Date
04/16/2025
Position Information
Position desired: Administrator, Other Position, Teacher
Subjects you can teach: 7-12 Math Teacher, 7-12 Theology Teacher, K-6 General Classroom Teacher, Logic Teacher, Mid-level Math Teacher
Willing to relocate to: Anywhere in US
Summary:
By divine appointment, God called me into teaching and led me to classical Christian education. I taught for one year at Covenant Classical Christian School in Columbia, SC before moving to the United Arab Emirates to live with my wife. We are currently in the process of obtaining her visa and should have it by the end of this year; once we have it, we’ll move back to the States. Although I would like to teach in the south, specifically Texas or South Carolina, I am very flexible and willing to go wherever Abba leads.
I adore teaching and cannot imagine doing anything else! The Lord has truly gifted me with this calling, although I still have a long way to go until I can confidently say that I am a good teacher. I am also flexible with what I teach. While my teaching degree is in elementary education and my connection with grammar school students is best towards the later years, I’ve discovered a passion for apologetics and PE, completing a master’s degree in exercise science and wellness to improve my personal health and coaching ability. I teach apologetics classes to my church congregation and have led the occasional group fitness class. I most desire to teach PE, but I am also a strong mathematician and have routinely tutored adolescents in math; I believe I would excel as a math teacher if given the chance.
Concerning extracurricular activities, at Covenant I coached the cross country and chess teams. A runner and chess player myself, I thoroughly enjoy challenging students to achieve more in their spheres of passion, always encouraging them to surpass their current limits and beat me someday. A Covenant parent once told me that I have a gift for coaching the day after his 2nd grade son beat him for the first time at a chess game! I believe a truly God-honoring teacher will desire to contribute meaningfully to the overall life of the school; I can do this with coaching and chess.
I’ve learned much about teaching during my time in the United Arab Emirates. I believe my experience here will provide me with a unique perspective when I return to classical Christian education. For example, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of paideia and now understand why Islam is so captivating for billions of Muslims. Experiencing this has increased my understanding of the importance of paidaia in classical Christian education. In summary, I will contribute my absolute best to God’s kingdom work wherever He leads.
1111 Beecroft Drive
Sugar Land, TX 77498 United States
Home Phone:
Cell Phone: (055) 624-4205
Email: kristopher.shumake27@hotmail.com
CV or Resume
Website
Facebook Page
LinkedIn
Highest Level of Education: Master’s Degree
Institutions Attended:
| Institution Name | Degree Earned (i.e., BA in English) | Date Graduated | Emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty University | MS in Exercise Science and Wellness | August 2024 | Human Performance |
| Liberty University | BS in Elementary Education | July 2022 | Interdisciplinary Studies |
| Liberty University | BS in Religion | August 2020 | Apologetics |
Employment History:
| Position | Employer | Dates of Service | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Teacher | Wales International School in Abu Dhabi, UAE | April 2024 to Present | 2nd Grade Teacher; plan science, humanities, art, and moral education lessons in addition to standard teaching responsibilities |
| Primary Teacher | Vernus International School in Dubai, UAE | September 2023 to January 2024 | 3rd grade teacher; planned science, math, and humanities lessons in additional to standard teaching responsibilities |
| Teacher/School Assistant | Covenant Classical Christian School | August 2022 to July 2023 | Started the school year as a 4th grade teacher then transitioned to a support role throughout the school, helping teachers with administrative duties, supervising students during lunch and recess, assisting with PE, cleaning, substituting, etc. |
| Soldier/Medical Laboratory Technician | United States Army | October 2017 to October 2022 | Served on Fort Jackson in the medical laboratory; fields of practice include chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, microbiology, phlebotomy, and client services |
Additional Qualifications: I possess three certifications through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) to boost my athletic coaching ability: Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Nutrition Fitness Specialist, and Youth Fitness Specialist.
Additional Experience with CCE: I taught for one year at Covenant Classical Christian School in Columbia, SC. I started the year by teaching 4th grade, but in November transitioned to a broad support role throughout the school. In addition to co-teaching PE, I helped the grammar school teachers with various responsibilities as needed, supervised students during lunch and recess, substituted in the logic and rhetoric schools as needed, cleaned the facilities, and assisted with administrative duties in the main office. I coached the cross country and chess teams, always encouraging my students to perform their best for God’s glory. I have read multiple books related to classical Christian education, including Douglas Wilson’s “Repairing the Ruins” and “Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning.” I have also attended one Repairing the Ruins seminar.
Hobbies, Interests, and Family: I just celebrated my 2-year anniversary with my wife, and we have a daughter turning 1 in four more days! We have been richly blessed by God while in the United Arab Emirates, serving our church wholeheartedly. We both enjoy playing chess and other board and card games, and almost anything athletic. Our favorite sports to play together are badminton and volleyball, while I enjoy soccer and running. We enjoy theological and philosophical discussions at the dinner table; I often play devil’s advocate when we discuss something related to apologetics. We read aloud to our daughter, while I read alone regularly.
Top 5 Books:
Top 3 Books: C.S. Lewis’s “The Horse and His Boy” because I’ve been reading through the Chronicles of Narnia series with my family. We want our daughter exposed to goodness from an early age.
Frank Herbert’s “Dune Messiah” because it’s the second book in the Dune series, one of the greatest science fiction novels of all time. Good science fiction stretches the imagination of what is possible.
Nabeel Qureshi’s “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” because I wanted to learn more about Islam and how to evangelize to Muslims. The apologetic text is the personal story of Nabeel from an Islamic childhood to finally accepting Jesus.
Most Influential Books:
Preferred Denomination Type: Other
Current Church: Alliance Ministry International Abu Dhabi
Current Church Denomination: Currently, Christian and Missionary Alliance, but I am Messianic
Current Church Membership: Yes
Current Church Attendance: Weekly
Support of Traditional Marriage: Yes
Theology: I am a Messianic, Torah-observant Christian, a Protestant denomination. This means I believe the entire Bible is still relevant and applicable to my faith as a Christian saved by grace through faith. Practically, this means I eat biblically clean and observe the annual festivals described in Leviticus 23, including Passover and Yom Kippur. I was not raised this way, but after joining the army the Lord began revealing His whole word to me in this profound way, and I am eternally grateful!
Belief in the inerrancy of Scripture?: Yes
Notes on Scripture: As the Protestant reformers said, sola scriptura. Scripture alone is the final, absolute authority for Christians. It speaks to every possible situation and is always perfectly true and just. While other authorities exist, they are subservient to the authority of Scripture. And while God can reveal His will in multiple ways, His primary and utmost method for doing so is through Scripture.
Additional classical training: I attended one Repairing the Ruins seminar before teaching at Covenant Classical Christian School.
Why I want to teach at a classical school: If I only educate students’ minds, I have failed as an educator. True Christian education nourishes the soul, mind, heart, and body to reflect God’s holy and perfect image. While other Christian schools accomplish this to some degree, classical Christian schools are simply better at this crucial task. History speaks for itself, and the Good Soil Report definitively reveals how much more effective at genuine, life-changing education classical Christian schools are. God called me to teach; I want to use my gift to the best of my ability within a school system that is simply better at glorifying Him.
Final thoughts: I currently live in the United Arab Emirates but will move back to the states by the end of this year after obtaining my wife’s visa.
I am willing to teach part-time. If so, I may be able to also work at a local gym as a group fitness instructor.
The Lord has placed a burden on me and my wife to eventually start classical Christian education in the Philippines (she is Filipino). Before this is possible, I need enough experience with both teaching and administration in order to effectively lead a school there.