Jessica Berlinger graduated from Bethany Lutheran College in 2019 with a major in English and a secondary education licensure, including coaching credentials in secondary education. She went on to teach high school English in Springfield, Minnesota, where she engages both freshmen and seniors—guiding young writers, encouraging public speaking development, and inspiring a lifelong love of literature.

Jessica loves both language and relationships:

“Teaching is fun because I get to interact with different students every day and build a relationship with them.”

Her aim is to spark curiosity and growth through reading and writing:

“I hope to encourage a love of learning and reading in my students. I want students to become lifelong learners so they are always growing and getting better.”

She reflects on how Bethany’s faculty shaped her confidence and teaching philosophy:

“The education professors at Bethany were so knowledgeable as well as diverse in their strengths. They modeled the traits that good teachers have. The English professors were also knowledgeable and were able to go in depth … which helped expand my knowledge … and inspire me to learn more about a wider variety of topics in general.”

Jessica fondly recalls the care and community she experienced on Bethany’s campus:

“I remember the friendly faces and the professors who cared about my learning. … I also remember the strong focus on Christ that has developed and grown in my personal life.”

Jessica’s journey—from Bethany’s rigorous English and education classes to a career shaping young minds—illustrates how a small, faith-rooted liberal arts college provides a foundation for professional effectiveness, spiritual formation, and purposeful service.