching in classrooms.
Enjoy getting to know him a bit more!
Q & A with Daniel
1. What’s your favorite teaching moment to date?
My favorite teaching moment would have to be with the school’s robotics team at our first competition. It was a multi-day competition, and this was our first time doing anything like this. Our first day of competing did not go so well. Our robot had some bugs in the code and didn’t function exactly how we wanted it to. At the end of our first day, the students were down, and some were questioning why we were even there.
WMC’s Robotics Team at the first FRC Qualifier in 2019 in Kentwood.
We had long talks about how not everything is always going to go your way, and when it doesn’t, to always try to learn what can be improved upon. From this experience, the students learned that failures and mistakes are excellent teaching moments.
From this experience, the students learned that failures and mistakes are excellent teaching moments. On day two, we bounced back from our initial first-day mistakes and rocked it out, winning all of our matches!
On day two, we bounced back from our initial first-day mistakes and rocked it out, winning all of our matches! In the end, we received an award for being the highest ranking rookie team in that competition. The part I love most about this was how the students turned their moods and behaviors around before we even won the award at the end of the day. They learned a valuable lesson that will stick with them–the award was just the cherry on top.
The part I love most about this was how the students turned their moods and behaviors around before we even won the award at the end of the day.
Our robot was designed to extend up to 8 feet tall and had a forklift type mechanism.
2. What’s something fun that most people do not know about you?
I have a weakness for cats and dogs. I think my cats and dogs are the most adorable animals ever. I may be a little biased though.
Daniel’s pets, Ari and Mew, are both a year old, and they are BFFs!
3. What do you love about your job and why?
The part I love most about my job is helping students realize that they are able to do things that they themselves didn’t realize that they were capable of.
4. What’s the best part of your day?
The best part about my day is when I get to teach concepts and lessons to students in a different way. Not every student learns the same way, and I love finding the best way for each student individually.
The best part about my day is when I get to teach concepts and lessons to students in a different way. Not every student learns the same way, and I love finding the best way for each student individually.
5. How specifically has the Lord gifted you as an individual and how does that help you as a teacher?
The Lord has gifted me with a speech impediment in the form of a stutter. I haven’t always viewed it as a positive thing in my life and it has led to some difficult situations. While going to school for Special Education I realized that having a stutter makes it so I understand what some students go through on a daily basis with a disability or other hardship. My stutter is not as severe as it once was, but I know at least a little bit of what some students are going through.
While going to school for special education I realized that having a stutter makes it so I understand what some students go through on a daily basis with a disability or other hardship.
6. What’s your specific favorite beverage?
Mountain Dew Code Red
As a beloved faculty member, Dan is a very special part of the heart of WMCS. We are BLESSED and FAVORED to have him as part of our school family! Join us all in celebrating Dan and the amazing Kingdom work he does at WMC.
Dan, in celebration of YOU and Teacher Tuesday, DIBS! On Resale would like to say “Thank You!” with $10 in DIBS! Dollars!
Please check in at the front desk at DIBS! on Resale in Muskegon so they can award you this gift!
Did you hear? GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING at DIBS! and $10 goes a long way, so enjoy the shop!
Recently relocated to a new store in Muskegon, DIBS! On Resale opened its doors in 2012 to benefit our local West Michigan Christian Schools (WMCS) including Fremont Christian (PK-8), Muskegon Christian(PK-6), Grand Haven Christian (PK-8), New Era Christian (PK-8) and Western Michigan Christian (7-12).
West Michigan Christian Schools (WMCS) is a collaborative system of five schools throughout the Lakeshore region of Western Michigan, that work under a “Better Together” philosophy, offering a top-quality, PK-12 Christian education experience and a full scope of academic and extracurricular programs. Benefiting from close cooperation and a seamless curriculum, our schools collaborate to formulate strategy and execute the necessary plans to achieve, elevate, and sustain Christian education in West Michigan.
