Eastern Christian School welcomes William Tantum

Eastern Christian School welcomes William Tantum as high school technology teacher. William holds a bachelor’s in psychology, with a minor in education from Rutgers University, a master’s in educational technology from Ramapo College, and a master’s in educational leadership from Montclair University. Prior to teaching at Eastern Christian, he spent years in public education as teacher and administrator.

Please tell us about yourself.

I have been married to my wife, Robyn, for 26 years, and together we have one child, Nathaniel. After being a teacher and administrator in public school for many years, the Lord has moved me to pursue a position in Christian education where I can blend my love for Scripture and theology with my passion for teaching, all for the purpose of leading young men and women to observe and comprehend God’s sovereign work in all areas of life and learning. Having accumulated many seminary credits, I have also served as a youth minister and have developed and lead many adult Bible studies at my home church, Fardale Trinity Church, in Mahwah. When not at church or school, you may find me coaching ice hockey or engaged in various fitness activities. My interests include hiking, ice hockey, studying the Bible, and weight training.

Tell the story of how you got to EC?

It was early in my public school career that God revealed his son’s saving work and called me to himself, after which I pursued serving him through seminary classes, youth ministry, and teaching in my church. For many years, I desired to enter into ministry, yet through life and family circumstances God kept me in public schools to be a light for Him. I’m thankful that it must always be in God’s timing, He made it clear that the time had come this past year for me to move into Christian education. Through my years as a teacher and administrator, I was afforded opportunities to lead and teach STEM, broadcasting, web development, and many technology programs that aligned perfectly with the position God opened at EC.

What sets EC apart?

Salvation is a sovereign work of God. For those he calls, he uses as vessels to reach others with the gospel and equip them to know him better. Eastern Christian is a school that understands that the students of today must learn how to live carefully and effectively in the culture of today. Too often, Christian schools may dismiss current pedagogical approaches and avoid modern technological instructional practices because it doesn’t align with the traditional educational approaches of past generations, but EC understands that Christian students must be equipped to engage the world according to the uniqueness of each generation. Our job as Christian educators is to facilitate a love for God in students who are able to engage the culture of today for his glory.