The Third Secret to Successful Teacher Enlistment

Imagine a continuum, with "personal" at one end and "impersonal" at the other.

PERSONAL------------------------------------------IMPERSONAL

The third truth about enlisting teachers (Secret is perhaps not an accurate term this time around) is that the more personal the approach, the more likely the "Yes."

Consider these possible recruiting approaches:

• bulletin announcements
• pleas from the pulpit
• form letters signed by the pastor
• personal notes from the Sunday School director
• personal notes from children
• e-mail
• phone calls
• chatting in the parking lot after church
• visiting in the home

Where does each fall on that continuum? That will tell you something about the usefulness of that approach. That is not to say that it is wrong to let the congregation know you are looking for Sunday School teachers or for the pastor to let the congregation know that he is recommending several names to the Sunday School director for follow up. But the best "Yes" will come from personal contact.

It is of great importance that we know those whom we ask to teach. Let's be honest. No matter how dire the need, there are some people who should probably not teach Sunday School.

My preferred steps for teacher enlistment are these:
1.  Prepare a list of positions to be filled.
2.  Pray.
3.  List as many candidates as come to mind (reviewing the church directory can help).
4.  Consult with the pastor about his recommendations and evaluation of those I've listed.
5.  Select one name for each postion to be filled.
6.  Send a letter to that candidate, including a brief job description and mentioning a day and time I will try to call them with more information.
7.  Make that call and offer or request to meet them face to face.
8.  Describe the need, the skills that person has to meet the need, the training and support the church will offer, and offer to answer any questions.
9.  Allow a week for them to consider the opportunity to teach; arrange a visit to the Sunday School class if they desire.
10. Meet again, or follow up by phone, to hear the conadidate's response.
11. Thanks them for saying "Yes," or thank them for prayerfully considering and go back to step 5.

God bless you as you enlist those who will teach God's children His Word.

The Second Secret to Enlisting Volunteer Teachers

It flies in the face of logic for some people, but it is easier to enlist two people to teach a Sunday School class than to enlist just one. And, of course, it is easier to enlist a second teacher to work with a teacher you already have on board.

Filling your teaching positions two deep addresses a number of issues and concerns.

• As mentioned last week, it eases concerns about the time commitment involved; each teacher has some guaranteed backup if an absence is required.
• It reduces discipline issues by lowering the student-to-teacher ratio. It also provides the option of one teacher removing a child from the room (maybe because of behavior, but maybe for a medical concern or restroom break) without leaving any child unsupervised.
• It allows a bit of specialization; one teacher might be good at crafts, another may really enjoy dialog with the students.
• It provides a sense of fellowship and partnership that most teachers enjoy.
• It provides for the "two deep" staffing that many churches strive for (and some insurance companies require) to avoid an adult being isolated with a child or group of children.

As you enlist teachers, then, you might look for pairs.

• A husband and wife
• A mother or father and a daughter or son
• Two teachers who are close friends

And, if you recruit your teachers face-to-face (which is a wonderful plan; the more personal the invitation the better), arrange to meet both candidates together to share the job description, the teaching material, information about orientation and training, and Sunday School policies.

What other advantages can you think of for enlisting two teachers for each class?


God bless you as you teach His children His Word!

The First Secret to Enlisting Teachers

I've written on teacher enlistment before in this blog, but in light of my post last week on summer Sunday School, it seems wise to reiterate.

Most volunteers, when faced with an invitation to teacher Sunday School, have two concerns that need to be addressed.

What am I getting into?
The volunteer will not agree to an open-ended, loosely defined position. Our time is one of our most precious possessions in today's culture and we will not give anyone a blank check on that account. When do I need to show up? How long will it take to prepare? How many weeks am I agreeing to? How do I deal with an occasional absence? Answer these questions up front, and you are more likely to hear those beautiful words, "Yes, I will do it."

Will I be able to do this?
You've answered part of this question when you address the first one. But there's more! No one likes to fail. I'd rather say no, than risk feeling bad about how I'm doing. Can you guarantee me success? Your task here is to assure the potential volunteer that you are fully committed to their success and have thought through the requirements for that success. Show them the wonderful material they will teach from. Offer complete orientation to the task, including a classroom tour, location of supplies, resources for further study, in-service skill building, and an opportunity to shadow one of your best teachers. Explain the discipline policy and procedures that have been successful in dealing with discipline problems. Offer to be close by, even in the room, during their first class, and take a few minutes to debrief that first experience.

Both of these concerns are also addressed by yet another secret to successful volunteer enlistment. Stay tuned for Secret #2 next week!

God bless you as you teach His children His Word!

How Many Teachers Will You Need This Summer?

The exact answer, of course, will depend on how many children you expect to reach each week in Sunday Sunday School.

A small Sunday School, though, can probably manage with two teachers, one for each of two age groups. In Concordia Publishing's "H2Oh! God Keeps His Promises," we have pared down summer Sunday School to two levels.

Level A serves non-readers and early readers, generally preschool through grade one or two. Level B serves readers, generally grade two or three through grade six. Both levels share a common full-color lesson leaflet with activities that will intrigue your students and be helpful in class and at home.

The program offers options for creating a site rotation experience each week or teaching the children in same-aged classrooms. And the detailed teacher guides will make teaching easy even for the new teacher.

What is your preferred arrangement of classes during the summer?

Will your regular teachers continue through the summer, or do you recruit new teachers?

How many students do you expect?

God bless you as you teach His children His Word this summer!