By: mary beth Haedt, Perimeter School alum and first and second grade paraprofessional

We recently caught up with several of our Perimeter School alumni, and we are excited to share with you how Perimeter School has influenced their stories and how God is using them for kingdom impact.

Our next alumni spotlight is Mary Beth (Brinkley) Haedt, Perimeter School Class of 2002. 

WHAT DO YOU DO? WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

We live in Peachtree Corners, just down the road from Perimeter! I’ve been married to Zach for 12 years, and together we have an 8 year old daughter, a 5 year old son, and an 8 month old foster baby - along with our beloved cat, Eddie. I work as a paraprofessional for first and second grade at Perimeter School, which is quite different from what I imagined I'd be doing with my life! Growing up, academics were a challenge for me; learning didn’t come as naturally to me as it did to many of my peers. However, it's been a rewarding experience to work at the same school years later, helping children who might feel the way I once did.

HOW DID YOUR TIME AT PERIMETER SCHOOL INFLUENCE WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO TODAY?

Perimeter School, along with my amazing parents, taught me to have confidence in who God made me to be. While academics did not come naturally to me, I discovered that speaking in front of a crowd, building relationships, and leading were things I excelled in, and that’s something to celebrate! Perimeter School was the first of many places where God would show me His strength in my weaknesses.

"IF IT WEREN'T FOR PERIMETER SCHOOL, I WOULDN'T KNOW . . .”

The meaning of authentic community is something I first learned at Perimeter School. Some of my closest friends today are people I met in the classrooms here. These are friends I’ve shared life with - discipleship, loss, marriage, and now, raising children together. Perimeter School taught me how to seek out and cultivate community with those around me.

IN WHAT WAYS IS THE WORK YOU ARE DOING NOW SPIRITUALLY AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT?

As I mentioned, we are a foster family, and I truly believe we wouldn’t be able to serve in this capacity if God hadn’t moved powerfully in my life two years ago.

For ten years, I climbed the non-profit ladder, enjoying the recognition, feeling needed, and knowing I was making a difference. I was prideful, but hindsight is 20/20. A few years ago, my mentor (also known as my dad) called me out on where my identity was coming from, and everything came crashing down. After working through this with my therapist, I stepped away from a job I loved. Our daughter had recently been diagnosed with dyslexia, and with a major career change, I knew the Lord was stirring something new in me and our family.

Since then, I’ve been able to dive deeply into understanding dyslexia and advocating for our daughter in ways I never could do before. We also found ourselves with the capacity to dream for our family. After serving Perimeter foster families for a year, we felt the call to open our home. In June, we welcomed our first placement, a baby boy who has brought so much joy to our family. We don’t know how long he will be with us or what his story will hold, but we are sure that God is using this experience to remind us that we are not in control. While that is very uncomfortable, this journey has been the best adventure our family has ever embarked on.

IN WHAT WAYS IS PERIMETER SCHOOL STILL IMPACTING YOUR FAMILY TODAY?

The biggest impact I can point to today is the one Perimeter School is having on our daughter. Dyslexia has brought feelings of insecurity, but Perimeter School - specifically the student support program and teachers - has been life-changing for her. She’s in a classroom with students who are wired just like her and has teachers who are specially trained to support her. We feel so blessed to watch her grow in the areas that are hardest for her, to see her fall in love with reading, and to witness her confidence in the classroom. None of this would be possible without the GOAL scholarship. The support we receive allows us to stay in the community we love and ensure our children receive the education they deserve. We feel incredibly blessed!