Formerly living in East Asia, Mr. Brent Ream currently resides in North Carolina, having been displaced due to the pandemic. He teaches Physical Science at The Potter’s School, but he has been teaching for 19 years, split evenly between middle school, high school, and university. He enjoys water activities and has recently picked up pickleball and other various board games.
Abby: Why did you decide to teach science? In other words, what about science fascinates you?
Mr. Ream: I started out as a research scientist in Marine Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill. When you’re at a university, there is always some aspect of teaching, so I became interested in science education. God made everything, and he gave us the ability to investigate it, which is amazing. Creation points us to God! I’m very glad to be able to serve families who are homeschooling, families who are serving cross-culturally, families who are in other countries for work or military service, and families who are facing difficult challenges.
Abby: Yes, that is such a good point. What do you think is the most difficult branch of science to teach?
Mr. Ream: Perhaps chemistry is the most challenging since students automatically assume they will not like it and that it’s “too hard.”
Abby: Yes, I have to admit that I think that sometimes, too. Can you tell us about your family? Do you have any pets?
Mr. Ream: My wife and I have been married for twenty-one years. We have three kids and have done a lot of homeschooling with our kids and other kids. We had several foster children when we lived in East Asia. Right now we have another family from East Asia living with us. They have a four-year-old and a one-year-old. Thankfully, our house hasn’t fallen apart yet! I’ve been very resistant to the constant desire of our kids to have pets. In the past few months we have finally gotten a Syrian Hamster and a Crested Gecko.
Abby: Wow, you have some unique pets! What verse from the Bible do you often go to for encouragement? Why does it encourage you?
Mr. Ream: Some of the most encouraging books to me are Acts, Romans, and Galatians. But a single verse that always resonates with my heart is Matthew 19:25-26: “When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” It reminds me that it is all about God when I look at my own heart and need to be reminded of the gospel, and when I share the gospel with others.
Abby: That is so true. Do you think church is an important part of a Christian’s life? Why or why not?
Mr. Ream: Absolutely, the church is the bride of Christ. Jesus promised to build His church, and we, the church body, are the ongoing fulfillment of this. I do understand that the church can look a little different in different places and at different times around the world. But it has the purposes of worship, teaching, discipleship, fellowship, etc.
Abby: That is a great point. What are your favorite and/or least favorite nicknames that people have given you over the years?
Mr. Ream: I was called many terrible names in my youth, which I will not share. My good nicknames come from my wife’s brother, for example “Spidey.”
Abby: What was your favorite childhood game?
Mr. Ream: As a child, I played a lot of basketball shooting games and other kinds of made-up basketball games.
Abby: What are some of your pet peeves?
Mr. Ream: When you get a clean dish or utensil out of the cabinet, and it has food stuck to it.
Abby: Yes, that is so frustrating! What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of fall?
Mr. Ream: I like when the weather is warm, but I do not like the impending sadness of the coming winter.
Abby: That’s true, but thankfully we still have a few more weeks of warm-ish weather. What is your perspective on emojis during class?
Mr. Ream: I think the chat box is important for students to ask and answer questions, but I can’t keep up with those things if it is filled up with stuff like emojis.
Abby: That is very understandable. What is one piece of advice you have been given that you will never forget?
Mr. Ream: I hope this doesn’t come across in a bad way, but the best homeschooling advice I was given was that boys are like dogs in this way: they need to be walked or exercised every day.
God has blessed us with teachers who are intent on a Christian education and pointing their students to Christ! This week, encourage one of your teachers by sharing your favorite Bible verse with them and why you like it. Have a wonderful week, and God bless!
“Go low to lift others up. Spend your time with the lonely. Bend your body to bear burdens. Ransack your imagination to meet needs. Give your presence to the grieving. Fix your attention on the forgotten. Walk in love.” – Scott Hubbard.
Photo credit: Brent Ream