The James Project Latin America

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Shadow of His Wings Orphanage

Liberty Christian School

Directors

Mrs. Joanne Simpson, Executive Director

Joanne is responsible for funding, payment of bills, legal matters, office management, oversight of the school for the girls from the orphanage, staff hiring and development, long-term planning and implementation, general oversite of construction matters, and providing policies and procedures for all areas.

Joanne is also the President of the Board of Directors, which is made up of six Guatemalans and five North Americans. In this position, she is responsible not only to run board meetings, but also to develop committees to work on such items as long-range development, board policies, admissions, special activities, etc.

Joanne's life history includes teaching for fourteen years, earning a Masters in Christian School Administration, founding and administering a Christian school for eleven years, co-founding a Birthright Center, counseling with abusive parents in an Intervention Center, Christian Education Director in church for six years, foster parent for twelve years, a parent of seven children (five of whom are adopted), and a proud grandparent of six.

Mr. Gilbert Simpson, Co-Executive Director

Gilbert carries the overall responsibility for the oversight of the physical site of the orphanage and school, procurement of large purchases, and is in charge of all aspects of transportation. This dictates that he spend a large amount of his time on the construction site and generally participates in all levels of activity there.

Gib's life history includes farming on a 7th-generation farm in Vermont in partnership with his dad for thirteen years. As a certified teacher, he taught upper elementary for twelve years, was a member of the board in a local church, and has served as a deacon. He too, obviously, foster parented for twelve years, is the parent of seven, and proud grandparent of six.

Gib and Joanne ministered in ACSI Latin America (the Association of Christian Schools) as Directors of School Development, planning for and accompanying some eighteen short-term missions groups each year. Joanne also ran an educational sponsorship program for some 270 children throughout Guatemala in eight schools, managed special project donations, and was a presenter in Christian education teacher conferences throughout Central America as well as in Colombia. As of February 2004, the Simpsons have dedicated their full attention to the work of the James Project with its orphanage and school for the girls.

Mrs. Carroll Bishop, Site Director

Carroll is first in line for the supervision of the household staff and duties and the oversight of all childcare. This encompasses many other duties and tasks. The experience as a mother of 4 and grandmother of 7 have helped in carrying out these responsibilities.

Carroll completed her Bachelors Degree in Education with an Instructional Media Endorsement at the age of 40 while raising four children as a single parent. She taught in one school system in eastern Montana for 13 years. During this time, she went to school during the summers to obtain a Masters Degree in Education with Reading.

During this time of teaching, Carroll developed and taught a kindergarten program for the Plevna School. There was a need for a preschool program for a deaf student and she learned sign language, and developed and taught a program for a hearing impaired student. For 10 years, Carroll set up and coordinated the Chapter 1 (Title 1) program and a Gifted and Talented program in the school system. Seeing a need for helping students with Attention Deficit Deficiency (ADD), Carroll was asked to set-up a school policy which still stands today.

Carroll was involved in the development of the Cornerstone Reading Council and served as President for three years. As a member of the Montana State Reading Council, Carroll was the recording secretary for one year and editor of the journal one year.

With raising four children, it was easy to get involved in the Sunday School department. Carroll has taught all ages, from toddlers to adults, for over 15 years. This led to being the Sunday School Assistant to the Superintendent for one year and Sunday School Superintendent for three.

Leaving for the mission field to teach at Christian Academy of Guatemala was a response of obedience to the voice of God. Carroll taught and nurtured the children of other missionaries in grades 6, 7, 8, and 9. Now the focus is full-time upon Shadow of His Wings home for needy children.