aul Smith, talking about his life, attributes his one room schooling as the first step to his success: “There was an advantage as there was a one-room schoolhouse that was within walking distance of my home. I went there being very shy, but I fit in quickly, and I was nurtured by a very dedicated and caring teacher, Magdalen George, who we referred to as Miss George. She was my teacher for a full seven years” (Paul Samuel Smith, former Whittier College president and mentor to former President Richard M. Nixon).

Our multigrade schools make up the majority of our schools in Adventist education. We create supplements, training, and have many discussions about how to make our resources work for our small schools across the division. Why? Because we believe in giving children every opportunity for success and providing Christ-centered education to all families. One tool in our tool belt of success is the Lifeline Handbook.

Lifeline: A Handbook for Small School Success has had many updates over the years and has truly been a lifesaver for many new to multigrade classrooms.

During Summer Committee 2024 a team of small school educators led by Ruth Nino (CUC Associate Director for Education), Theresa Robidoux (AUC Associate Director for Education) and Renee Whiting (SWUC Associate Director for Education) began the work of an update and new look of the Lifeline Handbook.

The work will continue this summer, and the handbook will be updated on a regular basis. A PDF version is available on the Adventist Education website. A printed version will be available for purchase on AdventSource.

We are thankful to every multigrade teacher who gives so much of themselves. You are part of the success of so many children in the past and the future. Busteed (2020) writes in Forbes Magazine about one room schools as this vision for the future of education. He states that,

Leisa Morton-Standish, PhD

Director of Elementary Education

Dr. Leisa Morton-Standish is the Director of Elementary Education at the North American Division.

She has taught in small rural schools as well as in large urban schools. She has taught on the east and west coasts of the U.S, both in and out of the Adventist Education system, and overseas. She has also spent a considerable part of her career teaching at universities, including the University of Maryland, Washington Adventist University and Macquarie University.

Leisa holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Maryland, an MA in Education from California State University and a Diploma in Education from Avondale College.

Leisa is committed to Christ and the ideals of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Her first love is the classroom where she can share her passion for learning and her love for Jesus.

References:

Blume, H. (1991). Nixon Teacher, Former Whittier Head, Dies. LA Times. Retrieved from: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-30-hl-3840-story.html

Busteed, B. (2020) Why The One-Room Schoolhouse Is A Vision For The Future, Not Just A Relic Of The Past. Forbes Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brandonbusteed/2020/11/07/why-the-one-room-schoolhouse-is-a-vision-for-the-future-not-just-a-relic-of-the-past/