Next stop: art educator
As Sada Shilton ’27 looks ahead to her final year at Calvin University, her path is clear: full-time student teaching in the Grand Rapids area and a future as an art educator. After years of classroom observations, internships, and studio courses, she’s stepping into the role she’s been preparing for since her first semester on campus.
Why Calvin
Although Calvin wasn’t initially on Shilton’s college list, one campus visit changed everything. Touring during a quiet winter break, she remembers walking into the ceramics studio and immediately feeling at home. More than the facilities, it was the way Calvin’s people made her feel known and welcomed.
As her mom put it, “Calvin will really shape you as a person. Another college might give you the education, but Calvin will really form you into who God wants you to be.”
That advice has proven true.
Learning by Doing
As an art education major, Shilton’s Calvin experience has been hands-on from the start.
“From the get-go, I was going into schools and getting used to being around students,” Shilton shares, “That kind of early classroom exposure isn’t something every program can offer.”
Since then, nearly every year has included time in real classrooms, from elementary to secondary settings. These repeated experiences didn’t just teach her how schools function; they helped her grow comfortable, confident, and adaptable as an educator.
Studio Spaces that Build Community
Calvin’s small, three-hour studio classes became formative spaces for Shilton. Working closely with peers on collaborative projects taught her how creativity flourishes in community. “You’re around the same students for three hours at a time, and you just get so inspired by each other. You’re helping each other through maybe an art block, seeing everyone’s work, and giving critiques,” she said. “It’s just so helpful for building confidence as an artist.”
Those long studio hours also helped shape her philosophy as a future teacher: classrooms should be places where students feel safe, relaxed, challenged, and free to discover their own artistic voice.
Faith Woven into Vocation
Faith wasn’t an add-on in Shilton’s education; it was woven into the rhythm of her learning and the way she was taught to approach the classroom. From professors who opened class with devotions to education courses focused on living out faith in public schools, she came to see that being a Christian educator shows up most clearly in how you treat students. Over time, those experiences helped her understand teaching not just as a profession, but as a calling rooted in compassion, patience, and Christ-like care.
Mentors Who Made the Difference
Mentorship played a defining role in Shilton’s journey. Her art advisor, Elaine Tolsma, became a trusted guide through close studio work and thoughtful feedback. Her education advisor, Sara Leo, supported her from orientation onward by offering wisdom, encouragement, and perspective, especially during a challenging internship.
Through these relationships, Calvin showed Shilton what excellent, caring teaching looks like in practice.
Leadership Beyond the Classroom
Outside academics, Calvin encouraged Shilton to take risks. Through Student Senate, Art Club leadership, and serving as an Orientation Leader, she found community and grew in confidence. These experiences stretched her beyond her comfort zone and prepared her for leading students with empathy and clarity.
Launched with Confidence
Today, Shilton feels ready—not because every experience was easy, but because she was given repeated opportunities to learn, reflect, and grow.
From “baby student teaching” moments to final placements, Calvin helped Shilton test her calling and return to it with renewed purpose. As she prepares to lead her own classroom, she carries with her the skills, faith, and confidence that have been formed through each step of her college journey.
