Mrs. Putnam joined our lower school faculty this year as our Spanish teacher. Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, she moved to Columbia 16 years ago when she married her husband, Mark, from Sumter, South Carolina. The couple has five children who are all new to Ben Lippen this year: John Mark is in 7th grade, Cedar in 5th grade, Jesse in 3rd grade, Shepherd in 1st grade, and little Zoe is in Pre-K3. The Putnam kids’ first day of school EVER was last week as Mr. and Mrs. Putnam homeschooled their children for many years prior to this school year.
What do you like to do in your free time? Growing up in Nova Scotia, it was impossible to be far from the ocean! I love being outside with our family: hiking, biking, swimming, playing soccer. I also love sharing food with friends and family, fancy tea parties, traveling and reading.
What are you passionate about? The invitation in 1 John 3:1, “Behold, what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” I want to know and love this truth with all my heart, encourage my brothers and sisters to do the same, and be used as a vessel to bring others into the incredible family of God.
What do students get at Ben Lippen that they won’t get somewhere else? Starting at BL during a global pandemic, I have been able to witness the commitment of the staff and faculty to serving our children and families. As we serve our unchanging God, students at Ben Lippen receive an education grounded and shaped by the truths of God’s Word and the person of Jesus Christ, and they receive the ‘living curriculum’ of their teachers living out their faith.
What do you love most about teaching Spanish to the lower school students? It has been a real treat to reintroduce Spanish to the lower school. I wish I could have bottled up the excitement of the children when I introduced myself as their new Spanish teacher! I want to fan their love of learning into flame and give them the opportunity to experience a whole new world by learning and speaking a new language.