Spencer Patterson

Aside from the odd-job handyman project, Spencer has spent his entire professional life in education. He started out as a high school English teacher at Kansas City Christian School, eventually picking up elective subjects and the administrative roles of substitute teacher coordinator and middle school athletic director. He returned to JBU (with his wife and three daughters) to serve as the resident director for the all-male dorm, J Alvin, discipling, disciplining, and living with students. He now serves as a professor and the Teacher Education Department's clinical experience coordinator.

Whether he's teaching, observing a student-teacher in a classroom, or connecting with district partners, Spencer enjoys the developmental process of listening, encouraging, and empowering people to become who they are meant to be. His graduate work is primarily focused on leadership and development, specifically in the realm of education and teachers. He earned his MEd-EdL from Dallas Baptist University and is currently working on his PhD through the University of Central Arkansas, where he is researching holistic teacher well-being and instructionally generative performativity.

Spencer and his wife Katelyn ('19) met and married during their undergraduate years at JBU and have four daughters. Their family enjoys tabletop games, disc golf, reading, running and hiking, LEGOs, and cheering for the beleaguered Razorbacks. He is also the author of the award-winning children's book, The Good Pliosaur, a retelling of Jesus's parable of The Good Samaritan in the ancient ocean.