2016/2017
Academic Year
Academic Year
Dear Families,
Welcome
to the 2016/2017 academic year at Archway Classical Academy Arete. My name is Michael
Naaktgeboren and I feel honored to introduce myself as your child’s fourth
grade teacher. Below is some information about me.
I was
born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I moved to a small town in middle Tennessee
when I was three. My middle and high schools years were spent mostly in Iowa
and Ohio. When I was a senior in high school my family made the decision to
return to Tennessee where I graduated from high school in 2001.
I left
for basic training a few months after high school as a member of the Tennessee Army
National Guard. I started my college studies at a small community college, but
was postponed when the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment was deployed
for Operation Iraqi Freedom III. Upon my return from duty I moved to Kentucky
to continue my pursuit towards a bachelor’s degree.
I
attended Boyce College and in 2010 obtained my Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and
Theological Studies. On the same day I graduated from college I married my
wife, Emily. The following year I began my pursuit towards a Master’s of
Divinity. Near the end of 2012 my wife and I decided that my calling was not to
serve in a church alone, but to also seek to have a positive impact on the
community. That led me to putting my religious studies on hold and turning my
pursuit towards a Master’s of Education, which I completed this past spring at
Liberty University. I am currently attending Liberty University online in
pursuit of my Master’s of Arts in Religion.
In 2013
my first child, Karis, was born and my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
My mom’s condition led us to move to Mesa in 2014. We rejoice that my mom’s
health has been sustained and she continues to live independently with my
stepfather. My second child, Jedidiah, was born in May of 2014, and my third
child, Ruth, was born in January of 2016.
This
will be my third year as a lead teacher and my first in fourth grade. Great
Hearts’ commitment to a classical, liberal arts education that desires to
cultivate intellectual and moral virtue has delighted my soul. I am very
privileged and thankful for the opportunity to serve alongside an amazing staff
and under excellent leadership. I am equally privileged and thankful to be
given the opportunity to be your child’s teacher.
Please
know that I am eager to become well acquainted with you, and that I plan to
keep an open line of communication regarding your child’s progress in my
classroom. I encourage you to subscribe to my class blog at naakarete.blogspot.com.
This will be where basic information about our class’s studies and events is
communicated. Email anytime at mnaaktgeboren@archwayarete.org.
It is
with great joy that I look forward to getting to know your child. The staff at
Archway Arete is dedicated to providing our students with a rich, well-rounded,
and noble education, which will guide them in using higher order thinking to
question, wonder, and explore the truths of our world. As a passionate student
myself, I cannot express my enthusiasm toward being their leader on this
exciting journey.
Yours in learning,
Michael Naaktgeboren
Michael Naaktgeboren