"Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children” (Ellen White, Education, p. 18). Adventist education in the Pacific Union strives to reach this ideal. Serving 15,505 students in 147 schools in grades K-12, teachers, parents, pastors and administrators continue to provide a quality learning environment where Jesus and His love permeate the atmosphere.

The mission statement of the Pacific Union Office of Education provides a framework for this multi-faceted program of Adventist education: “Collaborating to provide a positive Seventh-day Adventist Christian learning environment maximizing the talents of administrators, teachers and students—now and for eternity.”

In the office of education, Christine Gillan, associate director for early childhood centers, has been collaborating with her colleague in the Southern Union to develop a new program to standardize and formalize the early childhood education centers within our church. They are developing accreditation documents, policies and procedures manuals, and providing consultations to churches and schools that operate centers.

Dorothea Amey, associate director for elementary education, provides small schools workshops highlighting the specialized curriculum that supports the small, multi-grade classroom environments in many of our schools. She has been an active participant in the development of a uniquely Adventist reading program that will be implemented starting in the 2005-2006 school year. She has also been actively developing supplementary materials for use by teachers to support the Adventist science series.

Thambi Thomas, associate director for secondary education, continues to monitor the complementary accreditation protocols of the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) which assure quality in K-12 education through independent monitoring of rigorous standards for our schools. He provides curriculum and administrative support for principals and teachers in secondary education.

The office of education provides credentialing support for all the teachers within our field, including record-keeping and subsidies to La Sierra University and Pacific Union College for continuing professional education to all educational employees within the union.

Currently, 21 administrators and teachers are completing a Ph.D. cohort program offered by La Sierra. These educators will provide leadership in scholarship and practice for years to come as their students enjoy the benefits of professionalism and current practice.

Recently, the Pacific Union assumed sponsorship of the Holbrook Indian School. The director chairs the board and enjoys watching improvements on that campus including curriculum, service orientation, and construction of the new boys’ dormitory. This K-12 boarding school for Native Americans is providing a safe haven for almost 100 students from more than 10 tribes.

The websites for the Pacific Union Office of Education (www.puconline.org) and the North American Division Office of Education (www.nadeducation.adventist.org) contain many helpful resources for parents and educators that enhance our mission—collaboration to reach all our young people for eternity.

Tuition, subsidies and scholarship donations provide the finances to achieve the dream. More and more students and their parents are finding it difficult to pay the tuition needed to provide this excellent Adventist education. What can be done? We all need to collaborate in this special investment for our children. Our entire church family must sense the importance of providing an Adventist Christian education for our children. Consider your gifts—money, talents, time—and join us in possibly the most important investment you can make in this life—an investment in eternity.