Kristen Jagger

“…by freely engaging the world around us, and by respecting its intrinsic worth, we can simultaneously show respect for life’s ultimate meaning and value, thereby serving God’s greater glory.” (Traditions, p.11)

Engaging students has been a key phrase in academia since Jagger's early years of teaching, and it is one that continues to be used with great frequency. When reflecting on her early teaching years, she realizes that her image of an “engaged” student would be more accurately described as a “captivated” student. Throughout the years, Jagger's understanding of engagement has changed…It is no longer a matter of defining for students what they should and should not value and then expecting them to follow suit; it is a complex and often delicate conversation. It involves meeting and greeting students where they are, identifying and accepting what they bring to the table, finding common ground, agreeing to disagree when we cannot, and then finding a path to growth that is defined by mutual respect for each other and the application of knowledge.