Dr. Jennifer (Young) Collins (’97) serves as the Deputy Superintendent for Arlington ISD.
Dr. Collins is married to ETBU alum Jason Collins (’98), and they are proud parents of three children: Anderson, Hogan, and Ella.
Follow along to hear more from Jennifer as she shares her story and reflections on ETBU.
Jason and I were married in 1996 and lived on campus at ETBU in married student housing. After graduating from ETBU, Jason and I moved to Fort Worth so that he could attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While there, I taught in the Fort Worth ISD and completed my Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Texas at Arlington in 2001. We then moved to Greenville, where Jason served as the Youth Pastor at FBC Greenville. While living in Greenville, I worked in my first administrative position in Sunnyvale ISD as the Curriculum Coordinator.
Jason and I moved to Cedar Park, Texas, in 2003, where Jason served on staff as the Youth Pastor at New Hope Baptist Church for 19 years. During our time there, I worked in Taylor ISD for one year and in various roles on the Teaching & Learning Team in Leander ISD for over 18 years, ultimately serving as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction. In 2022, while working in Leander ISD, I completed my Doctorate Degree in Educational Administration at Texas A&M Commerce (now East Texas A&M University).
In 2022, when our oldest graduated from high school, we relocated to Keller, Texas, so that Jason could serve as the Family Pastor at Southlake Baptist Church in Southlake, Texas. With our relocation came an opportunity to serve on administrative teams in Northwest ISD and Highland Park ISD before accepting the role as the Deputy Superintendent in Arlington ISD.
When I was growing up, my dad worked for an oil company, which meant our family moved around the state of Texas following the oil business. We lived in Longview for a few years, and my family attended New Beginnings Baptist Church. While there, I learned about ETBU from my children's pastor, Billy Foote, ETBC alumnus (’65).
My dad was transferred to Houston before I started high school. When it was time for me to consider college options, I had several friends from my church who were already attending ETBU. After a college visit there, it felt like home, and I knew that's what God had planned for me.
Lynn Getsay was the Dean of Students who helped guide me through the admissions process and was very kind and helpful to me all through my time at ETBU.
Dr. Carolyn Dierksen was an education professor who taught me about being a reflective leader. Before graduation, she gave each of us a journal to keep in our desk drawers during our first years of teaching to write notes about the things we noticed, wondered, and celebrated about teaching. I still have this journal!
Dr. Ward Walker was the University Chaplain and Vice President for Spiritual Development. He challenged me to truly understand and be able to talk deeply about my faith with those who believed differently from what I believed.
I had the honor of learning from Billy and Winky Foote as they led the children's programming at my church in the 1980s. Then, when I was attending ETBU, Billy and Winky paid me $75 a week to drive back and forth to Longview each week and join them in leading an after-school children's program, Kids for Christ. They helped me know and understand the difference that church staff can make in the lives of students. They treated me as a partner in the work and provided me with opportunities to lead.
Lee (White) Whitmire (1997) was my college suitemate in Merle Bruce Hall and then my roommate in both Lineberry and Mabee Halls. After graduation, we went our separate ways, but were able to reconnect in 2003 when her husband, Jeff (1997), reached out to see if my husband might be interested in applying to be the new Youth Minister at their home church in Cedar Park. We were there for 19 years! Raising kids and serving in church together with your college roommate is magical! There's no doubt that God orchestrated that relationship!
As a member of the BSU, I participated in a nursing home ministry. Every week, we went to the nursing home and visited with residents. Sometimes we painted fingernails, sometimes we listened to stories, but we always felt thankful for the impact these residents had on our young lives.
My work-study job at ETBU was to work as a tutor at Marshall JH. Multiple times each week, I would go to the school and help students with their coursework. I was able to see teachers in action and support students with their academics. It was a great opportunity for me to get to build relationships with students, teachers, and staff at the school while learning about public school systems.
I did my student teaching at Sam Houston Middle School in Marshall, and then taught there for one year as my husband finished his degree at ETBU. My first year of teaching was an amazing experience because I already knew the staff, students, families, and systems of the school. This built confidence in me as an educator.
I’m thankful for ETBU!