Shaping Lives and Shining a Bright Light

As the school year came to a close this month, two people from the BACC’s San Francisco campus received public recognition for decades of outstanding leadership and impact in education. Ed Marquez, who recently retired as assistant principal at George Washington High School, received a commendation from San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. In the same week, Arlene Rydeen was honored as Educator of the Year by San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa and received a California State Senate commendation through State Senator Josh Becker. 

Amy and I know both Ed and Arlene and their families personally, and we have seen firsthand the decades of hard work and dedication they have poured into their students. But we have also seen something else: their persistent faith in God that has energized them every day. It’s this persistent faith that has motivated them to lift up and empower those who are often underserved in their communities.

Ed and Arlene are both incredible examples of the impact that happens when our faith in God and love for others come together:

If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.

1 Corinthians 13:7 TLB

As a church, we believe that people who are shaped and formed by the love of God will naturally make the world a better place. God moves through those who love and trust him. His love motivates us to show up every day in our workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods with genuine care and vision for the people around us, whether they go to church with us or not. This is what Ed and Arlene and their families have done for decades, and their example inspires us to do the same.

Empowering athletes to succeed in math and life

Twenty years ago, Ed was teaching math at George Washington High School, and he noticed that student athletes from historically underserved communities were graduating from high school with very few options for higher education or career paths outside of professional athletics. He was concerned that these students were putting all their eggs in one basket, which could hurt their lives later. Ed and his wife, Michelle, believed they could make a big difference in the trajectory of these students’ lives by empowering them to pass higher-level math classes and opening up their post-graduation options.

So Ed and Michelle launched a nonprofit academic and leadership program called Athletes in Math Succeed (AIMS). They started with a group of ten athletes that Ed personally mentored and tutored in high level math classes, helping each of these athletes believe that they could be successful.

In addition to academic success, Ed wanted to empower AIMS students to become leaders for good in the community. He established a mentorship program as part of AIMS in which athletes paired up with students with disabilities at one of the elementary schools in this district. Through this friendship, AIMS students developed respect and compassion, learning to connect with and advocate for people who are different from themselves. 

AIMS is now in its twentieth year, and it has helped more African-American, Latino, and Pacific Islanders take and pass high level math classes than ever before in the history of the high school. In his recognition of Ed’s service, Mayor Daniel Lurie commented on the long-lasting impact of Ed’s care for the students of San Francisco:

On behalf of the City and County of San Francisco, it is my honor and pleasure to recognize Ed Marquez for your remarkable leadership and service to San Francisco as a mathematics teacher, role model, mentor, and vice principal at George Washington High School. Your commitment to uplifting historically underserved student-athletes through the founding of a nonprofit academic and leadership program, Athletes in Math Succeed (AIMS), demonstrates your dedication to mentor and empower students to become academic achievers, community leaders, and engaged citizens. As you prepare to retire, we honor the impact of your legacy on your students and the City and County of San Francisco through decades of public service and guidance to generations of students who have achieved unprecedented levels of success in academia and sports. Thank you for your stewardship in shaping San Francisco and the youth of our city.

Mayor Daniel Lurie

As Ed received his award, many former students from George Washington High School gathered to share personal stories of how his influence and example changed the course of their lives and futures.

Ed shows us the impact God makes through people who know him and have experienced his love. Jesus described this in John 13:34:

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. [35] Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13:34-35 NLT

As Ed told ABC7 news in the first few years of AIMS, “How do you really impact a student? It really is old fashioned — you love them.”

Changing lives through unwavering care and vision

Arlene Rydeen has been an educator for decades, serving as a paraeducator at Lipman Middle School in the Brisbane School District. She has worked hard every day to serve students in the special education program, focusing on uplifting students with significant academic, behavioral, and daily living needs. 

Arlene received the honor of being named Educator of the Year upon her retirement this year. San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa recognized her exceptional dedication, leadership, and a steadfast commitment to student success. He also commended her for making a lasting impact on students, families and the broader school community. 

California Senator Josh Becker applauded Arlene’s exceptional dedication to education and ability to inspire students to achieve their fullest potential. He added that she has made a meaningful difference in the lives of young people and the community.

Those words reflect what Arlene’s family, friends, colleagues, and students have seen in her for years. She has always cared deeply about everyone around her—staff, parents, and administrators—but her greatest impact has been with students. She is known for building trust with patience, kindness, and love. She would take the time to understand what they needed and believe in them even through the most difficult situations.

At the award ceremony and at her retirement celebrations this year, it was clear what a difference Arelene has made in the lives of countless children and families. People expressed gratitude for how deeply her years of care had affected their lives.

Arlene’s permeating impact reminds us of the story Jesus told in Luke 13:

Jesus taught them another parable: “How can I describe God’s kingdom? God’s kingdom is like something as small as yeast that a woman kneads into a large amount of dough. It works unseen until it permeates the entire batch and the loaf rises high.”

Luke 13:20-21 TPT

Like many educators, Arlene poured her heart into her students day after day, whether anyone noticed or not. For Arlene, this love grew out of her walk with God. Because God’s love never gives up, Arlene did not give up on her students. Over the years, that love reached beyond the classroom, shaping families, encouraging coworkers, and strengthening the broader school community.

People transformed by God make the world a better place.

Ed’s and Arlene’s stories remind us that people who are transformed by God make the world a better place. Both of them shaped the lives of generations of students because of their heart for those who are often overlooked. This was how Jesus lived his life—moved by compassion, doing good and healing people regardless of whether or not they chose to follow him:

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:35-36 NIV

We don’t have to be the loudest or most visible person in the room; we simply need to love people with vision and deep care, and that makes all the difference.

“Let your light shine everywhere you go… so men and women everywhere may see your good actions… and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.”

Matthew 5:16 VOICE

We are grateful for both Ed’s and Arlene’s examples of living out their faith in God. Because of their love, they have been a bright light in so many lives, and they help us see the love of God in their care for their community.

And here’s the even more incredible part: each of us can follow their example. What impact could God make through us today at our jobs, schools, or neighborhoods by simply noticing people and caring about them?