The Journey Parent Podcast · Dan Panetti

Hope, Yet Concern, for Future Generations from a Seasoned Educator

·26 min·1 clip

Julie says some teachers cannot tell parents about a student saying they are transitioning.

1. The Journey Parent Podcast episode centers on Julie Zuricki, a veteran educator at PCA North in Prosper, Texas, and her shift from public school to private Christian schooling. 2. Julie Zuricki is the guest teacher, the host is interviewing her, and both matter because the conversation ties classroom experience to Christian parenting and grandparenting. 3. The episode asks what changes when an educator moves from public education to a Christian school and how parents and grandparents should respond. 4. Julie says her path into teaching started when a friend made a list of her gifts and told her, “you’re a teacher.” 5. She says patience was not one of her natural giftings and credits “the Holy Spirit” and “the fruit of the Spirit” for classroom patience. 6. Julie says she knew teaching was the right fit as soon as she entered education and calls the relationship with students the most important part of the job. 7. She gives one example of a former student from 32 years ago who still calls her and meets her for lunch. 8. Julie says some students do not connect with every teacher, but teachers who want heart-level connection can form lifelong bonds. 9. She says one difference in Christian school is that the children in her class have been prayed over before being placed with her. 10. Julie tells Christian parents in public school to stay connected to teachers, look for the good, and pray for their children, classmates, and schools. 11. She says public school can still be “a ministry in itself” and that being a light there remains possible. 12. Julie says the education world has changed over the last 20 or 30 years and describes the current situation as “a little bit scary.” 13. She says teachers are not allowed to talk to parents about a student “transitioning from their gender,” and she treats that as a serious gap between school and family. 14. Julie says she came to Texas from California, helped her boys transition, and later began substitute teaching. 15. She says substitute teaching “hurt my heart,” which pushed her toward a brand-new private school in Prosper and then to Preston. 16. Julie says teaching Bible is her favorite part of the job because she can teach Jesus openly in class. 17. She says students start the day with Bible, then “integrate it through every single subject” they study. 18. Julie says her struggling readers often do well with devotional reading because “God’s involved in that” and “He wants them to read.” 19. The conversation stays conversational and reflective, with repeated references to scripture, school life, and family roles. 20. Parents and grandparents who want practical Christian education ideas would likely benefit most; listeners looking for secular school policy debate may skip it.

As heard by us

A faith-forward classroom conversation about teaching, Scripture, and character formation.

Julie Zuricki comes across as a seasoned educator whose route into teaching started with a simple exercise: a friend helped her name what she was good at and what she enjoyed, then pointed to teaching.

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Why you'd press play

A veteran teacher's case for weaving Bible-shaped learning into every subject.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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