Bethany Zapata-Wendt
Affiliated Faculty - Education
Education
M.A. Teaching - Curriculum & Instruction (ESL), Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, IL 2017
M.A. Teaching - Reading Specialist, Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, IL 2012
B.A. Education, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL 2008
Associated Academic Programs
Education“It’s imperative to study how to best teach our students so that they can grow to be productive members of society. Not only academically but also socially. “
Bethany Zapata-Wendt’s connection with Trinity, where she graduated in 2009, left a profound impact on her heart. This connection was so deep that she and her husband chose to get married in the Fireside Room in 2014. Her favorite aspect of teaching at Trinity is witnessing the passion that aspiring educators have for their calling to teach.
After her graduation, Zapata-Wendt found herself in a kindergarten teaching position, where she served thirty children, many of whom faced significant delays in early childhood education, particularly in reading. Recognizing her need to better utilize effective reading strategies to help these students, she decided to pursue graduate school to become a reading specialist. During this journey, she noticed that a substantial number of students in her district were non-native English speakers. Despite her fluency in Spanish, she desired to explore best practices through the ESL (English as a Second Language) lens. As a result, she pursued her second master’s degree in English as a Second Language. With her newfound knowledge, her superintendent then asked her to take on the role of Reading Specialist within the district. However, from this position, she realized her lack of understanding regarding the “why” behind curriculum and the various intervention techniques that could be applied. This led Zapata-Wendt to return to school once more, obtaining her final master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.
It is of utmost importance to study the most effective ways to educate our students so that they can grow into productive members of society, both academically and socially.
In her courses, there are two primary takeaways that Zapata-Wendt hopes her students will gain: content knowledge and confidence. She emphasizes the importance of learning the “how” of teaching, focusing on the logistical aspects that ensure student success in future classrooms. Equally crucial is instilling the confidence in her students that, upon leaving Trinity, they are fully capable of becoming exceptional teachers.
Outside of the classroom, when she’s not teaching, you’ll often find Zapata-Wendt on the bleachers, watching her children play.
- + Expertise
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Bethany Zapata-Wendt’s connection with Trinity, where she graduated in 2009, left a profound impact on her heart. This connection was so deep that she and her husband chose to get married in the Fireside Room in 2014. Her favorite aspect of teaching at Trinity is witnessing the passion that aspiring educators have for their calling to teach.
After her graduation, Zapata-Wendt found herself in a kindergarten teaching position, where she served thirty children, many of whom faced significant delays in early childhood education, particularly in reading. Recognizing her need to better utilize effective reading strategies to help these students, she decided to pursue graduate school to become a reading specialist. During this journey, she noticed that a substantial number of students in her district were non-native English speakers. Despite her fluency in Spanish, she desired to explore best practices through the ESL (English as a Second Language) lens. As a result, she pursued her second master’s degree in English as a Second Language. With her newfound knowledge, her superintendent then asked her to take on the role of Reading Specialist within the district. However, from this position, she realized her lack of understanding regarding the “why” behind curriculum and the various intervention techniques that could be applied. This led Zapata-Wendt to return to school once more, obtaining her final master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.
It is of utmost importance to study the most effective ways to educate our students so that they can grow into productive members of society, both academically and socially.
In her courses, there are two primary takeaways that Zapata-Wendt hopes her students will gain: content knowledge and confidence. She emphasizes the importance of learning the “how” of teaching, focusing on the logistical aspects that ensure student success in future classrooms. Equally crucial is instilling the confidence in her students that, upon leaving Trinity, they are fully capable of becoming exceptional teachers.
Outside of the classroom, when she’s not teaching, you’ll often find Zapata-Wendt on the bleachers, watching her children play.