Staying Encouraged in a Challenging School Climate

These are not the easiest days to be an educator. Between shifting expectations, rising student needs, and the fast pace of change (tech and AI included), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But for those working in faith-based schools—or carrying a faith perspective into work—there’s a deeper well to draw from.

A few reminders worth keeping close:
God’s calling doesn’t depend on perfect conditions. Teaching is ministry, even on the messy days. Maybe especially on the messy days.

Small moments still matter. A kind word, a breakthrough with a student, a classroom that feels safe and seen—those are kingdom wins, even if they don’t show up on a spreadsheet.

Students don’t just need content—they need calm, consistent, caring adults. When we bring peace into a noisy day, we reflect something bigger than ourselves.

Sometimes encouragement comes through prayer, sometimes through Scripture, and sometimes just through remembering that faithfulness doesn’t always look like success. It looks like showing up with love, over and over again.

To fellow educators walking this road: your work has eternal value. Stay rooted. Stay available. Keep the faith. Be blessed! - wcd

Learntrax Education Service, LLC | All Rights Reserved | 6.20.2025

Don't Forget the Kids Who Still Need Us

AI is showing up everywhere in education—lesson planning, writing support, even grading. It's fast, impressive, and in many ways, helpful. However, I've recently noticed something that bothers me: some students aren't connecting with the language that AI generates. Not because they’re lazy or distracted—but because they’re still learning how to read "between the lines"… and AI doesn’t always speak their language.

For children who already struggle with reading comprehension, vague vocabulary, or nuanced instructions, AI can exacerbate their difficulties, rather than alleviate them. It’s polished, but it’s also distant. Precise, but often inaccessible.
These students might not say they’re lost—but they are.

This is Where Teachers Still Matter
We’re the ones who can stop, notice the blank stare, and say:
“Let me put that a different way.”
We can rephrase, simplify, and connect the dots.
We can read the room—something AI can’t do.
And while AI is helpful, it doesn’t replace a teacher leaning down beside a student and saying, “You’re not the only one confused. Let’s figure it out together.”

So here’s the message:
As we deploy the new tools, don't forget the old ones—like listening, noticing, and explaining things in a way that makes sense to real kids, in real time.
Some of them still need that human touch. Don’t we all?

hashtag#TeachersMatter hashtag#AIInEducation hashtag#AIReadingSupport hashtag#HumanFirst hashtag#EquityInLearning hashtag#TeacherVoice

Faith and Focus: Talking Politics Without Losing Our Way (or Our Students)

 

Let’s be honest: talking about today’s political climate in the classroom feels a bit like trying to juggle flaming swords while balancing on a tightrope. Blindfolded. Above a pit of crocodiles.

And yet—we can’t NOT talk about it.

Our students don’t live in a vacuum. They come into our classrooms carrying headlines, hashtags, and heat from dinner table debates. Some are anxious. Some are angry. Some are just confused. Some are clueless. All of them are watching us closely, looking for someone who won’t flinch when the topic gets hard, who won’t shut down when the stakes get high.

As educators—especially Christian educators—we’re called to be that someone.

Walking the Line: Truth, Grace, and Civics 101

    We don’t have to take sides to talk with students about what’s happening in the world. But we do need to guide students in how to think critically, listen empathetically, and respond with both courage and humility. That’s not a political stance—it’s discipleship.

    Teaching students how to engage with today’s issues means helping them practice discernment, not division. That means we name injustice when we see it, but we also maintain dignity when we encounter people we disagree with. It means we hold fast to biblical truth, but we do it in a way that opens conversations rather than shuts them down.

What Hope Looks Like—When It’s Not Just Wishful Thinking

    Hope isn’t the same as optimism. Optimism says, “It’ll all be fine.” Hope says, “Even when it’s not fine, God is still at work.” That’s the kind of hope we want to model.

     Students don't need to be numb to the world’s pain. But we also don’t want them to become cynical. They need to see that hard conversations can lead to healing and growth. That disagreement doesn’t have to mean division. Following Christ means engaging with the world, not hiding from it, or trying to recreate the world in our own image instead of letting ourselves be transformed by Him.

 

Wendell C Douglas, Editor | President and CEO | Douglas Education, LLC | All Rights Reserved | 2025

Called to Teach

 

Early in my career, I discovered that teaching is not a task for the faint-hearted! Teaching is often considered a “calling” rather than just a job because, at many levels, it involves a deep commitment to serving students and families, as well as a core desire to integrate one's faith into every educational experience.

For many teachers (not all), the decision to teach is a response to a spiritual “call” on their lives. They feel a strong sense of purpose and mission to use their talents and abilities to nurture young people and to prepare them to become responsible, compassionate, and productive members of society.

