Objectives of Sunday School presidencies in our stake

Notes from meeting with Stake Sunday School President Michael Miller on November 11, 2014, about the role of the Sunday School presidency in each ward:

First and foremost, the Stake Sunday School presidency is tasked with addressing the substitute teacher problem in the stake. Until that part of the “infrastructure” gets addressed, ward Sunday School presidencies will forever feel overwhelmed and will never get around to doing the following:

1. TEACH YOUTH TO TEACH: Ward SS presidencies are to help teachers of youth understand one of their prime responsibilities is to teach youth how to teach and testify, recognizing that many of them will be in the mission field within a very short time of their graduation from high school. This does not mean teachers simply give a student the manual and have them teach a lesson. Teachers of youth need to be instructed how to teach the students to teach and testify without turning over the class to them.

2. CONSISTENT OBSERVATION: A system needs to be put into place where there is consistent monitoring of youth class instruction so there is accountability and determination of training needs so the once-a-month training of youth is effective and will result in changes in the classroom.

3. EFFECTIVE COORDINATION OF TRAINING: Each ward must become more effective in the training of youth teachers. That will require a more effective coordination that happens between the (1) Implementation of tools in the classroom, (2) effective monthly trainings that result in implementation in the classroom and (3) consistent observation and mentoring to insure the right training is being provided on a monthly basis and that teachers are making the changes, as needed.

4. CALLING OF INSTRUCTORS: The ward Sunday School presidency provides counsel and feedback to the bishopric on how teachers, especially teachers of youth, are called and introduced to their assignment. The Stake Sunday School presidency provides the same counsel and feedback to the stake presidency so they can train bishoprics. It is important that all instructors come to understand what an important role they play in the hastening of the Lord’s work and that any attitude of resistance toward the teacher training they receive and/or one-on-one mentoring by their file leaders, including the ward Sunday School presidency, will not be tolerated for any length of time. It is important for bishoprics to address this at the time of the calling.