Meet Bertha, Good Soil Academy’s Principal

It’s my privilege to introduce you to Good Soil Academy’s Principal, Bertha Munthali.  Bertha is the one in the center of this picture, standing in the midst of what motivates her as a leader:  young women with great potential!  

We first met Bertha in August of 2011 when she and her husband were teachers at the secondary school in Kang’oma Village.  She and her husband, Joseph, stood out as exceptional teachers, passionate about education, their faith, and compassionate toward their students, almost all of whom came from dire economic circumstances.  

Over the years, Bertha was assigned by the Government to teach in various schools throughout central Malawi. However, she has had the opportunity to pursue advanced education and has studied educational methodology in Japan.  Her husband, Joseph, went on to a career in the Airport Authority and then worked for international investment interests.  We at GSP maintained our friendship with Bertha and Joseph, and from time-to-time we’d meet and catch up on their lives and family.

We next really began to interact with Bertha when Good Soil Partners was in crisis, and we were seeking God’s guidance as to what was next for GSP.  One of the big questions we were asking was whether God wanted us to do something new, and that question included whether God wanted us to provide our entrepreneurship and leadership training within a broader educational setting.  

We approached Bertha to serve on our Feasibility Study where we drilled down into the question whether it was feasible to create a secondary school that lived out our vision to create entrepreneurial leaders in Malawi. At this point Bertha was approaching the end of a 20 year teaching career and the possibility of retirement.  

One decision led to another, and when we discerned that God wanted us to launch Good Soil Academy, Bertha was God’s choice to serve as principal. Bertha brings twenty years of innovative teaching experience, a stalwart faith in God, a heart for young people, and the ability to discern a child with potential and natural leadership skills. 

She is passionate about the things that really count.  She wants to see each child grow into their full potential as leaders. She wants them to learn how to live an undivided life of faith in their Maker. She wants to equip them with the skills to lift themselves, their families, their communities, and Malawi into places of economic stability.  Part of why Bertha is able to pursue this passion is that her husband, Joseph, has been so supportive of Bertha in pursuing her passion and personal vision.

Serving as principal of a girls’ secondary school is not for the faint of heart.  It calls Bertha to long hours, tough decisions, many personal sacrifices, and unwavering commitment to the Vision, Mission and Values of Good Soil Academy.  Bertha is an integral part of the Strategic Plan for Good Soil Academy.  One thing we love about Bertha is that as a leader, she still seeks to grow, surrounding herself with the wisdom of other experienced leaders. 

Oh, one more thing about Bertha, she loves music, and she has a beautiful voice. Now that you know a bit more about Bertha, here are some things you can pray about for Bertha:

Strength and safety for each day; Time Management, that God will give her the moments necessary to plan ahead; Continued discernment and wisdom in implementing GSA’s Strategic Plan; and God’s blessing on Bertha and her family as they, like all Malawians, struggle with tough economic times.

For His Kingdom,
Dean B. Eggert