Pastor Handel has 42 years of experience as a professional teacher and educational administrator. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education at the State University of New York at Oneonta with a Minor in Science in 1975 and his Master of Science in Education at Russell Sage College in 1991. He also received his Permanent Teaching Certification in 1991 from New York State for Spanish grades 7-12. He will be teaching Spanish in the high school.
During his professional teaching career, he has instructed children at every grade level from grades kindergarten-12, in one subject or another. He has 29 years of teaching experience as a New York State public school elementary school teacher and Spanish teacher, plus 9 years of teaching experience as a Christian school teacher in the USA and overseas in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Budapest, Hungary, and 3 years of experience as a Christian school principal.
He made a decision to trust Christ as his Savior at age 19 at a college Bible study in 1974 and has been teaching and preaching the Bible ever since. Pastor Handel most loves his incredible wife Bea (44+ together), his two adult children, Leah and John Eric, and children of all ages, especially his granddaughter. He truly enjoys teaching Bible college courses and español, preaching the gospel, creating multi-media biblical presentations. He has been running an after-school Good News Club program at GGCA. His hobbies include kayaking with Bea and eating gourmet health food (Bea’s home cooking).
