BY OPHELIA M. BARIZO

I entered the Lone Star Ballroom (convention hall) at the Adam’s Mark Hotel the evening of August 13, 2000, imbued with a sense of excitement—a feeling that I was a participant in a historical event about to unfold. These feelings banished the weariness of driving five hours from San Antonio and then standing for more than an hour and a half in a hotel check-in line that seemed to stretch forever.

The event I attended can only be described in superlatives. The North American Division (NAD) K-12 Teachers’ Convention, held in Dallas,

Texas, at the Adam’s Mark Hotel, was the first-ever division-wide teachers’ convention and the largest-ever gathering of Adventist educators. According to Richard Osborn, NAD vice president for education, 6,200 educators and their families registered.

Award recipients honor Tom and Violet Zapara.

“Call, Challenge, Commitment,” the convention theme, was emblazoned on the large screens of the convention hall and in the overflow room needed to accommodate the crowd.

On August 15 more than 6,000 attended what may be the largest banquet ever hosted by the church. There were more than 240 waitstaff alone. This banquet was perhaps the only one with “disco lighting” effects. Alarms sent strobe lights through the banquet hall for a few tense moments, until hotel personnel determined that the alarms were triggered by a jammed door.

Opening night featured the Vocal Majority, an award-winning male chorus from  the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Their vibrant, polished voices reverberated through the convention center. Listeners would not soon forget the angelic voice of Lorelei Sinco, singing “Via Dolorosa” with maturity and feeling beyond her 7 years.

True Education, a modern translation of Ellen G. White’s classic book Education, was unveiled by the Ellen G. White Estate for the first time and presented by the Pacific Press as a gift to each teacher present.

General Conference president Jan Paulsen reminded the audience of the responsibility and sacred privilege of being an educator. Their ministry, he said, is twofold: “to educate, and to combat idolatry.”

“True education will look first of all to God; students and teachers alike will turn to Him and open their minds,” stated Paulsen. “You are involved with God in an act of creation.” He concluded by affirming his great confidence in the church’s educational institutions and teachers. “You represent the finest we have,” he added.

Don Schneider

Morning worships were held at 8:00 a.m. Speakers included Bailey Gillespie, director of the John Hancock Center for Family and Youth Ministry at La Sierra University;  Joan Coggin, special assistant to the president for international affairs, Loma Linda University; and Calvin Rock, a general vice president of the General Conference.

General session speakers included Leland Kaiser, one of the nation’s leading futurists; William Glasser, author of several books and creator of the “choice theory”; and Harry Wong, an award-winning classroom teacher and one of the most sought-after speakers in the field of education.

More than 300 breakout sessions in various convention center rooms discussed the use of technology in the classroom, effective classroom management, fund-raising, and other topics. Elevators filled to capacity—and more—as teachers scurried from one session to another.

The exhibits were well attended, teachers carrying away large plastic bags filled with “goodies” for their classroom. As a science teacher, I was drawn to the Adventist Science Teachers’ Association (ASEA) booth run by Don Quackenbush, considered by many to be the “dean of Adventist science educators” in the North American Division, and other ASEA officers. Exhibitors gave science demonstrations, enrolled new members, and registered them for 20 percent discounts from a major scientific supply company. At the close of the exhibit period on Tuesday evening a throng of teachers surrounded the booth for exciting freebies, such as microscopes, charts, learning kits, and other scientific equipment.

Calvin B. Rock

Tom and Violet Zapara, who contributed more than $1.5 million to hundreds of teachers over a ten-year period with the Zapara Excellence in Education Award, were honored with a standing ovation. It was an impressive scene as hundreds of Zapara awardees crowded the stage and surrounding area. What a great contribution this dedicated and successful couple have made to education and to thousands of students by encouraging excellence in teaching.

The music was well chosen and uplifting. Miniconcerts were presented by the New Generation Singers of Forest Lake Academy, the La Sierra University Octet, and the Christian Edition. The Wedgwood Trio delighted the audience with a variety of selections at the banquet.

“The highlights of the convention for me were the great worships, especially the music,” said John Holley, from Lester Coon SDA School, in Apison, Tennessee. “The presenters were visionaries, always presenting something new.” His only complaint, if it might be called one, was that “it was hard to choose from the many break-out sessions.”

Myrene Kartik, who will be teaching at Chinook Winds Adventist Academy in Alberta, Canada, was impressed by the atmosphere in Dallas. “This convention was really inspirational and motivational,” she said.

Garry Proctor, principal of the Adventist school in Columbus, Georgia, appreciated the numerous exhibits and the general sessions, “and I really enjoyed seeing old friends from all over,” he added.

In the halls, elevators, and break-out session rooms, hugs, kisses, and hearty handshakes demonstrated the pleasure of old friends reunited. I was thrilled to see two of my former math and science students, Matthew Okimi and Kevin Kiers, now in the educational field.

The convention culminated with a commitment service Wednesday morning. Newly elected NAD president Don Schneider challenged teachers to lift Jesus up to each student and shared vignettes of successful Christian education in action. The service ended with a responsive reading written by Denise Dick Herr of Canadian University College. Teachers repeated the words in unison:

“O Lord, we walk in Your way,
We love Your truth,
We seek to live Your life.
We answer Your call;
We accept the challenge;
We commit our lives to Your service.”

Teachers returned to their respective schools with the inspirational memories of the first NAD teachers’ convention to help them prepare young people for a life of service to God. Was it worth all the hard work and expenses? Only eternity will reveal what this convention accomplished for our teachers and the youth they serve.

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Ophelia Barizo chairs the Science Department at Highland View Academy in Hagerstown, Maryland. She is the mother of Jennifer, an Adventist Review columnist, and Amanda, an academy student who is part of the Review and Herald Publishing Association Web team.