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Gwyn Goodlet Gwyn Goodlet was born and raised in a small suburb of Milwaukee where her dad served as a Lutheran pastor and her mom was church secretary, director of three choirs, president of the ladies' guild, etc., etc. Gwyn joined with her parents in living the family motto of "service to others" by teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School; leading youth group activities, teaching kindergarten choir, and "Candy Striping" at the local hospital. By the time she had graduated from high school as class valedictorian, Gwyn had narrowed her career choices down to two: education or nursing. Education finally won out, and four years later Gwyn graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She had maintained a 3.98 grade point average, and was a member of many academic honor societies and sororities. Gwyn taught elementary school for many years in Madison, and later, in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. While teaching, the buried "nursing bug" reared it head again, and when a nursing program was offered at the local Northeast Wisconsin Technical Institute, she grabbed the opportunity and soon as able to add "licensed practical nurse" to her credentials. Shortly thereafter, (after the dreary Wisconsin snows had lasted well into April), Gwyn and her family decided to move to sunny Arizona where her husband Dave had been offered an engineering job at the new Palo Verde Nuclear Station. Eager to put her new nursing skills into practice, Gwyn worked as an LPN both in the nursing home setting as well as the medical clinic setting, where she assisted internal medicine and dermatologist physicians. The Lord was working behind the scenes in a great way, though. Gwyn was offered a part-time teaching position at Grace Lutheran School in Glendale, where her two daughters were students. She accepted, and taught in the seventh and eighth grades. She found that she really loved teaching in the Christian school setting. When the family moved into the Arrowhead area, Gwyn looked into Joy Christian School as a possible school for her youngest daughter. While touring the campus, she was asked by the principal whether she would consider teaching at Joy. The Lord's "call" was strong on Gwyn's heart, and she agreed to teach fourth grade. She taught fourth grade here for several years, absolutely loving it, while the idea of nursing still lingered in the back of her mind. Well, the Lord finally put all the puzzle pieces together for Gwyn, and when the school nurse position opened up, Gwyn found her "dream job". She has the privilege of being school nurse for all those wonderful children in the school, as well as serving as the school "Wellness Director". In this "Wellness" capacity, Gwyn enjoys exercising her teaching skills. She has developed the "Hot Talks" program for the middle school, as well as directing the annual "Wellness Walk Program". She teaches health lessons to the younger students, along with the "True Love Waits" program for the eighth grade. Presenting the growth and development program is also part of her teaching duties. This perfect combination of nursing/teaching is apparently what the Lord had in mind for Gwyn all along! Gwyn is so happy and proud to be part of the wonderful staff of Joy Christian School, where she is privileged to minister to the Lord's "little lambs" by utilizing both of her passions! Gwyn and her husband Dave are the proud parents of three daughters: Krystal is an oncology pharmacist, Kara is an OB/GYN registered nurse, and Kellie (now alum of Joy Christian School) is a junior in high school, and plans to major in microbiology in college, prior to eventually attending medical school. |
