I recently ran across a rare phenomenon -somebody who loves to recruit teachers and is successful at it! I asked Karen to share her secrets...and here they are. <>< Neil, Rotation Admin Guy

Recruiting Basics from Karen Whitley

I have thought about this over the years because in talking with my cohorts around town, I have always felt so lucky in how easy I have it in the recruitment department. I think its a collection of reasons and I happily share them with you.

1) Pray first, foremost and always. I ask God's guidance in getting the best matches for each class and I pray that it not only benefits the kids but the teachers themselves.

2) Ask other teachers who they reccomend. After all they see the parents who pick up the kids on Sundays, they see who is more involved, more interested in what is going on.

3) Many churches have new member surveys or biographies that let you know what people have participated in their last churches. I make a point to contact every person who lists any interest in Christian Education. I also attend new member classes to not only aquatint them with our program but also acquaint myself with them. Every Advent I also hold a program for all the new families who have joined throughout the entire year. We talk about ways to focus upon the true meaning of the season, we make Advent wreaths and several other crafts, we enjoy a potluck dinner together. This enables me to build a relationship with new members of the parish. Other programs at other times of the year would serve the same purpose.

4) Develop a list of emergency substitute teachers. There are always a few people who do not want the responsibility of managing a class but who are perfectly willing to pitch in if someone else gets sick. I make certain that the teachers all have access to this list at the beginning of the year. If they are sick or need a weekend to travel, they have the list and there is none of the guilt so many times associated with not being able to be there. I have actually had fewer absences since using this system.

5) When I ask someone to teach, I always tell them I do not want an answer right away. I want them to think about it, and pray about it first. I also make it very clear that there are absolutely NO hard feelings if their answer turns out to be no at this time. I want them to understand that while they may not feel in the position to do it now, the door is always open. Also, I am very specific as to the expectations involved in teaching. I give them as much information as they need to make the decision.

6) Training sessions. Sometimes people just need confidence. I offer training sessions open to everyone and anyone. All members are invited to attend to see if they would be interested in teaching. Just attending the session does not require that someone actually sign up to teach. We go over the basics, characteristics of age groups, discipline guidelines, expectations for learning, WoRM principles, anything additional they may want to cover.

7) I try to involve the teachers as much as possible in the planning and implementation of programs and new ideas. They pretty much leave curriculum planning/gleaning up to me, but if there is anything new to be tried I always ask for their ideas and suggestions. Top down management is frustrating for everyone, Sunday School teachers included.

8) NEVER underestimate the value of a "Happy". I call them Happies, others may call them incentives, Thank You's, or whatever. At the change of every rotation, all teachers receive a certificate of appreciation. After twelve years I am the mistress of the inexpensive method of showing my appreciation for what the teachers do. For every holiday I make sure to remember them in some way - a bookmark, a bag of Hugs and Kisses (chocolate ones), mugs, one year I filled measuring cups with candy and enclosed a card that said "You sure measure up as a teacher." I think that so many times in ministry we err on the side of poor manners. We are "supposed to do these things as disciples of Christ," so we tend sometimes to neglect the "thank yous" to our fellow disciples. I keep track of what is going on in their lives. During time of illness I bring soup. If they are having a bad patch, I invite them for lunch. I try to nurture them as they are busy nurturing the children.

9) I have an ironclad rule of rotation of teachers. After three years I firmly thank them, and no matter how many teachers the upcoming rotation may require, I ask them to take a break. I urge them to join one of the adult classes we offer and make it well known that after a minimum of six months I will gladly take them back. You cannot pour water from an empty bucket, everyone needs spiritual replenishment from time to time.

10) I try and look beyond the traditional sources for my teachers. It is so easy to "target" only the parents of those who attend Sunday School. With the Rotation Model especially I try to identify everyone within the parish who has a particular talent. In the very beginning I made lists of anyone and everyone I knew who fell into one or more different categories: artist, drama person, storyteller, seamstress, musician, scientist, baker, etc. I enter people into this list regardless of age or background, and I update it with new members. I have a wonderful retired gentleman of 75 volunteering for a science lab now who has never taught Sunday School in his life -- but the area interested him (he used to work for Chevron). I have some of the kids who just graduated last year from high school who work with the drama
rotation. I have some rotations taught by teams because that works best but I never assume that a married couple needs or wants to work together -- they are individuals and may have very different interests!

11) I try to always team people with no or little experience with an experienced person to help the newer person Sometimes that is all that holds someone back from becoming involved -- they are afraid to have the entire responsibility for themselves right off the bat. Working with someone gives them the confidence they need.

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If you have Rotation Model Recruiting Tips and Tricks of the Trade, email them to Neil at sundaysoft@ee.net and we'll add them here below.

Josh Hunt says -- Take Care of the Teachers You Have!

Linda Wurzbacher says, -- Encourage your congregation to embrace its teachers.

Barbara Beach says, -- Have recruits enlist others to help them.