   Called teaching is not just about imparting knowledge.  Along with academic excellence, it also involves creating a learning environment that reflects, however subtly, faith, love, and grace and encourages students to develop a deeper understanding of their place in the universe and their relationship with others.

   Teaching is a demanding profession, requiring dedication, sacrifice, and a willingness to serve others. However, it is also a profoundly fulfilling and rewarding vocation, offering opportunities to positively impact students' lives and contribute to the work of transforming the world. “Called” teachers try to uphold and model these values in teaching, interactions with students and parents, and relationships with colleagues, integrating them into every subject and lesson. Are you still "called"?

   Stable schools are often recognized for their strong sense of community, where teachers, students, and families collaborate to create a supportive and nurturing learning environment and foster a sense of fellowship. As a teacher, you will be expected to contribute to this community, building relationships with students, parents, and colleagues.

   Schools are committed to academic excellence, and teachers are expected to deliver high-quality instruction that challenges and engages students. This teaching involves creating rigorous and relevant lesson plans, using effective strategies, and continually assessing and evaluating student progress. As a "called" school teacher, you must become a skilled master of your craft, knowledgeable, agile, and wholly committed to fulfilling your calling.

   In addition to academic instruction, most schools also emphasize character development, helping students cultivate virtues such as honesty, integrity, kindness, and service. As a "called" teacher, you will be expected to model and promote these virtues and to provide opportunities for students to practice and develop them. Lesson planning, teaching strategies, and classroom management will be prime opportunities to showcase values and principles. 

   Suppose you are contemplating and even praying about teaching. It will be essential to consider the following questions as you reflect on your sense of calling and evaluate whether this spiritual vocation fits your gifts, skills, personality, and values. 

Here is an opportunity for self-reflection on your calling to teach. Only you can answer each question on the checklist with honest intent. Seek God's guidance as you respond.

Respond by circling your best response on a scale of one to five, one being the lowest on the scale and five being the highest.  

1=No    2     3= Not Decided   4      5=Absolutely!

Do you feel called to serve the community and others through teaching?      

1      2      3       4       5

Are you committed to integrating faith and learning, and to helping students develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world?  

1     2     3      4      5 

Do you have a passion for working with young people and helping them grow intellectually, socially, and spiritually?  

1     2     3     4     5

Are you patient, compassionate, and able to build strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues?  

1     2     3     4     5

Are you willing to collaborate with other teachers, administrators, and staff to contribute to a positive and supportive school culture?

1     2     3     4     5

Do you have strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, and can you adapt to different learning styles and abilities?

1    2    3    4   5

Are you willing to commit to ongoing professional development and continually strive to improve your teaching practice?  

1    2    3    4    5

Are you comfortable with the school's beliefs and values, and do you feel called to support and promote these values in your teaching?

 1    2    3    4    5

 

So, are you called to teach?  As you reflect on your honest responses to these questions, you can better understand your sense of calling to teach and evaluate whether this vocation aligns with your gifts, passions, beliefs, and goals. 

                          Wendell C Douglas, Editor | President and CEO | Douglas Education, LLC | All Rights Reserved | 2025 

Welcome to The Faith and Focus Blogazine: A Space for Growth, Leadership, and Learning

 

Douglas Education, LLC

Education is more than instruction—it's leadership, vision, and the steady pursuit of excellence. Whether you stand at the front of the classroom or lead from an office, your impact on students, educators, and the future of Christian education is immeasurable.

That’s why The Faith and Focus Blogazine exists—an evolving space where thought meets action, where ideas are sharpened, and where teaching and leadership merge as one force! This is more than a blog. It’s a conversation, a reflection, and a resource for those dedicated to cultivating faith-filled learning environments.

I still recall the moment I realized the significant impact of leadership on education. Years ago, I had a conversation with a teacher in a Christian school setting who felt stuck, drained by the constant demands, yet deeply committed to her students. She had the passion, but she thought she lacked the support and structure to truly thrive. That conversation heavily shaped my understanding: educators don’t just need strategies—they need leadership that empowers them to succeed.

From that moment on, my work became about more than just instruction. It became about equipping teachers and leaders to navigate the complexities of education with confidence and purpose.

Here, you’ll find discussions on instructional strategies, leadership principles, governance models, and the challenges and triumphs of Christian education. You’ll discover insights, techniques, and encouragement tailored for those who shape lives through their work in the real world of teaching and learning. 

This journey is built on a profound belief: education is transformative, but educators must be supported to thrive. Whether you seek practical tools, thought-provoking discussion, or a fresh perspective, my hope is that this space serves you well.

I invite you to engage, share, and grow alongside this community. Together, we’ll elevate education with purpose, passion, and faith.

Welcome to The Faith and Focus Blogazine—where leadership and learning come to life. Real life!

Wendell C Douglas, Editor | President and CEO | Douglas Education, LLC | All Rights Reserved | 2025