Page 74 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2024 - Online Magazine
P. 74
Exceptional
SENIORS
International Science
Teacher on a Mission
Michelle Baxter
by Jane Bromley
ecently retired teacher and Christian Elementary and High
coach Michelle Baxter is the School, Michelle was awarded a
Rpicture of health. Her big basketball scholarship at Abilene
smile and easy laughter portray an Christian University where she Komensky Academy—a school for
easy-going personality, but as her graduated with a Bachelor's in missionary families. For two years,
life story unfolds, a picture emerges Education in 1982. She went on to she taught Biology, Chemistry, and
of a life guided by passion and earn a master's from Texas Tech, also Anatomy & Physiology. The West
purpose. in Education.
Texas teacher’s worldview began to
Like many of us, Michelle was She has acquired a reputation as a change as she witnessed firsthand
born in Lubbock’s Methodist phenomenal Science teacher. When the former communist country
Hospital. Her father Robert was a asked what inspired her in that anxiously testing its newfound
hard-working cotton farmer, and direction, Michelle said it just grew freedom.
her mother LaVonne, a longtime out of a fascination with the human Michelle returned to Texas in 1996.
LISD school librarian. After a body. Multiple sports injuries led to “I needed to make preparations
”sports-centered” childhood and lots of physical therapy which led to to stay long term. I had to raise
foundational education at Lubbock an interest in the biological sciences.
support, get connected with a
Her first job was in Plainview where mission organization (Greater
she taught 6th grade science and Europe Mission), and collect
math for two years. Her career resources for the educational
moved her to Lubbock where she resource center.” That's when she
taught P.E. at Wolffarth Elementary was first hired at Trinity Christian
and Mahon Elementary between High School to teach Biology, A&P,
1985 and 1994. That's when things and Junior High science, which she
really began to get interesting. She did for three years. In 1999, Michelle
was invited to help with a church returned to the Komensky Academy
plant for two weeks in the summer which had merged with the British
of 1994, employing a curriculum Riverside School of Prague. During
that taught English through the that time, she also began to work
Bible, and people were pouring with the S.H.A.R.E. organization,
in the doors. The Berlin Wall had a part of GEM, whose goal was
come down and the country of to meet the educational needs of
Czechoslovakia was open for the missionary families.
first time since WWII. Soon after, Michelle was already responsible
Michelle was invited to serve in for raising her support when she
Prague, Czech Republic at the
assumed the huge task of managing
74 Lubbock Senior Link
