YL Teacher Movement

Who am I?

• Taught secondary mathematics 30 years, retired 2015
• Coached volleyball >30 years (men’s & women’s)
• Led YL during teaching & coaching and in retirement.
• Worked since retirement in equipping, encouraging and supporting YL leaders who are or may be teachers.
• Continue to tutor students because I’m not finished yet.
• Glynda Rice 614-596-2311, GlyndaRiceYL@gmail.com

YL Palmetto Region Teacher Movement

• Please choose seats with others who: have similar school position (ex. elementary, middle school, high school, administrator etc.) and lead at the same ministry (high school YL, WyldLife etc.
• Use the QR code below and please complete the form.

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• Topics of discussion in teaching and leading YL can generally be categorized in one of the following:
• Legal issues
• Professionalism & boundaries
• Time management
• Interaction with peers

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• Table discussion: For each of these 4 topics, please share
• A victory (“high” or “happy”)
• A challenge (“low” or “crappy”)
• A question
• Nugget of wisdom

Making Connections

• Retired Educators Consortium
• Quarterly zoom call among REC & YL educator leaders
• Potential nationwide in person Institute ~July 15 in Denver, CO
• Quarterly informative email (You’ll be added to this list from the form)
• Christian Educators
• ChristianEducators.org
• Professional Liability Insurance available

Unique Advantage

• We are in the school with students all day every day
• Because we are with students, we know what is going on from the mundane to the traumatic
• We already care about and for our students
• We are comfortable “up front” and know how to run tech etc
• Teachers bring:
• Credibility
• Stability
• Capability
• Responsibility
• Flexibility
• Called to our profession and committed to kids for life

Unique Advantage

• We are one hall pass away from all students all day
• Can pray for our students while we monitor the class during tests, quizzes, work time etc.
• Teachers are responsible to honor our employer (professionalism).
• Students know us in several roles & they watch us operate in these roles. #adulting

Unique Advantage

• Teachers work where the kids are, and work with them.
• Students see teachers live out their faith, sometimes in trying circumstances. They see us live in the secular world. They see us work hard/diligently.
• Students see our behavior consistently, on a daily basis, instructor, advisor, teacher, coach, discipliner

Area Startup

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Look for teachers who:

• Love Jesus
• Love Kids
• The students you know can probably identify these teachers right now, ask them.

What YL offers teachers.

Teachers who love Jesus are looking for opportunities, or a platform to say what they seek to live out each day.

Teachers without a YL background.

• As much & as soon as possible get them to see YL live.
• May need informed about what is legal and what to avoid.
• During your contract day, be relational without overt Gospel.
• Follow all district and building standards for direct communication.
• Be with students, sit with them at assemblies & games.
• Being real and relational can also contribute to student learning & classroom management.
• Being “silly” in club builds rapport, respect and demonstrates approachability.
• Be available.

Teachers with a YL background

• Teachers who may have led YL in college may need informed about being relational and professional.
• May need to pay special attention to school regulations regarding communicating with students outside of school.

4 general categories of questions and wisdom

• Time management
• Boundaries & professionalism
• Legal rights & wisdom
• Inviting peers and/or being mindful of their perception of our dual role.

Time Management

• Take advantage of the overlaps of of time
• Keep a year plan ahead. I use a spreadsheet.
• Plan club for a whole semester: songs, mixer, pull up game, run on and such.
• There is not discretionary time available in big blocks of time to do last minute work for school or club.

Boundaries & Professionalism

• It is less about your intentions and more about what others perceive (are your intentions).
• Work diligently, be known as a good educator.
• I don’t directly invite to a first YL event. (Use key kids) After someone has attended 3 YL events, then I talk freely. (screen saver)
• I overuse “we miss you.” (to avoid perceived pressure to attend from an authority figure)
• Follow your district’s directives for social media and direct communication with students.
• use Club IG account to DM or Remind etc.

Boundaries & Professionalism

• Communicate wearing different hats: teacher, coach, YL leader
• When reporting is mandatory. (Now included in the YL volunteer “Child Safety” training.
• Consider going by a name that is not your First or Last name.
• When picking up people, still go to the door. Try to introduce yourself to parents, include that you are a YL leader and also a teacher at the school.
• Over communicate, anticipate potentially awkward circumstances. “When you are sitting in my class….. When we are outside of school or at YL activities……”
• Be transparent, be transparent, be transparent.

Be Fair

• Whatever you would do for any campaigner or discipleship kid, offer to all students.
• I offer tutoring to people who are not my students and have never been to anything YL.
• Ex: Tutoring, work at Starbucks, etc.
• Love everyone as unconditionally as possible.

Classroom Culture

• Popsicle sticks, “teamwork” & Mathbucks
• Stand in the hallway between classes & speak to all students who walk by. Greet students as they enter the classroom.
• Be relational in discipline. “Help me out….” But hold the line
• Handle consequences locally when possible.

Be Available

• I go out of my way to show kindness to all.
• Candy drawer for block, but open to all.
• Cliff bars also available
• Ask culturally relevant questions to people from different cultures. (Turkey)

Legal Issues

• Separation of church and state�Being an Educator in Mission during the school day & after hours
• 1 Corinthians 10:23�Everything is permissible, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up.
• The following information is culled from the Department of Education’s new Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools January 2020
• https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html
• Additional legal resources & information for educators
• Gateways to Better Education - gogateways.org
• Christian Educators Association International - ceai.org
• Religious Freedom Center - religiousfreedomcenter.org
• Search Educator guide to religion in public schools

Legal Issues

• Be above reproach in all situations. Never give an administrator a reason to question your actions or intentions.
• Educators are legally allowed to honestly answer questions about their faith when asked by students. Do this with wisdom and discretion.
• Educators are legally allowed to teach ABOUT religion but are NOT ALLOWED to provide religious instruction during contract hours.
• Examples include philosophical questions concerning religion, the history of religion, comparative religion, the Bible (or other religious teachings) as literature, and the role of religion in the history of the United States and other countries all are permissible public-school subjects. Similarly, it is permissible to consider religious influences on philosophy, art, music, literature, and social studies.

