Adult Studies - Education

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Toward the end of John Hoogewerf's tenure at Illiana Christian High School, the faces of his students changed, but some of their last names remained the same.

"For some of my students, I taught their parents and I grew up with their grandparents, too, so I had some extra insight about them. It was neat to look at their development and recall how their parents were in high school while also remembering the kind of family they have."

Hoogewerf taught for 27 years at the Lansing, Illinois, school before retiring in 2000. Two years later, he joined the Adult Studies education faculty at Trinity. He visits students-teachers at their schools to observe them teach in their classrooms.

"I never thought much about college teaching," he said, "but this is a great opportunity for me. I'm more of an evaluator than a teacher, and I enjoy working with people who also have a heart for education. Helping them become better at their calling is both challenging and rewarding."

A native of Chicago, Hoogewerf served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War in the early 1960s before enrolling in college. His original plan was to pursue a career in social work, but the "turbulent times of that era" persuaded him to choose education. Three decades of teaching helped forge a philosophy that he brought to Trinity.

"We teachers have a responsibility to each of our students to give them the best of our attention and concern. Any one student can make a significant difference in our world, so the time that we spend with them is critical. As teachers, we have the opportunity to influence our culture by helping our students get the best education possible."

Hoogewerf enjoys working with his hands in his leisure time, especially remodeling furniture. He also likes riding his motorcycle and has completed two trips across the United States. He and his wife, Ruth, have four children. They live in Lansing, where they attend Bethel Christian Reformed Church.