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
.
Stream Huber’s January 21, 2014, chapel message online at
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
