Every time another student would walk in, the third grader would check off the following: attendance, Bible, and weekly verse memorization. At Bethany Christian Center Church, the primary class was graded this way.

Checking items off the list helped determine each child’s grade. The same third grader was given that task every Sunday.

“I couldn’t figure out the grades correctly,” said Jessica Lazo, looking back at those days. “So I would always have to ask him for help.”

Her teacher at that time was just a senior in high school. Now, years later, Lazo is the senior teaching this same class.

“I arrive early and write the lesson on the board,” she said. Then she waits for her little students to walk in. To start off the class they play the game of hangman to try and figure out the word that goes with the story. After, she reads her version of the story and they read theirs (a more condensed version written in words they can understand). Later she ends the class with a hands-on project or a game to review.

One day, Lazo was teaching about the Prodigal Son and even though none of her second and third graders had run away from home, one of them was able to connect with it somehow.



“She and her mother had just come back from Hawaii but her father stayed home to take care of his son. When I was done reading the girl said that her father had happily welcomed her back home, too.”

Lazo says that being able to help out when she was young inspired her to become the teacher for the primary class. “It planted a seed in me,” she said.

When she was 14 one of her pastors started to notice how mature she was for her age. “She was that type of person … a people’s person,” said the Christian Education Director Proceso Marcos. “I had to keep her.” Lazo was a bit unsure, but he advised her just to pray and wait for God’s response.

His answer must have been yes because she has been teaching up to this day. During her time teaching she admits that she has had her ups and downs just like every other teacher.

The thing she really enjoys is being able to see herself in her students. Lazo talks of one girl who reminds her so much of herself when she younger. “She is shy and quiet, but when you get her involved she starts to open up.”

Mainly Lazo struggles with keeping them focused during story time and working on their lesson. “There’s one student – he’s very hyper and it’s hard to calm him down.”

But instead of complaining, she tries to make class as fun as possible. Lazo knows that children around this age prefer games instead of workbooks. “I remember there were times when I was like that as well.”

Even though she loves teaching, sometimes she misses being with her peers Sunday morning. Before being a teacher, she would be with people her age. “I kind of … would like to learn what people my age are learning,” she said.

But for now she will continue teaching the primary class at her church and continue meeting every two months with the other Sunday school teachers to discuss how they’re doing in their classes, report any problems, and talk about upcoming events.

The next event they’re planning to attend is the Bay Area Sunday School Convention coming up in two weeks in Hayward.