Coreen Hicks wanted to make a life-changing impact on children, but she was nervous about becoming a teacher. Since Hicks grew up in the U.S. Virigin Islands, she felt different and was afraid of not being accepted by her students. She discussed her feelings with Dr. Paul Plummer, one of her professors at Pacific Union College. He encouraged her to be the best teacher she could be, because that is what God expected. “He reminded me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” said Hicks. “I continue to follow his advice.”

On July 1, Hicks became an associate superintendent for the Northern California Conference Department of Education. “I am very excited about this opportunity,” said Hicks. “It is an awesome blessing to work in this capacity.” She came to the NCC from central California, where she served for 16 years at Foothill Adventist Elementary School as a teacher and later as principal. She previously served three years at Maplewood Academy in Minnesota, where she taught business classes.

“Coreen is an experienced educator who gets excited about working with teachers as they prepare students for ministry,” said Berit von Pohle, NCC education superintendent. “She has shown that she wants to be used by God as she makes a difference in Adventist education.”

Hicks filled the vacancy created when Mark Blue became the NCC executive secretary in February 2006. She and her husband, Robert, have two children, Cherish and Robert, Jr.

The years that Hicks has spent in Adventist classrooms, both as a student and as a teacher, have instilled within her a deep dedication to Adventist education. Now that she is in conference administration, she is focused on using her new position to work with other educators in bringing the standards of Adventist education to their highest level. “There is no comparison to Adventist education,” said Hicks, “and I am determined to do what I can to help make sure that our educational system is the best that it can be.”

Hicks understands that fulfilling her vision for Adventist education will be hard work, and she still depends on the advice she received from Plummer. “I work hard because I know that is what God expects of me,” said Hicks. “I am a witness to the fact that when we come up short, God supplies the rest.”