Senior Darsha Bechard of Belleville, Kansas, joined her future co-workers at the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network State Education Conference on February 19-20 in Topeka to learn from top educators across the country. Named a spring Teacher of Promise by the Sterling College Teacher Education Program, Bechard met the criteria of integrity, dependability, effective communication, appropriate attitude and leadership along with excellent academic achievement.

“Darsha has been an outstanding theatre student and education candidate. She is highly involved in theatre at Sterling College and excels in the classroom. Darsha brings an excitement and enthusiasm to her work, along with displaying the IDEAL attributes that are vital to a good teacher. We look forward to seeing her excel as a theatre teacher,” said Terri Gaeddert, director of the Sterling Teacher Education Program.

Bechard is majoring in theatre: secondary education and actively participates in Sterling College theatre productions. She will add two more plays to her resume this spring: “Taming of the Shrew,” which opens next week, and “Nunsense” in April. She is also vice president of the group Theatre at Sterling College.

This spring she will participate in Love Sterling and travel to Peru on her second mission trip with the College.

“My favorite part [of the KEEN Conference] was getting to swap ideas with teachers that have actually been in the education world for a while and hearing what has worked for them in the classroom and what doesn't.  The conference has been one of the most influential days as far as shaping my personal beliefs as an educator,” said Bechard.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.