When Compliance Conflicts with Conviction: Supporting Christian Educators Facing PRISM Training Mandates
State-mandated training aimed at the well-being of students who identify as a gender or sexual orientation other than the one God gave them (along with other related issues) is not new, especially in California. However, this year’s PRISM training, mandated by Assembly Bill 5, came with a heavy-handed expectation to implement (not just be informed […]
A Prayerful Posture: Facing Workplace Challenges with Faith and Wisdom
The first time I spoke with this member, she was emotional, her voice breaking at times as she tried to explain her situation. A decision had been made by her principal that turned her daily planning and teaching space into a constant stream of interruptions due to students going in and out. Planning time was […]
Guilty Until Proven Innocent? The Harsh Reality Facing Today’s Teachers
*Finn Laursen has handled thousands of member service cases over the years. This narrative (not based on a single case) reflects the actual experiences of hundreds of Christian Educators members. Our member was called to the principal’s office in the middle of the day, where he was informed that an accusation was made against him […]
Due Process Denied: A Troubling Investigation and a Member’s Redemption
A member in a Northeastern state was faced with an allegation after only eight days on the job as an educational childcare provider. Law enforcement and Child Protective Services (CPS) launched an investigation, and several staff members—four caregivers and the owner—were interviewed. Our member had been hired as the educational director and was still in […]
Advice from an Educational Consultant
“Hello, this is Finn Laursen, an Educational Consultant with Christian Educators. What’s going on, Barbara?” I had called Christian Educators in desperation. Two months into a new job, I was really stressed out. This was my first year as a certified teacher at a Title 1 school with a mere 19% reading proficiency rate. With […]
Standing Beside Our Members: Resolving Conflict with Grace
A few weeks in advance, our member had verbally arranged with her teaching team and principal to leave school early one afternoon. However, the day after her planned early departure, she received a concerning email from her principal instructing her to attend a meeting…and to bring union representation. Understandably, she was anxious when she contacted […]
From Pushback to Breakthrough: A Teacher’s Good News Club Story
“Sometimes, the person we are frustrated with is the person Christ wants us to reach the most.” – Derald Glover A member (who also serves as the sponsor for her school’s Good News Club) had allowed some of her students to pick up Good News Club flyers from her classroom after school one day. Shortly […]