September 12, 2004

Each month we are excited to bring you a personal story from someone within our own community who shares our passion about what StoneBridge School is and does. We hope you will find these words encouraging and inspiring. If you have something you'd like to share, please e-mail us.

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StoneBridge School
P.O. Box 9247
Chesapeake, VA 23321

(757) 488-7586
Primary school

(757) 488-2214
Upper school

An Enduring Partnership With Students

Joy Witten
StoneBridge Alumnus, Class of 2000
SB Middle School French Teacher 2004-05

"When I graduated from SBS in 2000, I knew that someday I would like to return as a teacher. I loved Mrs. Gonzalez’s American literature class in 11th grade so much that I actually pursued a degree in English thinking that I wanted to be a literature teacher. I never imagined that I would be back to teach this soon, or teaching middle school French for that matter! Nevertheless, it has been a pleasant and unexpected turn of events that brought me back. I know that StoneBridge was where the Lord wanted me in 1998, and this is where He wants me now.

After having been away from SB for four years, and having gone through a public university, I realize now how crucial Christian education is in establishing core values and beliefs in young students. I am so grateful for the perspective that my StoneBridge education gave me on life. Having four years to fully come to the realization is perhaps the best preparation I needed to be convinced of the worthiness of the SBS mission. As far as teaching French, c’est la vie! I minored in French and then did a little traveling and studying abroad this past summer.

More than anything, I hope to be a role model for and a positive influence on my students. When I came to StoneBridge in 11th grade I was a semi-rebellious 16-year-old having a crisis of identity. Being mentored by Mr. Keating through the swimming program, Ms. Ferdon and other teachers in the classroom, and having other career SBS students befriend me had a tremendous impact on my life. StoneBridge was a very positive place for me during what could have been a tumultuous time in my life. Today, as a teacher, I want to give something back to the school, but I also want to help my students realize how blessed they are to be in such a special place."