'Working with our students keeps us young': Allen Jantz, Doug Siemens inspired by aspiring teachers
From church camps to large universities to Bethel College, Jantz and Siemens believe they're where they're called to be.
If you are — or ever have been — an aspiring teacher at Bethel College, then these names will surely sound familiar to you: Allen Jantz and Doug Siemens — two of the three professors from the institution’s renowned education department.
Both of them have been teaching at Bethel for more than 10 years now, but how did their respective careers begin? Did they even plan on being teachers? What has been their experience in crafting future educators? To answer these questions, I did what they (and fellow education professor Lisa Janzen Scott) have spent their entire lives doing: listened.
Throughout their schooling, students will sometimes have a handful of classes with the same teacher — but at the same time don’t really know much about why they’re sitting in their class. Especially with veteran teachers such as Jantz and Siemens, it’s prudent to know more about them, especially in their own words.
“When I was younger, I worked at many camps,” Siemens said. “I taught children how to swim and canoe. During my time at camp, I realized I really enjoyed working not only with children but also teaching them something — so I decided to start with the path of becoming a teacher.”
After graduating from Bethel, Siemens came back to get a certificate in teaching. “I actually thought I would become a writer,” he added.
While studying at Bethel, Jantz also worked as a camp counselor. After his first teaching job in Hugoton, he returned to North Newton in order to get an administration degree. Then, before eventually becoming a professor at Bethel, Allen spent time in downtown Wichita, focusing on curriculum and instruction.
“I figured that administration isn’t the right job for me,” Jantz said. “I didn’t do it [with] passion. I did it for the money. And [that’s where] the problem starts. What I’m doing now is different: I teach and administrate — and I love it.”
The starting point for Siemens begins with teaching special education. “I thought when I would come back to Bethel, I wouldn’t need my knowledge about this area anymore, but I was wrong,” he said. Teaching at Bethel taught the education professor that “everybody has their own struggles and problems. College will never ever be a smooth [path], we all need grace and help.”
Teaching at Bethel for as long as Siemens and Jantz have will provide many memorable moments. When asked for one of their most fond recollections, both refer to me: Dilan Bagci. Jantz pointed to my honesty during my observation time at Newton High School: “I don’t think that this is something I get from every student, which is why I really appreciate that.”
Siemens noted the international perspective that I bring to class, which helps both himself and his students understand and see the comparisons between the school systems of the United States and my home country, Germany.
“We know who our students are and can push them in the right direction.”
Allen Jantz
Before becoming professors at a school with under 500 students, both Jantz and Siemens had the opportunity to teach at larger universities. When asked which experience is better for them, the motive for their answers was crystal clear: relationships. It can be hard to establish a good relationship with those you teach when faces become numbers.
“I think because [Siemens and I] had experience teaching, we try to bring those stories to our classes,” Jantz said. “It’s not just empty speaking — it’s more real-world. We know who our students are and can push them in the right direction.”
“Here at Bethel, we really see our students becoming teachers and walk with them until their final step,” they both affirmed. “We not only get to see them through their training during student teaching, but we also watch them become a teacher.”