In this episode of Charisms for Catholics, host Jill Simons explores the unique ways charisms—spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit—can empower teachers as they head into a new school year.
Jill breaks down how teaching as a charism is distinct from the teaching profession, explaining why many exceptional elementary educators may actually lead with charisms like encouragement, pastoring, or prophecy rather than teaching itself. She shares practical insights for both teachers and administrators on how understanding individual charisms can help create a more intentional, supportive classroom environment and facilitate better classroom placements. Jill also introduces resources like the "Start the Adventure: Charisms for Kids" book, offering actionable ways to help teachers identify and foster the gifts in their students.
Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or just passionate about faith formation, this episode offers encouragement, real-life examples, and useful tools to help every member of your school community flourish!
01:42 — Jill introduces the topic of charisms for teachers, especially as it relates to back-to-school season and her work with Catholic educators.
03:55 — Discussion about how many excellent elementary teachers do *not* necessarily have the charism of teaching, and explanation of how teaching as a charism differs from the teaching profession.
06:18 — Exploration of common charisms among teachers of younger students (encouragement, pastoring), versus the prevalence of teaching and knowledge charisms at the high school and college levels.
08:34 — Practical example of how knowledge of teachers' charisms can help administrators thoughtfully match students with teachers to best meet individual needs.
12:03 — Encouragement for both administrators and teachers (including those in public schools) to understand and articulate their own charisms for better professional communication and classroom effectiveness.
14:32 — Guidance on identifying and encouraging charisms in students, highlighting the "Start the Adventure: Charisms for Kids" book as a resource for teachers.
Learn more about charisms and charism discernment at https://manypartsministries.com.
