For BYU students pursuing a career with the Church Educational System, the process starts with a single class.

But that is only the beginning.

Potential CES employees follow a two-year process of intensive screening and observation.

This process sorts through hundreds of students each year to find - and refine the teaching skills - of those who are best suited to be CES employees.

The process begins with enrollment in Religion 370, Introduction to Teaching Seminary. Each year about 400 BYU students enroll in the class.

As part of its curriculum, the class familiarizes students with the hiring process and what it is like to have a career with the CES.

Students instruct each other throughout the semester to demonstrate their teaching skills.

"There are a variety of people in 370," said Tim Goodman, a BYU student who has taken the class. "Some don't want to be CES teachers; they just want to learn how to teach better. Some think they are destined to teach in the CES program. Others just want to do their best."

From the large 370 enrollment, a smaller number of students are selected to continue to the next class, Religion 471, Methods of Teaching Seminary.

BYU instructor Robb Jones said choosing students who move on to this class depends on three things: enthusiasm, rapport with the other students and how well students use the teaching skills taught in Religion 370.

With such a large number of students, the class is competitive. Only those who demonstrate the highest quality of teaching and the use of skills taught are selected to move on.

"I do think it is all in Heavenly Father's hands," Goodman said.

Methods of Teaching Seminary focuses more on the principles of teaching than Religion 370 does. At the end of the semester, students spend two weeks in a 9th grade classroom as a student teaching experience.

CES employees observe the BYU students in the classroom, and the 9th grade students fill out evaluations of their teaching.

"Kids worry about if you know them personally, know their names and situations," said CES student teacher Adam Miller.

Student evaluations are weighted heavily in the decision about which students to move on in the CES selection process.

"I think the most important thing I learned was if they can feel you know and love them, then that's when you can be an effective teacher," Miller said.

After Religion 471, about 15 students are selected to teach their own seminary class for one year.

Damon Bolli works with students chosen to teach one year at Spanish Fork Seminary.

Throughout the year, teachers are constantly observed and evaluated.

"We look for someone who knows the gospel, but can also relate to the kids," Bolli said. "We look for the natural teacher."

To be successful, the teachers must demonstrate their ability to conform to CES policies while teaching in the classroom.

Those teachers with the highest recommendations and the most potential for being hired after the year of teaching are sent to the Church Office Buildings in Salt Lake City.

More training and an interview with a general authority are the final steps for students who have shined throughout the two-year selection process.

The prospective CES employee is not alone in the selection process.

"Their spouse plays a big role," Jones said. "It is a team effort. In a sense we hire both of them."

A general authority interviews both the prospective CES employee and his or her spouse.

The general authority has the last word about who is hired by the CES.

Copyright Brigham Young University 12 Aug 2002