Impacting students and athletes alike:
Teaching, coaching drives compassionate duo
 

“Huntington made my transition to the ‘real world’ so much easier. The hands-on experiences I had in my education courses made me more comfortable when it came time to actually teach. And by putting me in a real classroom so much, Huntington equipped me with the tools I needed to be a successful educator.” - Brodie Garber

They both graduated from Fairfield High School in Goshen, Indiana, attended Huntington University, majored in education, earned honors as multi-sport athletes, graduated from college in 2000, found teaching and coaching jobs in their hometown, and picked up a master’s degree in education along the way. No, they aren’t twins. But Brodie and Amy (Bechtel) Garber could almost have twin resumes. This married couple shares a mutual passion for education and athletics that led them both to Huntington University.

Finding the right college can be difficult enough without throwing athletics into the mix. Outstanding athletes get buried under an overwhelming pile of recruitment letters. For Brodie, his college choice became clear when he met the faces of Huntington University. 

“I had a list of about four Christian colleges I wanted to attend and Huntington’s people made the difference,” recalls Brodie, an assistant basketball coach and varsity baseball coach at Fairfield High School. “The professors, staff, coaches, and students made the decision very easy for me.”

Amy first learned of Huntington when she was recruited to play basketball and volleyball. A visit to the Huntington campus also became the selling point that confirmed her decision to attend. 

“When I toured the campus and became more acquainted with it, I felt at home there,” Amy says. “I loved the atmosphere and liked the fact that Huntington is so Christ-centered. I just felt like this was where God wanted me to be.”

Along with athletics, the excellent reputation of Huntington University’s education department was a draw for Amy and Brodie. Amy, a first-grade teacher at Benton Elementary in Goshen, Ind., says Huntington did an excellent job preparing her for the education world. “I feel very confident in my ability as a teacher and also confident in knowing how to integrate my faith into this profession.”

Both Brodie and Amy cite the in-depth practicum, observation, and student-teaching experiences they received at Huntington as invaluable to their learning.

“Huntington made my transition to the ‘real world’ so much easier,” says Brodie, a junior high Social Studies teacher at Fairfield Jr./Sr. High School. “The hands-on experiences I had in my education courses made me more comfortable when it came time to actually teach. And by putting me in a real classroom so much, Huntington equipped me with the tools I needed to be a successful educator.”

The small class sizes and personal interaction with professors also made it easy for Amy and Brodie to make the most of their Huntington education. “I got to know my professors on a level that most colleges would only dream of,” Brodie says.

And those professors, Amy says, provided valuable insights into both academics and their faith. “I felt like I had a personal relationship with them, and they were so open to speaking from a Christian perspective.”

Now that Amy and Brodie are in the classroom full-time as teachers, they both strive to impact their own students in positive ways through their faith—whether that is in a conversation with first-graders about the realities of Santa Claus and the true meaning of Christmas or in dealing with the tough issues teenagers often face. 

Brodie says a huge part of education is sharing love and compassion with his students, just as Christ does for humanity. “For some students you might be the only glimpse of Jesus’ love that they ever see. My faith has also helped me in the area of integrity and standing up for what is right, especially in a public school setting.”

“Being a teacher gives me so many opportunities to integrate my faith,” Amy agrees. “First graders talk about a wide array of things and whenever the opportunity presents itself, I take advantage of it.”

The Garbers have also learned that their athletics experiences have strengthened their overall influence on their students and athletes. Both Brodie and Amy were top multi-sport recruits and left a legacy at Huntington when they graduated.

Brodie came to Huntington already a member of the 1,000 point club in basketball at Fairfield High School and soon became a member of the Huntington 1,000 point club with 1,766 points by his senior year. He was a member of the 2000 Forester basketball team that recorded the most wins in team history and played in the Final Four of the NAIA Division II Basketball Tournament. In addition, Brodie was a key member of the Forester baseball team.

Amy, a Huntington University volleyball and basketball standout, accomplished a dazzling feat as the women’s basketball all-time leading scorer with over 2,000 points in her college career. Both Brodie and Amy are deeply appreciative of their college athletic experiences and the time they had on the court and playing field. 

“One of my favorite memories is the basketball team,” says Amy, who coached volleyball and basketball in her local school district before having their first child, Brea. “We never won a major championship, but we were a close-knit group that had a ton of fun together. I’ll always cherish the memory of our mission trip to Jamaica.”

For both Brodie and Amy, Huntington University introduced them to lifelong friends, filled them with valuable knowledge, and strengthened them spiritually. “Meet the people at Huntington and you’ll find it might be the place for you,” Brodie encourages. “Huntington University is not for everyone, but if you do come you will be rewarded in more ways than you can imagine.”