Every educator needs a friend to turn to when they are facing a rowdy classroom, challenging parent interactions, tense staff meetings, or even just the everyday demands of teaching. Seasoned teacher Amy Cattapan recommends you form a posse of saintly mentors who are always there to offer inspiring examples and powerful intercession. In A Saint Squad for Teachers, Cattapan introduces you to a team of forty-five diverse and relatable saints ready to lift you up and intercede for you during every twist and turn of the school year. By drawing from the stories and wisdom of these heavenly educators and holy mentors, you’ll not only flourish as a teacher but also tackle the highs and lows of your calling with renewed vigor and unshakeable hope. This posse includes these much-needed intercessors: Thea Bowman for infusing more joy in your classroom Catherine of Siena for nurturing trust and respect with your students Charles Lwanga for protecting you and your students from evil Nicholas Black Elk for embracing the gift of multicultural classrooms Thomas Aquinas for uplifting your underachievers Frances Cabrini for providing strength when resources are stretched thin Questions for reflection or discussion are included at the end of this chapter. Beyond personal enrichment, A Saint Squad for Teachers can also be used as a mini-retreat, team-building book club, professional development, or gifts for staff. This book also makes an ideal thank-you for cherished teachers and dedicated catechists, acknowledging their profound impact on shaping lives.

Lieutenant Brent Miller arrived in the Middle East with one objective--get seven hostages out of the hostile country. The plan almost worked. But now he has been left behind--with one of the hostages. It's up to Brent to get Amy Whitmore, an LDS Senator's daughter, across miles of desert to safety. What he doesn't know is that to survive, he needs her as much as she needs him.

Based upon years of reviewing the work product of building principal’s evaluations of their teaching staff, it has been evident to me there is a clear need to improve this critical aspect of school administration. This book is designed to provide building principals (and assistant principals) with guidance on (1) the necessary preparation of the principal to be effective at guiding and coaching their staff; (2) the laying of the foundation for their teachers to know the standard of performance expected by the school district as whole, and the specific building where they serve, guide, and teach their students; (3) the teaching of their instructional staff what constitutes good lesson planning and instruction as defined by the educational model adopted by the school and art of teaching under that model; (4) developing the skills for the writing of effective teacher formative and summative evaluations to assist in the improvement of instruction; and (5) the work required in (1) to (4) above to establish and qualify the principal as an expert witness under the Rules of Evidence if he/she is called upon to participate in the end game of moving an underperforming teacher along. The book is designed as a step-by-step process with reading assignments, and self-instruction tasks at the end of each chapter applying the concepts, teaching, supporting, and assisting teachers in the science of teaching needed to develop, maintain, and excel at their craft. It is shown scientifically that where teachers know the district’s standards of performance, student learning improves, and students learn how to learn—essential in today’s ever-changing society. Being an effective building principal thus requires you to be an expert in your field( i.e., that person who is rhetorically asked, “Who are you who are so wise in the science of teaching?”). About the Author As you will surmise quickly in reading this book, Rex Schultze has had the fortunate circumstance of being immersed in public education for his entire life from 1951 to the present - as a teacher’s and administrator’s kid; as a high school teacher for four years; as the brother of an elementary school teacher and administrator; and, as a lawyer with a 40 year practice focused on public education both K-12 and community college levels. As such, he brings to you in “Who are you who are so wise in the science of teaching” a lifetime of perspective on the value of an education, and particularly public education, the most important equalizer of the citizens of our country and the need to grow, support and nurture the best teachers possible. Rex is a Boomer - as in “Baby Boomer” (“OK Boomer”) – an early version of that generation that grew up in the 50’s and 60’s, so you will find references to the movies and music of those days throughout the book to add perspective and some fun. (Apologies in advance for the succeeding generations; you can “google” the references – a contribution by Rex to your personal history journey).

This book address a major gap in the current mentoring programs at the secondary level. Staff development resources are often concentrated on helping new teachers be successful in their early school experience. Yes, a good idea, but a limited vision. Meanwhile many veteran teachers go without the mentoring assistance they need to be effective classroom teachers. While a few become mentors themselves, many veteran teachers just settle, slowly giving up, and become at risk of failure, burnout, and thinking only of retirement. This book is a call to school superintendents, building administrators, department chairs, school board members, union leaders, parent leaders, and teacher educators to address the need to provide ongoing mentoring for all teachers.

Creator of the popular website The Religion Teacher, Jared Dees shares practical, easy-to-use teaching strategies and exercises for spiritual growth in his book 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator. These components are designed to improve the effectiveness of any busy religious educator. Volunteer catechists and professional religion teachers are responsible for two unique and challenging tasks: sharing (and assessing) information and the spiritual formation of their students. This succinct, practical resource helps busy catechists and religion teachers with both tasks and is designed for use either over consecutive days in one month, or by specific themes that encourage personal improvement in areas of discipleship, service, leadership, and overall teaching. Each of the thirty-one days includes a clear title that gives the lesson theme, a quotation from Scripture, an introduction to the exercise, step-by-step actions to take for the day, and spiritual enrichment ideas for the educator.

Nanette's idea of escaping life backfires on her when she discovers she's a guardian angel, and the only way to earn her wings is to prevent young Vera from taking her own life.