Stimulating Sunday School Discussion… But Not Too Much | An Interview with Julie Hillyard

Julie McAllister Hillyard was raised in Vancouver, Washington, served in the Philippines Bacolod Mission, and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Psychology. She taught classes to male inmates and mentored female inmates at the Utah State Prison before and as she launched her career. Julie had the privilege of working and traveling with Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and worked with him as he developed and wrote The 8th Habit. She joined him as he consulted with leaders of countries and companies and helped him prepare and deliver presentations to audiences around the world.

Julie has served in various teaching callings, including as an Institute instructor, Relief Society teacher and president, Sunday School and Gospel Doctrine teacher, and Young Women leader. She currently teaches a stake adult religion class and the high school seniors Sunday School class in her ward. Julie is married with three fabulous kids, owns a pickleball paddle company with her husband, and does consulting work in leadership and communications. She is also a host on the Teaching Restored podcast.

Links

Teaching Restored Podcast

Teaching Sunday School with Questions | An Interview with Kevin Jones

The Power of Learner Councils | A How I Lead Interview with Russell Rigby

The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, by Pria Parker

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Highlights

2:10 Kurt introduces Julie Hillyard, the co-host of the podcast Teaching Restored. She shares what the podcast is about.

4:00 Julie’s professional background and experience in teaching. She currently teaches the adult religion class for her stake.

6:20 She worked for Stephen Covey, the author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. She shares her experience.

11:00 Julie’s stake offers an adult religion class on Tuesdays and Julie teaches it. It’s for people that want to dive more into the scriptures together. It’s like an institute class for adults.

15:30 Inviting discussion can be a vulnerable way to teach but invites something special. Balance discussion and teaching.

17:40 Her class isn’t about teaching all the content of Come Follow Me but setting people up for further study at home. It lines up with the Come Follow Me lessons.

20:00 Finding simplicity on the far side of complexity. As a teacher you have to dig through the weeds to arrive at what you need to focus on in your class. Discussions can be rich if they are facilitated in the right way.

22:00 Best practices for teaching the youth

* Be real. No fluff. Don’t talk about the superficial stuff.