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Legal Issues

• Educators are legally allowed to teach about religious holidays, including their religious aspects, and may celebrate the secular aspects of holidays, schools may not observe holidays as religious events or promote such observance by students.
• Educators are legally allowed to engage with students outside of school hours when it is connected to a normal activity that parents would be comfortable with.
• School related activities including student council, choir teacher, band director, athletic coach. Non-school related activities including Sunday school teacher, scout leader, recreational coach

Legal Issues

• Use the standard set in your school for communication as set forth by other organizations
• If a principal forbids an educator from serving with a religious based organization, they only have the ability to enforce that rule during school hours. However, communicate with your principal and help them see why being a leader in this group makes you a better educator.
• Educators are legally allowed to allow students to express their religious perspective in classroom discussions and assignments. Previously the language used was “religious content” instead of “religious perspective.” This subtle change will help as the pressure grows on educators to suppress the religious viewpoints of students on controversial cultural topics. Students are legally allowed to speak to, and attempt to persuade, their peers about religious topics just as they do with regard to political topics.

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Legal Issues

• Students are legally allowed to distribute religious literature to their schoolmates on the same terms as they are permitted to distribute other literature that is unrelated to school curriculum or activities. Schools may impose the same reasonable time, place, and manner or other constitutional restrictions on distribution of religious literature as they do on non-school literature generally, but they may not single out religious literature for special regulation.
• Students are legally allowed to form religious student clubs on campus through The Equal Access Act. Student clubs have the right to require its leadership to hold the club’s religious beliefs. While this may seem obvious, there are some activists who are pushing to require clubs to not “discriminate” against people who want to lead the club but not believe in the clubs religious doctrines.

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Legal Issues

• Students are legally allowed to wear clothing of religious attire or religious messages. School administrators enjoy great freedom in adopting policies relating to student dress and school uniforms. Schools, however, may not single out religious attire in general, or attire of a particular religion, for prohibition or regulation. If a school makes exceptions to the dress code for non-religious reasons, it must also make exceptions for religious reasons, absent a compelling interest. Students may display religious messages on items of clothing to the same extent that they are permitted to display other comparable messages. Religious messages may not be singled out for suppression, but rather are subject to the same rules as generally apply to comparable messages.”

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Legal Issues

• Schools must have no policy against students praying at school. A school might not have an official policy against prayer, but in practice they might repress it. In order to protect students about this
• Schools must report any complaints against them. The Department of Education has made clear that states must have a process for students, parents and educator to report violations of their right to participate in protected religious expression. It requires each state to notify the Department of Education of any complaint against schools alleging violations even if the state deems them to be without merit.

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• Forearm demonstration

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Connecting with kids and other staff members

• Pray for your kids and have your friends pray for them also. Take your role sheets with you, put them in your bible, 5 classes – 1 class per day. Give your friends one kid to pray for. The first name only, basic info (tough home life, trouble focusing in class, great kid...needs to be more of a leader, etc.)
• Get to know your students on a personal level. Find out what they participate in at school and out of school then ask them about those activities. Kids want to be known by someone who cares about them.
• Be intentional with kids & staff. Once per day spend your passing period in a visible spot and engage with kids who pass by. Just before your planning period, before school or after school allow you the least rushed time.
• Once per week spend a portion of your planning period connecting with kids, student leaders or other educators/staff who might be potential leaders or supporters of YL.
• If you have a duty assignment, be intentional with kids. Same practices as in the classroom of getting to know kids on a personal level. Pray for kids with your eyes open.�Ask God to give you a positive interaction with a kid you may not know well.
• Hang pictures of kids having fun at YL events in your classroom or in the hallway outside of your room. Kids love pictures of themselves.
• Volunteer with clubs or events that allow you access to students without overwhelming your schedule.

Scenarios

Where do you stand?

Shortly after weekend camp you catch 2 of your students who were in your cabin cheating on the test.

1 - Take their tests, give them zeros, report to administration.

2- Talk with them together, explain consequences, report to administration.

3- Have an individual conversation with each of them, determine next course of action.

4- Take no immediate disciplinary action. Talk with them.

Where do you stand?

During school a student approaches you to tell you that this past weekend they visited their sister at their university. The sister gave the student drugs and the student is still feeling the effects (hallucinations).

1 - Take them immediately to administration or school counselor

2- Talk with them individually as you walk to the office.

3- Talk with them to determine next steps & course of action.

4-Consider this a YL situation and deal with it as a YL leader (HR, red card).

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Where do you stand?

YL students in your school call you by your first name & play some friendly pranks on you. Maybe take an answer key or such. Maybe cut your class.

1- Take disciplinary action as you would with any student.

2- Talk with the students individually then assign consequences.

3- Establish and understanding about behavior with you at school vs at YL activities.

4-Laugh with them & consider it to be a “relational” vicory.

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Finding the balance

rigid

authoritarian

complete

relational

acceptance

relational

authority

Philosophical thoughts:

• Everyone is someone for whom Christ died. (Every student & colleague.)
• Love them till they ask why.

mission/vision statement

 Introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith.

-Young Life

Our hearts ache for the millions of young people who remain untouched by the Gospel and for the tragically large proportion of those who have dropped by the wayside and find themselves without spiritual guidance. Help us to give them a chance, oh Father, a chance to become aware of thy Son’s beauty and healing power in the might of the Holy Spirit.

- Jim Rayburn, founder of YL