From labs filled with microscopes to campus-wide changes, Dr. Andrew Shaw has seen it all. Since 1977, he has been a steady presence in the science wing, watching Westminster grow and change. His story is one of faith, learning, and legacy as a science teacher.

As WCA celebrates its 50th anniversary, Dr. Shaw reflects on his time as both a teacher and parent, sharing how he, in turn, has shaped generations of students. Dr. Shaw has been at Westminster long enough to witness both small and sweeping changes. He has seen the school expand, traditions evolve, and students graduate into the world. But even as buildings and faces have changed, he believes the school’s mission has remained consistent.

On the move to a new building, Shaw reflected on the school’s deeper purpose. He says, “Recognize what’s really important isn’t the whistles and bells” he said. “It’s the philosophy—the integration of faith in learning.” To him, this commitment has been the school’s anchor across decades of growth.

For Shaw, Westminster is more than just a workplace. His own children attended the school, allowing him to view the community through both professional and personal eyes. This gave him a unique appreciation for the way the school influences its students.

Shaw said, “I know firsthand what it means to know who was speaking into my children’s lives–What they were experiencing, what they were going through, and where they had needs that the school was exceptional in being able to meet.” For Shaw, WCA was not only his classroom but also a place where his family could thrive.

As a science teacher, Shaw has found joy in connecting the natural world to his faith. His lessons are designed not only to teach the facts of natural science, but also to point students toward greater truths. This integration of science shaped his career and his classroom.

“I love seeing how the truth of God’s word and the truth of God’s world—general and special revelation—fit together so extraordinarily,” Shaw said. For him, teaching is not just about experiments and labs but about helping students see God’s hand in every discovery.

As WCA marks its 50th year, Shaw hopes students will carry a lasting lesson from his classroom: “I hope [my students] take away that because God’s word is God’s word, it is always going to be absolutely authoritative and reliable and relevant and worth basing your life on.” His message and motivation echo the mission of Westminster itself: academic enrichment, student ambition, and strong christian faith.