By Journalism student Miley R. and edited for clarity by New Life Academy.
The 2025-26 school year has brought many changes to the New Life education department, including Ms. Ann Baur’s unexpected switch from teaching Middle School English to Middle School Science, as well as her new role teaching a brand-new, gender-split sixth-grade health class.
After graduating from New Life Academy in 1999, Ms. Baur moved out of Minnesota. In 2019, an English position opened up at New Life, and Ms. Baur has been involved here ever since. Ms. Baur has taught three of her four daughters, while also coaching JV volleyball for the 2025 volleyball season. “What a treat to be able to be at the same place that my kids are,” she says. “To be able to work here while they’re in school is a dream job as a mother.”
In her first six years at New Life Academy, Ms. Baur taught seventh and eighth-grade English. In her seventh year, she transitioned to teaching seventh-grade science and sixth-grade health. This surprising switch had students, parents, and teachers wondering what had motivated Ms. Baur to pursue such a different subject. Ms. Baur explains, “My undergrad degree was mid-level math and science, and my grad degree specialized in English, so I am licensed in math, science, and English.”
Along with the teaching changes, there are several new developments within the science department, including a new computer-based curriculum, hands-on science investigation labs, and a gender-split health class. Previously, the health unit was incorporated into a sixth-grade Bible class. “It’s nice to be able to focus more on mental health and social-emotional aspects,” adds Ms. Baur. “Some of the Bible teachers questioned why we are teaching diseases and nutrition facts in a Bible class.”
Second-year Bible teacher Duncan Spennewyn teaches the sixth-grade boys’ health class. “It’s super nice to have the class separate between the girls and the guys,” Spennewyn adds, “Ms. Baur brings a very feminine sort of role to the girls, while I talk to the men about more specific and relevant topics in their lives.” Ms. Baur explains, “I speak to the girls about healthy relationships and emotional aspects of their lives, while Mr. Spennewyn speaks to the boys regarding social media and dangers of the Internet.”
Focusing on sixth-grade health is a great way to positively impact a pivotal age group of children. Ms. Baur has had a huge impact within the New Life community over the years, and now she has the chance to leave a legacy in the science department, specifically within the new health curriculum. Ms. Baur hopes to bring each unit to life so that science is not seen as a boring textbook or a basic computer assignment. When asked about her hopes for her first year of teaching in this new role, Ms. Baur explains, “I want kids to walk away enjoying science and seeing how all creation proclaims God’s glory.”
