Kathe Haase

Professional Biography:
I have been “in class” for many years, receiving my Bachelor of Music in Secondary Education at CSU San Francisco.  After pursuing graduate studies overseas, I returned to the States and attended a 2-year Bible College, earning a certificate in Christian Education and Child Evangelism.  Finally, I obtained the California State Certificate: Child Development Site Director Permit from San Jose City College.  From 1974-77 I taught music part-time at both Trinity Christian Elementary School and Trinity Bible School before moving to San Jose.  After starting a family, I began teaching at San Jose Christian Preschool.  When the Preschool was upgraded to Junior Kindergarten, I aided Ms. Kari Sytsma, and in 2003 I took over the teaching duties myself.

Personal Biography:
My great-grandparents came to America in 1850 to be able to teach their children with Christian education, founding the first Lutheran day schools in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  Likewise, in the 1950’s my parents began one of the first Christian day schools in Sacramento, CA, which I attended.  Moving to the Bay Area I continued through high school and junior college in teacher-training at Concordia College (Oakland, CA) where I met my husband.  We believe in Christian education, and Siegfried and I sent our son Karl through SJCS and later Valley Christian High School.  I hope to be around to work with my son when he and his family start a Christian school in 2050!  We attend Jubilee Christian Center in North San Jose.

Christian Philosophy of Education:
The quality that makes Christian education crucial to the lives of children is God’s Word and Life in the manner of instruction, in the curriculum, and in teachers’ lives.  As the scriptures say, “Christ [is] in us” (Col. 1:27).  Why do we live and breathe Christian education, especially in Junior Kindergarten?  Because everything we as parents and teachers do is observed, learned, and imitated by young children.  We need to reflect Jesus, walk His Walk, and stand on His promises, all of which demonstrate His validation of us.  We are living, walking examples of Jesus to our children and to the world at large.