Secondary Social Studies Education major7th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Woodford County Middle School
Clay Bisher ’20, a Secondary Social Studies Education major, is a 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher at Woodford County Middle School in Kentucky.
Growing up with various members of his family in the education system, Bisher desired to do something different when he first came to Asbury. He started out as a Media Communication major but felt God pulling him in a different direction.
“I opened the bulletin and started thumbing through the different majors and quickly settled in the education section,” said Bisher. “I immediately knew that this was what I was meant to do and remember the sense of peace I had once I signed my major change form.”
A handful of years later, Bisher is now releasing all of the love and care that was exhibited by his teachers onto his middle school students.
“Knowing how teachers have affected me influences the ways that I interact with and guide my students today,” said the Asbury alum. “As a teacher you see their potential through the walls, fronts, immaturity, shyness, and other things that students are navigating as they find their identities. The greatest joy in teaching is seeing a student rise to meet their potential and realize who they truly are.”
Along with Bisher’s triumphs, there were also obstacles and adversity posed by the pandemic immediately into his start of teaching.
“Without my Asbury education I would not have been prepared to become a teacher during a global pandemic. I honestly could have buckled under the pressure without their guidance. My experience at Asbury prepared me to adapt and perform in a job that changed almost weekly for the first few months of my career.”
Bisher advises students “to soak up every moment and to be present.”
“College can either be a means to an end or a transformative experience,” Bisher stated. “The liberal arts approach to higher education is a gift to those who want to become well rounded. You will grow personally and professionally.”