Jane Armstrong, a 7th-grade Bible teacher here at Westminster, has had a long and multifaceted history with the school. In 1953 Armstrong’s father, David Lauderdale, joined the faculty at Westminster. He was chairman of the English department, was the high school boy’s college counselor, and coached 8th-grade football. He even wrote the Westminster Alma Mater. Armstrong enjoyed being a faculty kid. “Well fortunately he was everybody’s favorite teacher, so it was really a lot of fun,” she said. “People knew who I was, and I had this entire campus was like my home.” Unfortunately, Armstrong’s father passed away in 1978 after teaching here for twenty-seven years. He had a notable impact on Westminster and will always be remembered by the Westminster community.
In the Fall of 2000, Armstrong was asked to come work as a substitute for fellow Bible teacher Lydia Hansen as she was on maternity leave, and after Armstrong’s performance as a substitute she was asked to join the faculty. Armstrong said that when she was asked to be a substitute it was a complete surprise. However, working at Westminster felt natural to her. Hansen said that she was not surprised when Armstrong started teaching because Westminster had always been a part of her, and being a substitute teacher was her calling. After being a substitute teacher and completing coursework at Columbia Seminary, Armstrong officially joined the Westminster staff in the fall of 2001.
Being here for many years, Armstrong has seen Westminster progress and become more different every year. She says that she has seen Westminster always moving forward, always trying to become the vision that was set by our founders. She has seen every side of Westminster, because her family now has four generations at this school, her grandson having started kindergarten here this fall. Having her children come to Westminster was very special to Armstrong because her children never got to meet their grandfather, and going to school here was an opportunity for them to hear stories about their grandfather.
Armstrong tries to teach her students the importance of middle school friendships. “Here at Westminster, you will find friendships that will last you your entire life,” she says. “Don’t squander this opportunity. Really the window is quite short for you to establish these friendships, but your shared experience here will bond you to one another, and you can count on those bonds and they will only become stronger.” She puts this belief into action by trying to get her students to talk to new people. This message is important to her because she herself has friends from Westminster, and they are close to this day.
Jane Armstrong has a legacy at Westminster, one that continues to progress as she causes a difference in her student’s lives and her communities. Every day people look forward to going into her class because it is so engaging and lovely. Her friend and colleague Hansen describes her with love. “She is just such a shining light and an example of kindness and loyalty, not just as a teacher but to the institution, not just Bible but she engrains in people a love and appreciation for Westminster.”