By Sophia Randall, Staff Writer High school can be a whirlwind of learning, emotions, stress, and the like; it is teachers like Mr. Shoaf who help students the most by guiding them through important concepts and offering advice when needed. This week, I was honored to get to know him more through an interview. Mr. Shoaf began teaching over 39 years ago, spending the past 19 at NCS teaching math. Unphased by these many years, he is continually motivated by the incredible process of his students' growth. His favorite part of teaching is helping prepare students to pursue whatever God is calling them to do; this desire extends beyond math. He wants to teach critical thinking, a valuable skill applicable in every aspect of life. This dedication is evident in everything he does, from getting up early to play basketball with students and friends, to coming before school to help students grasp difficult concepts, and always being there for people in need. Photo by Lily Rhodes; Mr. Shoaf teaches classes ranging from Algebra II/Trigonometry up to AP Calculus BC. Teaching, however, does not come without its challenges, both professionally and personally. In school, Mr. Shoaf has learned that encouraging students to be the best they can should always be the number one priority. Reflecting on God's word, he cites Zephaniah 3:17, a key verse reminding him that God rejoices in all people, not just those who excel academically. He constantly strives to encourage students to give their best, but if their best looks different than another student's, then that is okay. In his personal life, he has faced many challenges in the past year. Last summer, he was diagnosed with cancer; he was forced to step away from the classroom he loves, which he said was the hardest part about the whole situation. But even in the face of this extreme adversity, Mr. Shoaf found solace in his faith. He advised others in a similar situation to "trust God's timing" and "pray and be in God's word." He also emphasized the importance of community; the people who went out of their way to spend time with him and offer encouragement made an immeasurable impact on his recovery.
Success, for Mr. Shoaf, is not measured by grades, achievements, or wealth. It's about living each day in the moment and striving to bring God glory in everything you do. In his own life, he noted that no tangible accomplishment has ever compared to watching his family grow and his children, Ashley and Jonathan, flourish. He loves his children, grandchildren, and wife more than words, and has loved being in each of their lives. In fact, his perfect day reflects this family-orientation; he wants to wake up early to play basketball with friends, enjoy breakfast with his wife Tami, take a walk, and close the day out with dinner or another activity with family and friends. Mr. Shoaf's final remarks hold a powerful message: "Treat every day like it's a special day and give your best in everything you do. Try to go through the day at a slow enough pace that you see God's hand in your life." His sincere dedication to his students, unwavering faith, and commitment to living each day to the fullest make Mr. Shoaf a truly irreplaceable part of the NCS community.
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By Grace Rex, Staff Writer While many consider math a difficult and boring subject, Norfolk Christian has many fantastic teachers dedicated to fostering a love for math in their students. I had the opportunity to sit down with one of these teachers, Mrs. Shoaf. While learning about her teaching style and enthusiasm for math, I also got to know a bit more about her past and what brought one of our community’s most beloved teachers to NCS. Mrs. Shoaf grew up in Hershey, Pennsylvania, with a single mom and three sisters. She spent her first two years of college close to home, at Messiah College. While there, she met Mr. Shoaf, and later married him. She then transferred to Old Dominion University, where she graduated college with a major in mathematics. She has been living in Virginia for almost 40 years now and is happily married with two kids, one granddaughter and one grandson on the way. Photo by Lily Rhodes; Along with Mr. Shoaf, Mrs. Shoaf teaches a SAT prep class at NCS. Mrs. Shoaf started teaching at NCS around 2000, which was when her children began school, as she wanted them to attend NCS. Mr. Shoaf was an alumnus of NCS, and after Mrs. Shoaf worked at NCS for a bit, he also joined her as a high school math teacher. She has stuck with NCS through many administrative changes. She currently teaches three different levels of math, including Algebra 2, Pre-calculus, and Statistics. For Mrs. Shoaf, she “always knew [she] wanted to be a teacher” and has found her job very rewarding. She enjoys “helping someone who doesn't think they can do something, be able to do it.” She also loves working with students who have “math anxiety”, helping them gain confidence in both themselves and their abilities. One fun fact about Mrs Shoaf that she shared with me is that she loves classic rock, especially from the 80’s and 90’s. She also loves karaoke.
Mrs. Shoaf also offered some important advice to NCS students, encouraging students to prioritize their relationship with Christ: “Your relationship with Christ is more important than anything else. More than grades and activities.” She believes that if everyone does this, then “everything else will fall into line.” While Mrs. Shoaf enjoys seeing her students succeed in math, above all else, she wants her students to have a relationship with God. Mrs. Shoaf is a perfect example of the kind, Godly teachers we are blessed with at NCS. |