New junior high teachers show passion for students 

A new school year brings new teachers, as well as students. Diane Blowers joined the FC staff to teach seventh grade English and history and Amy Friesen now teaches JH Bible and math. 

This new teaching position gives Blowers the opportunity to combine her passions of teaching and pastoring, which she continues to pursue as well. For Blowers, assisting students is a part of her job, whether as a teacher or as a pastor. She looks forward to this new season of her life and all that it brings. Previously having worked at Dunlap for 4 years, Blowers feels ready for her new role on campus.“Teaching allows me to have grace with other students even when life is rough at home,” Blowers said. “It helps me have a better understanding of my students.

“English was always one of my favorite subjects,” Blowers continued. “I love writing and I love poetry, so teaching English is one of the things that I am naturally drawn to. I love to see the shine in a student’s eyes when they pick up a book and say, ‘Hey, I actually like reading.’”

Along with teaching English, Blowers also teaches seventh-grade history. She loves history and passionately pursues helping students thrive in history.

“History becomes fun because you can make it exciting,” Blowers said. “It is one of those subjects where it does not have to be so black and white. You can make it creative; you can make it intriguing and interesting and it’s not just facts and stories and you’re done with it.”

Amy Friesen is also new to the FC staff and teaches Bible and math. Early in her life, Friesen determined she would work as a teacher when she grew up. Now able to fulfill those dreams, Friesen is driven to teach students and help them connect with God in Bible and thrive in math.

“I always wanted to be a teacher,” Friesen said, “I felt like that was the calling for my life. I love math because it is black and white; there is always an answer. I love the Bible element presented in the Bible parts of my job. It is an awesome way to connect with my students and speak life into their lives.”

Previously a youth pastor, partnering with her husband, Anson, Friesen feels this is a great opportunity to put what she learned in that role into practice. After high school, Friesen worked at Hume Lake and her life was radically changed after the first day.

“I did not really want to be at Hume to help students,” Friesen said. “But God touched me the first day and my life changed in a great way.”

Kamdon Marquez, ‘23, a lifer at Fresno Christian, reflects on how teachers have caused great impacts in his life.

“I used to have difficulty with math, but now I am doing better now with the help of teachers and other parents that have helped me,” Marquez said. “I am looking forward to the rest of this year.

New student Nicholas Safadi, ‘23, made note of how he views a difference in the way teachers treat students and the way students treat each other at FC. Previously from Carden School of Fresno and Dry Creek Elementary, Safadi loves the community FC provides for their students and teachers.

“At my other schools the teachers cared about the students but one did not feel like the teachers were invested with their students,” Safadi said. “I feel like at Fresno Christian the teachers buy in and really invest in their students in order to help them excel.”

With 116 new students this year combined with teachers leaving, new teachers must be brought in.  

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This author can be reached via email: Andrew Rieker.