Dr. Ruth Horton is a career educator who, from the young age of seventeen, has nurtured a vibrant tenue in education.Her yearning to continue learning drew her away from the scenic nature island of Dominica where she was born and grew up, to further hone the skills and transformational practices as a teacher and educational leader.
Having served in both public and parochial schools, at the elementary through university levels, in suburban, and urban settings, Ruth has embraced the truth echoed by Christian author Ellen White that “knowledge of God is the foundation of all right education.”
Ruth currently serves as Vice President for Education of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Her service has spanned decades in education, bolstered by four academic degrees. In the Seventh-day Adventist education system, her ministry was curated at the local school, conference, and union levels of the Seventh-day Adventist church, as a teacher, school administrator, conference superintendent, and Union education director
Ruth has played a pivotal role in teacher and educational leader development and professional growth through programming, training, and fostering educator preparedness to facilitate increase access to learning for our wider spectrum of learners. She has led NAD initiatives including, among other areas, her work with a team of educators in developing NAD Secondary English Proficiency Scales, leading NAD accreditation teams, and shepherding memorable NAD Education participation in the Chosen and Believe the Promise International Camporees, along with facilitating multiple Conference and Union education department initiatives.
A certified Spiritual Leadership Coach and presenter at leadership and education conferences—nationally and internationally, as well as at women’s conferences, churches, and more, Ruth has advanced the ministry of education with a special emphasis on the inherent value and yearnings of learners, as well as the training and readiness of educators and educational leaders.
Ruth holds an Associate of Arts degree from Caribbean Union College (now University of the Southern Caribbean), Bachelor of Arts and Masters’ degrees from Andrews University, and a Doctoral degree from National Louis University’s National College of Education.
Ruth acknowledges, more purposefully how learning inherently invites a landing point, conjoining knowing with doing and with being—to think and to do.
Drawing from decades of partnership and pastoral ministry with late husband Michael, Ruth has three sons and is delighted to maintain the heart and pathos of a teacher.
She looks forward to that landing site—that better place where she’ll continue to learn into eternity with students, teachers, leaders and countless others—in the presence of her blessed Savior and Master Educator.