Student Teaching Lands Job in Indonesia

Trinity senior Leanne Koetje of Grand Rapids, Michigan, will be moving to Indonesia after graduation to take a full-time teaching position. Koetje spent seven weeks there this spring for her student teaching.

Knowing she wanted to go abroad, Koetje spent time discussing different countries with her education professor Bill Boerman-Cornell. After reading a brochure about Sekolah Pelita Harapan, an international Christian school system in Indonesia, she was immediately impressed. She then made contact with the principal and teachers of the school.

“Things just fell into place,” Koetje said, “and it worked out really well.”

Koetje spent her weeks teaching a second grade class at the Lippo Karawaci campus and fell in love with the school and students. She decided to submit an application in the event any teaching positions would open.  Although Lippo Karawaci didn’t have any positions available, the Sentul City campus did. After visiting the campus and gaining support from her family, Koetje accepted the two-year contract Sentul City offered.

Koetje will return after her graduation from Trinity to co-teach first grade with a national teacher.

“Being a first-time teacher is nerve-racking, let alone moving to a foreign country without my family,” Koetje said, but adding, “being in a Christ-centered environment my first two years will be really good for me.”

Koetje will move into a house provided by the school. With this opportunity, Koetje looks forward to focusing her salary on student loans and Indonesian transportation – a motorcycle. She plans to make the 48-hour trip to her new home the first week of July.