Buller Wears Many Hats At WCS
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Buller Wears Many Hats At WCS
By David [email protected]
He's also the physical education teacher.
In the past, he's also served as the science teacher and coach.
"I interact with kids a lot on a daily basis, and I get to see them in a different light and they get to see me in a different light," he said during an interview Dec. 3.[[In-content Ad]]Though he's the principal at WCS, he's not the first in charge. That job belongs to Norm Gunsolley, head administrator. Buller took over the role of principal from Gunsolley nine years ago.
The position of principal for Buller is a story that starts in Alaska.
Buller was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. He grew up in a Bible church in Alaska. When it got time for him to go to college, he looked for a good Christian college with a good physical education program. Grace College stood out to him. He prayed about it, made some calls to Grace, and discovered a pastor he knew went to Grace Seminary.
Though he didn't know a single person in Indiana, in 1983 Buller enrolled at Grace.
"It was a big adjustment for me. But I loved Grace from the moment I stepped foot on campus, and I still love it," Buller said. Grace prepared him for what he's doing now, he said.
Also at Grace, he met his future wife, Shawne. She also was an education major. In December 1987, he finished his student teaching. About two weeks later, Buller and Shawne married.
"My hope was to go back to Alaska. That really was my design," he said. He wanted to go back and teach at Anchorage Christian Academy, where he had graduated, and teach PE.
However, God had other plans for him. Shawne already had a job at that time at Claypool Elementary. Buller heard about a job at WCS. He applied and was hired as the PE and science teacher.
For 13 years, that was his role. Then he was asked to become the building principal. Buller agreed.
He went to Ball State University and earned his master's degree. It took him four years to get 36 hours of credit. Buller said it was tough going to school, being a teacher, principal, husband and father.
It was before Buller became a principal that he and Shawne began adopting. Discovering they could not have children of their own, but having a love for children and both being in education, some friends led them to international adoption for their first son, Landon.
Landon, 12, is now a seventh-grader at Lakeland Christian Academy. Brayden, 10, is a fourth-grader now at WCS. Natalie, 7, is a second-grader at WCS.
"It is nice," Buller said of having his children at WCS with him. "There's not a lot of parents who go to work and get to see their children."
At work, Buller has several goals in mind for Warsaw Christian.
"One of my goals here at school is to make it the most excellent school it can be," he said. "Its distinction here is that children will learn all about the world - math, reading, science - from a biblical perspective. I want the children to know about the world based on what the Bible says about it."
A biblical perspective in learning even applies to gym class.
"I have the opportunity to tell them that God has given each of us gifts. Some are in sports. That gift is not to be taken lightly. God has gifted them with that for a reason," Buller said. "What if a child is not good at sports? I want them to know if they're not as good, I want them to know that it doesn't diminish their value. I want them to know whether they're good at it or not, they can still do their best and God will be pleased with that."
WCS also emphasizes nine character qualities each year, which can include qualities such as perseverance and kindness. Those qualities are tied in to the classroom, and are tied in with the biblical perspective.
The school's theme this year comes from part of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:33, which states: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well." The nine character qualities also come from the Sermon, Matthew 5 to chapter 7.
"The theme is what we do here. It's our distinctive," said Buller.
When students leave here, he wants them to impact the community in a positive way. They may also go on and impact the country or the world. Students have left WCS and become missionaries around the world.
"It's one of those things that is neat to hear," said Buller.
"Another one of my goals is I want children to learn to put others in front of them. I mean that in the sense of humility," said Buller. "I want children to know that these people are valuable in God's eyes, and so they are valuable in my eyes."
Valuable to Buller and WCS are the teachers and parents. Buller said he wants families to feel WCS is an extension of their family.
The average tenure of a WCS teacher is 12 years, but some have taught at Warsaw Christian for more than 30 years.
"Just the calling the teachers have is what makes them stay here so long. I think that's why the school has been here so long - 52 years," Buller said.
WCS is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International.
Other highlights Buller discussed included the reading program, special needs program and the fact that WCS serves five counties, including Wabash, Whitley, Kosciusko, Marshall and Fulton.
"We're not just Warsaw. We want to reach out and serve as many families as we can," he said.
Buller has been helping serve families at WCS for 22 years.
