Social studies teacher feels called to teach at Kelley

Tori Anne Walton
September 22, 2009
Filed under Profiles

After being born in a small town called Minden, Nebraska, and growing up in Springfield, Arkansas, Christine Anderson moved to Oklahoma to attend school at the University of Tulsa.  She planned to double major in piano performance and biochemistry and then attend medical school.  However, Anderson ended up graduating with a degree in history and now teaches government at Bishop Kelley High School.

“I love school, a goal in life I have is to keep learning—to go back to school and get another degree at some point.”

Originally, Anderson wanted to be a doctor so she could interact with people and have an affect on their lives.  However, God took her down another path to be a teacher.

“When I first started being a substitute teacher I began more and more to love teaching,” Anderson said.

Being a teacher gives her “the satisfaction of helping people day to day and changing their lives.”

Anderson said, religion shows her “how she should live her life on a daily basis.”

“As a child I looked up to my dad because of all his hard work and his consistency with prayer, strong with his faith and having a close relationship with God,” she said.

Anderson’s favorite thing about her job is working with students to help them better understand not only government and politics, but also how to be better as a person.  She loves to hear a student say, “I get it” whether it’s because of her or because of another student.

“She is an interactive and energetic person who is always open to new ideas, enthusiastic, and puts a lot of effort into all she does,” junior Noelle Smalley said.

Although she spends countless hours at school she still finds time to do things she loves, one being watching college football another being water skiing.

“My favorite thing about Mrs. Anderson was her personality—she is always nice, fun, and laid back; she is always good at teaching,” junior Emily Aran said.

There were three teachers in her past who had a great impact on her.  Her piano teacher “because of the passion brought into playing.”  And college professor, Dr. Buckley, “because of how much he loved work, I loved to see his interaction with people.”  And last, her professor, Dr. Ronda because he made his class “fun by always telling stories and making the class interesting.”

She is proud of her Masters Thesis, which was part of her masters program that was a close writing track.  It was an 80-page paper, and she is considered an author, to an extent, because the paper is out there for anyone to read.

“One of the happiest days of my life was turning in my masters thesis in August 2003 mainly because of all the hard work put into it, and the achievement it brought,” Anderson said.

This is Mrs. Anderson’s second year at Kelley, and is also the spirit squad sponsor.  She said she loves the community, not just the faculty but the students as well.  She feels that the Kelley community is supportive and that the students are respectful and caring.

“I love teaching and making a difference.” Anderson said.  “I feel if something were to happen to me everyone in the BK community would be there for me, and help me to get through it.”