What makes a school thrive, and what quietly tears it down?

It’s not just curriculum or programs. It’s culture. And at the center of that culture… is you.

In this fourth and final Look Back episode, Jenny Copeland brings together powerful insights from past guests to explore two critical themes: school culture and teacher wellness.

School culture is often hard to define, but it’s always felt. From leadership and mission alignment to relationships with families and students, culture shapes everything about a school’s environment and effectiveness.

Throughout this episode, you’ll hear highlights from past conversations that emphasize:

As the episode shifts to teacher wellness, the focus becomes deeply personal. Teaching is more than lesson plans; it’s emotional, spiritual, and relational work.

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you. 

Go do what God has called you to do!

Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. https://www.bjupress.com/

As we continue our wrap-up series reflecting on three years of the Teacher Edition Podcast, this episode brings together one of the most practical and impactful themes we’ve explored: teaching strategies.

From active learning and classroom engagement to motivating students, supporting diverse learners, and thinking critically through a biblical lens, this episode is packed with wisdom from a wide range of guests who have shared their expertise over the years.

You’ll hear how small shifts, like incorporating movement, creating engaging environments, or simply asking better questions, can transform your classroom. You’ll also be reminded that effective teaching isn’t just about delivering content, it’s about discipling students, building relationships, and equipping them to think, grow, and succeed.

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you. 

Go do what God has called you to do!

Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. https://www.bjupress.com/

What if classroom management isn’t all about control, but about connection?

This episode of the Teacher Edition Podcast brings together a collection of meaningful conversations with past guests, all focused on the vital and everyday challenge of classroom management and student relationships.

But as you’ll hear throughout this episode, effective classroom management goes far beyond rules, routines, and quiet classrooms. It’s about understanding students, building trust, and recognizing that every interaction is an opportunity for discipleship.

You’ll hear wisdom from experienced educators who remind us that:

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you. 

Go do what God has called you to do!

Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. https://www.bjupress.com/

What if the most important thing we teach isn’t a subject, but a worldview?

As we wrap up year three of the Teacher Edition Podcast, we’re stepping back to revisit one of the most foundational themes woven through nearly every conversation: Biblical Worldview.

In this special compilation episode, you’ll hear insights from past guests who have challenged, equipped, and encouraged us to think deeply about what it truly means to teach and live through the lens of Scripture.

Because here’s the reality:

From the classroom to the culture at large, this episode reminds us that what we believe shapes everything and what we teach today shapes eternity.

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you. 

Go do what God has called you to do!

Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. https://www.bjupress.com/

“We’re not just educating minds, we’re shepherding hearts.” - Jeremy Thomas

“If we’re not preparing students to stand firm in their faith, we’re not preparing them for life.” - Jeremy Thomas

What happens when a school looks Christian on the surface but is still building on the wrong foundation?

In this episode, Jenny Copeland sits down with Dr. Jeremy Thomas, Head of School at Circle Christian School, to talk about his journey from public education into Christian education, and the deep conviction that followed. After years of leading with a performance-driven mindset, Jeremy began to wrestle with a hard but necessary question: Can a school truly be Christ-centered if its curriculum is still built on a secular framework?

Jeremy shares what changed his thinking, how that shift affected his leadership, what happened when his school moved away from secular curriculum, and why biblical worldview training is essential if we want students to stand firm in their faith after graduation.

“Biblical faithfulness and academic excellence are not in opposition to each other.” - Jeremy Thomas

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you. 

Go do what God has called you to do!

Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. https://www.bjupress.com/

“One of the biggest challenges we’re going to face is a relational one, where students are substituting interaction with AI for personal interaction with people.” - Chuck Bumgardner

AI is here. The question is not whether students will encounter it, but how we will help them think about it biblically.

In this episode, Jenny Copeland sits down with Chuck Bumgardner, Biblical Worldview Specialist at BJU Press, to talk about the brand-new Be CyberSmart AI lessons and why Christian educators cannot afford to stay silent on artificial intelligence.

Schools are still all over the board when it comes to AI. Some are banning it, some are embracing it, and many are simply trying to figure out what faithfulness and wisdom look like in the middle of a rapidly changing technology landscape. In this conversation, Chuck helps bring clarity to that challenge by showing how a biblical worldview gives us a framework for thinking about AI, technology, learning, relationships, and spiritual formation.

“Christian schools exist to say, ‘Here’s something in your life… and you need to understand the nature of this thing and how you should approach it. And we’re here to help.’” - Chuck Bumgardner

“Technology in and of itself is not neutral.” - Chuck Bumgardner

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you. 

Go do what God has called you to do!

Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. https://www.bjupress.com/

“If our schools really wanted to prepare our children for life, they would offer classes in failure and disappointment.” - Dr. Jay Knolls

Show Description:

Failure is not a topic most of us naturally want to talk about. We would much rather focus on success, progress, achievement, and everything going according to plan. But the truth is, failure is part of life, and if we are going to lead well, teach well, and walk faithfully with the Lord, we need to learn how to handle it biblically.

In this episode, Jenny talks with Dr. Jay Knolls about what it means to fail well. This rich and practical conversation explores why failure is so difficult for us, how our view of success affects our response to failure, and why learning to process failure wisely is essential for both educators and students.

Dr. Knolls shares his PREVAIL framework for thinking through failure in a way that is honest, growth-oriented, and grounded in a biblical worldview. 

“If you are coasting through life and succeeding in practically everything you are doing, you’re likely not taking enough risks.” - Dr. Jay Knolls

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you. 

Go do what God has called you to do!

Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. https://www.bjupress.com/

“We are not building our kingdom here. We are participating in building Christ’s kingdom.” - Chris Lynch

There are some partnerships in Christian education that we talk about all the time, like the relationship between school and home. But what about the church? More specifically, what about the youth pastor or youth ministry leader who is also speaking into the lives of our students week after week?

In this episode, Jenny Copeland sits down with Chris Lynch, assistant pastor with a focus on youth ministry at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina, to talk about the connection between the Christian school and the church. 

Together, they explore the unique role of the youth pastor in the lives of students, the misconceptions and misplaced expectations that can sometimes exist between schools and youth ministries, and how both can better communicate, collaborate, and support one another.

Chris offers thoughtful insight into what youth pastors see in students, how church and school each stretch and shape young people in different ways, and why both must keep the gospel and a growing relationship with Christ at the center. 

“Christian schools are an asset, and we have to view them that way.” - Chris Lynch

“Our young people are going to see us both more as one voice than separate ones.” - Chris Lynch

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you. 

Go do what God has called you to do!

Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. https://www.bjupress.com/

Website https://teachereditionpodcast.com

Instagram / teachereditionpod

TikTok / teachereditionpod

Facebook / teachereditionpod

“The mission may attract teachers, but the culture determines whether they stay.” - Dan Brokke

“People stay where they feel valued, encouraged, and strengthened.” - Dan Brokke

Spring always brings a certain buzz with it. For some, it is vacation plans and blooming trees. For schools, it is also the season of decisions. Families are thinking about next year, and so are teachers. Some are praying about whether to stay where they are. Some leaders are working through staffing needs for the fall. And all of it brings an important question to the surface: What makes teachers stay?

In this episode, Jenny sits down with Dr. Dan Brokke to talk about a statement that is both timely and thought-provoking: great teachers don’t leave healthy schools.

With more than 40 years of experience in Christian education, Dan brings deep wisdom to this conversation. He shares what truly makes a school healthy, why culture matters just as much as mission, and how leadership plays a critical role in whether teachers remain, grow, or move on. 

From communication and encouragement to discipleship and professional development, this episode offers practical insight for teachers and leaders alike.

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you. 

“Unhealthy schools are often filled with overwhelmed people who aren’t being supported.” - Dan Brokke

Go do what God has called you to do!

Frederick Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory

Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. https://www.bjupress.com/

Website https://teachereditionpodcast.com

Instagram / teachereditionpod

TikTok / teachereditionpod

Facebook / teachereditionpod

“Sadness is not sinful. But when we move into despair and hopelessness, now we’re in dangerous territory.” - Bruce Meyer

“The command in Scripture is not that we should always be happy. It’s that we should always be rejoicing in the Lord.” - Bruce Meyer

Dr. Bruce Meyer returns to the Teacher Edition podcast for a thoughtful and deeply practical conversation about depression. In a culture where the word depression is often used loosely, and where opinions about it can be strong and divided, this episode helps Christian educators think carefully, biblically, and compassionately. 

Jenny and Bruce unpack why depression is such a controversial topic, how it differs from ordinary sadness, and why worldview matters so much in how we define and respond to it. Bruce explains the difference between sadness, discouragement, despair, and hopelessness, while also helping listeners understand that not all sadness is sinful—and not every struggle can be reduced to a quick fix.

"Not all sadness is sinful. The question is: what do I do with that sadness?”

- Bruce Meyer

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you. 

Go do what God has called you to do!

“The doctor can do his work with the body, and I’m going to do my work with the spirit.” - Bruce Meyer

Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. https://www.bjupress.com/

Website https://teachereditionpodcast.com

Instagram / teachereditionpod

TikTok / teachereditionpod

Facebook / teachereditionpod