The Shadow
Boys Home of Virginia has welcomed three new staff members: Patty Anderson, Jason Bush and Jacy Burdette
Anderson, who has joined the teaching staff, graduated from the College of William and Mary with a bachelor of education degree.
After college, she taught in York County for 10 years. Anderson then transferred to Alleghany County where she taught for 22 more years.
Boys Home School Principal Teresa Johnson recently asked Anderson if she would be interested in tutoring some of the students. She agreed and quickly fell in love with the students at Boys Home.
Anderson says she feels this is her calling, and she finds it is very rewarding. She says her favorite thing about Boys Home so far is that she believes she can truly teach the students and take her time in doing so. If they don’t understand something, she can stop and help.
Anderson hopes to make a difference in the students’ lives by helping them learn and encouraging them to feel good about themselves while they learn.
Bush has joined the staff as a houseparent and soccer coach.
Bush has a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Colorado. After college, he worked for a structural engineering firm, but he recently decided to change his career path.
This summer, on a mission trip to Uganda with Galilee Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, Bush met three Boys Home students and two staff members. They told him about Boys Home and he was quickly intrigued. After the trip, he visited Boys Home and was soon eager to begin work on campus.
Bush says his favorite thing about Boys Home is the sense of community. He looks forward to seeing the students grow in character and become men of faith.
Burdette has also joined the Boys Home teaching staff. She recently graduated from U.Va. Wise with a bachelor of arts in theatre and a concentration in directing.
Burdette has been hired to teach language arts, theatre and drivers’ education. She says she truly feels that Boys Home is where she should be.
Burdette grew up in Alleghany County, and she remembers visiting the Boys Home campus to attend YMCA programs and to participate in the Boys Home fishing days. So far, her favorite aspects of working at Boys Home are witnessing the potential of each student and being able to offer them a chance to try something new.
Burdette feels she can really make a great impact at Boys Home and she looks forward to planting seeds and seeing the wonderful outcomes.
