Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2014

She was so nervous she could hardly speak. This meeting with the school principal and superintendent was her first as founder of a local nonprofit organization focused on abstinence and character education — not an obvious career choice for an introvert, she knew. Years later, no one was more surprised than she was to be boldly speaking before members of Congress and in the White House as President and CEO of the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA). Valerie (Dell) Huber ’80 had worked for years as a stay-at-home mother of four after graduating with a degree in history and one class shy of a double major in political science. As an involved Cedarville student, she had dreams of changing the world, but never quite knew what that would look like. When her eldest child enteredmiddle school, she learned what was being taught in his sex education class. As a result, she formed a nonprofit organization to provide students with an alternative message. Huber’s nonprofit organization grew to reach 25,000 public school students across southwestern Ohio. Her platform was far more than a “just say no” campaign. Her goal was to help teens make healthy choices, understand their value and worth, and avoid risky behaviors. She soon became the Title VAbstinence Education Coordinator for the state of Ohio. She managed programs, through the Ohio Department of Health, that influenced more than 100,000 students per year. By 2007, she was in Washington, D.C., leading a national organization that represents the field of abstinence education in the media, in policy discussions, and in the local community. “My career path could only be orchestrated by God,” Huber said. “I was so far out of my comfort zone. At every juncture, God’s strength was made clear in my weakness — I realized the potential of every individual believer, when used by God, to make a real difference in the world.” As NAEA President and a topic expert on sex education, Huber decided to pursue a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree so she could better represent those who teach in a variety of school settings. “I wanted to understand the dynamics between teachers and administrators and how abstinence programs fit within different school environments,” Huber said. “I wanted to understand their challenges, speak their language, and apply best practices.” Because Huber earned her undergraduate degree at Cedarville, she knew the biblically based educational experience would help her refine and articulate her faith. Although she found this appealing, she carefully considered whether two degrees from the same Christian university would be an advantage or liability in her work, and whether she should pursue her master’s degree at a public university. “Unfortunately, abstinence education is a contentious issue,” she said. “I have many conversations and interviews with people who are hostile to its message. I ultimately chose Cedarville’s M.Ed. program, and I knew immediately that the environment was right for me. Class discussions with believers who shared my values were a real encouragement.” One key outcome of Huber’s M.Ed. experience was the 2012 launch of the Sexual Risk Avoidance Specialist (SRAS) certification, the first professional credential for abstinence educators. According to Huber, many enter the field like she did, with a heart for young people. Although they share that passion, Huber said, “they may not understand how to translate it into a meaningful educational paradigm. My M.Ed. classes helped me understand the essential components for a successful learning environment and educational experience — a critical component for any abstinence education program.” In addition to her course work, Huber credits classroom discussions with M.Ed. classmates for helping to inform the creation of SRAS. This rigorous certification program has already been implemented in several states, and Huber hopes SRAS will become standard for the field. A summary of Huber’s graduate thesis on the history of sex education in America will soon be published in a peer-reviewed journal. “I loved the engaging conversations in my programwhere content and Christian faith commingled,” she said. “My M.Ed. experience reinforced a desire I’ve had most of my life — to be a lifelong learner and usemymind andmy gifts for God’s glory.” Valerie (Dell) Huber ’80, M.Ed. ’10 is President andCEOof theNational Abstinence Education Association in Washington, D.C. She is a frequent spokesperson for teen sexual health and an expert on the public policy decision-making that has influenced how sex education is taught in communities across the nation. Learn more at thenaea.org. Stream Huber’s January 21, 2014, chapel message online at cedarville.edu/huberchapel. Carol Lee ’96 is a freelance writer and Managing Editor of Cedarville Magazine . Learning to Change the World by Carol Lee ’96 28 | Cedarville Magazine