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Children might not remember specific lessons, but they remember the teachers who taught them鈥攅ven if teachers don鈥檛 always see the impact that they have.

That is the advice that Prof. Kelly Lenarz 鈥�99, assistant professor of education and coordinator of Adult Studies special education, gave a group of professional teachers and Christian education volunteers during a recent training session at Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Oostburg, Wis.

Along with emphasizing the role that teachers play in the lives of their students, Lenarz offered practical tips and education theory interspersed with clips from 鈥淧eanuts鈥� cartoons and 鈥淔erris Buehler鈥檚 Day Off.鈥� Lenarz encouraged the approximately 40 attendees to get students to talk. 鈥淚f you have to talk, you have to think,鈥� she said.

The session, which also involved a teacher appreciation dinner, included teachers from local Christian and public schools, as well as Bethel OPC ministry volunteers.

A native of neighboring Sheboygan, Lenarz said she was excited to return to Wisconsin to lead the training session at Bethel OPC. Working with church volunteers was particularly rewarding, she said. 鈥淗elping with children鈥檚 ministries often seems like the default volunteer option for those who perhaps don鈥檛 feel qualified to sing in the church choir or serve during worship,鈥� Lenarz said. 鈥淚 wanted to remind them how valuable they are and to give them some practical strategies to do what they do well.鈥�

The training was very useful, according to Rev. Dave Veldhorst, associate pastor at Bethel OPC. 鈥淜elly’s teaching was warm, winsome, insightful, and very practical,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o many good tips to use in the classroom in drawing out good responses from students鈥� According to Veldhorst, one of the attendees said that the bar is usually set low for church volunteers. 鈥淪he said by bringing in a professor in the field from 91精选, it made her feel honored and it made her believe teaching with excellence was important.鈥�

To learn more about Lenarz, and to contact her about teacher training opportunities, click here.