"I'll be here as long as God calls me to be here," he said.
He's also the physical education teacher.
In the past, he's also served as the science teacher and coach.
"I interact with kids a lot on a daily basis, and I get to see them in a different light and they get to see me in a different light," he said during an interview Dec. 3.[[In-content Ad]]Though he's the principal at WCS, he's not the first in charge. That job belongs to Norm Gunsolley, head administrator. Buller took over the role of principal from Gunsolley nine years ago.
The position of principal for Buller is a story that starts in Alaska.
Buller was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. He grew up in a Bible church in Alaska. When it got time for him to go to college, he looked for a good Christian college with a good physical education program. Grace College stood out to him. He prayed about it, made some calls to Grace, and discovered a pastor he knew went to Grace Seminary.
Though he didn't know a single person in Indiana, in 1983 Buller enrolled at Grace.
"It was a big adjustment for me. But I loved Grace from the moment I stepped foot on campus, and I still love it," Buller said. Grace prepared him for what he's doing now, he said.
Also at Grace, he met his future wife, Shawne. She also was an education major. In December 1987, he finished his student teaching. About two weeks later, Buller and Shawne married.
"My hope was to go back to Alaska. That really was my design," he said. He wanted to go back and teach at Anchorage Christian Academy, where he had graduated, and teach PE.
However, God had other plans for him. Shawne already had a job at that time at Claypool Elementary. Buller heard about a job at WCS. He applied and was hired as the PE and science teacher.
For 13 years, that was his role. Then he was asked to become the building principal. Buller agreed.
He went to Ball State University and earned his master's degree. It took him four years to get 36 hours of credit. Buller said it was tough going to school, being a teacher, principal, husband and father.
It was before Buller became a principal that he and Shawne began adopting. Discovering they could not have children of their own, but having a love for children and both being in education, some friends led them to international adoption for their first son, Landon.
Landon, 12, is now a seventh-grader at Lakeland Christian Academy. Brayden, 10, is a fourth-grader now at WCS. Natalie, 7, is a second-grader at WCS.
"It is nice," Buller said of having his children at WCS with him. "There's not a lot of parents who go to work and get to see their children."
At work, Buller has several goals in mind for Warsaw Christian.
"One of my goals here at school is to make it the most excellent school it can be," he said. "Its distinction here is that children will learn all about the world - math, reading, science - from a biblical perspective. I want the children to know about the world based on what the Bible says about it."
A biblical perspective in learning even applies to gym class.
"I have the opportunity to tell them that God has given each of us gifts. Some are in sports. That gift is not to be taken lightly. God has gifted them with that for a reason," Buller said. "What if a child is not good at sports? I want them to know if they're not as good, I want them to know that it doesn't diminish their value. I want them to know whether they're good at it or not, they can still do their best and God will be pleased with that."
WCS also emphasizes nine character qualities each year, which can include qualities such as perseverance and kindness. Those qualities are tied in to the classroom, and are tied in with the biblical perspective.
The school's theme this year comes from part of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:33, which states: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well." The nine character qualities also come from the Sermon, Matthew 5 to chapter 7.
"The theme is what we do here. It's our distinctive," said Buller.
When students leave here, he wants them to impact the community in a positive way. They may also go on and impact the country or the world. Students have left WCS and become missionaries around the world.
"It's one of those things that is neat to hear," said Buller.
"Another one of my goals is I want children to learn to put others in front of them. I mean that in the sense of humility," said Buller. "I want children to know that these people are valuable in God's eyes, and so they are valuable in my eyes."
Valuable to Buller and WCS are the teachers and parents. Buller said he wants families to feel WCS is an extension of their family.
The average tenure of a WCS teacher is 12 years, but some have taught at Warsaw Christian for more than 30 years.
"Just the calling the teachers have is what makes them stay here so long. I think that's why the school has been here so long - 52 years," Buller said.
WCS is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International.
Other highlights Buller discussed included the reading program, special needs program and the fact that WCS serves five counties, including Wabash, Whitley, Kosciusko, Marshall and Fulton.
"We're not just Warsaw. We want to reach out and serve as many families as we can," he said.
Buller has been helping serve families at WCS for 22 years.
"I'll be here as long as God calls me to be here," he said.
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