By Derek Estes
The 2022-2023 school year marks my fourteenth year as an FCS lion – my first eight years were
spent here as a student, and now I have spent the last six years as an employee. I, and many other
staff members here at FCS, get to have a very unique experience as an alumni-turned-staff. In my
experience, in my many roles that I have played here, one thing has become abundantly clear;
God is at work at FCS and we are all blessed to be a part of His ministry here.
I began my time here as a nervous but excited first grade student. I walked into Mrs. Roberta
Hunt’s classroom ready to learn about any and everything. From day one, the love she poured out
to us was clear. In her class and all of the classes I had since then, I could count on the fact that
the teachers I had (and didn’t have) loved us all. This love was reflective of the love Christ has
shown us, His children. When I went to the hospital due to heart issues in third grade, it was Mrs.
Luther and my third grade class who called home and wrote me Get Well Soon letters. When I
was struggling academically or emotionally, it was teachers like Mrs. Grimes, Mrs. Forrest, or
Mrs. Brown who was there for me and willing to pray with me. When I needed a laugh or help in
PE, Mr. Morford and Mr. Cokely was always there to help. I can’t even count how many times
Mrs. Leyva or Mrs. Weeda gave me extra food during lunch or after school extended care. At all
times, the teachers and staff demonstrated the love of Christ to me.
The teachers and administrators at FCS gave me the academic and spiritual foundation I needed
to succeed in high school and beyond. All of my positive experiences at the school made the
decision incredibly easy to come back to FCS as an employee. What I expected was a good,
part-time support staff job to help pay for college expenses until I started my career in the
psychology field. Now, six years later, I am working in the classroom full-time getting ready to
start my student teaching and a career as a teacher. What caused that change? An incredible
environment to work in, the excellent student body, and above all else, a love for the job that
God has instilled in me. After working at FCS for as long as I have, I get it now. I get to see God
working and cultivating the students that come to our campuses everyday. Seeing them grow as
students and as Christians is the greatest reward one could ask for. At times, it is hard to explain
but the tangible work I see God doing here brings me both joy and hope for our future.
As I reflect on my past and plan for my future, I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to
attend and work at Friends Christian School. God used my time as a student to mold me and
make me who I am today and now I have the blessing of helping do that for others. I am proud to
be a Lion for life.