Open Seat: A Holy Family Podcast

A Time to Learn and a Time to Teach

• Holy Family Adrian • Season 1 • Episode 23

Share episode

Send us a text

This week on the Open Seat Podcast, we welcome Adrian Public School Superintendent, Nate Parker, who also happens to be a parishioner and confirmation catechist at Holy Family Parish. Mr. Parker shares his journey of faith, family, and dedication to education. From his upbringing in a Catholic family to his career as an educator, Nate discusses how his faith has shaped the way he witnesses to others.  He talks about the importance of making faith a priority, even amidst busy schedules, and reflects on the joy of teaching and learning from others. Nate also offers insights on how parents can instill faith in their children and emphasizes the value of intentionality in both faith and education. Join us for an inspiring conversation that underscores the importance in learning more about our faith and serving others through education. 

This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond.

www.HolyFamilyAdrian.org
Instagram: Instagram.com/holyfamilyadrian
Facebook: Facebook.com/adrianCatholic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@holyfamilyadrian

Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.

Nate:

wherever somebody may be in their faith journey, from the cradle Catholic who's done it all their life, there's always more to learn. Jesus is always calling us to come closer. maybe you're a lapsed Catholic who's not coming to Mass anymore, come closer and, restart that and, Jesus's love is is so incredible one of my favorite parables is the prodigal son. It was the minute he saw that the son was returning, he ran to reestablish that relationship and, to take that son back. So, I can't imagine living my life without that rock of my faith right now.

Katie:

Welcome to Open Seat, the podcast where we create a space for authentic conversations about faith, unfiltered and unapologetic. Here, we believe that every story matters. Whether you're questioning, seeking, or steadfast in your beliefs, you'll find something relatable in these heartfelt discussions. So grab your seat, get comfortable, and let's dive into today's story here at Open Seat. So today on The Open Seat we have Superintendent Nate Parker joining us today.

Nate:

Good to see you.

Katie:

Good morning. Good morning. So tell us a little bit about Nate.

Nate:

I'm married with four children. I have a freshman in college, and I have a junior in high school, a freshman in high school, and then I have a sixth grade daughter. grew up in St. Johns, Michigan, just north of Lansing. And first came to Lenawee County because I was an Adrian College student, so I spent four years at Adrian College. I got my teaching certificate and degree, and I went and taught Spanish for five years at Morenci and then I became the high school principal. I did that for 10 years, and then, came to Adrian as a principal at Springbrook Middle School. Did that for 12 years, and then there was an opportunity and I applied for the superintendent position, was fortunate enough to be selected, and this is my third full year of doing that. So I've been in education for 26 years One year before Morenci I was at Columbia Central at the Alternative Education Program.

Katie:

Wow, so education's a huge part of your life.

Nate:

it's kind of what I've done.

Katie:

Did your parents grow up as teachers

Nate:

They did not. My father worked for GM, was a tool and die maker, my mom, for a while, was a stay at home mom, and then she was a youth minister for a little while, and then she was a director of religious education. for several years at St. Jude and DeWitt. then finished her career just recently. She, worked for Faith Magazine. And she's now, they're both retired.

Katie:

I think I had the chance to talk to her on the phone. On She's a nice lady. She did a couple of articles with kids down here.

Nate:

mainly not writing, but editing, organizing and pulling things together. But I think she may have written a few articles.

Katie:

Yeah, she was great to work with, I give her all the props in the world for being Youth Minister and Director of Religious Ed. That's a really hard job, I hear,

Nate:

She was Youth Minister first, and it was not a dual role at the time like you're doing.

Katie:

And speaking of that, you're teaching, helping teach confirmation this year. So how's that going?

Nate:

Good. I enjoy it. I enjoy the kids. Some of them are Adrian kids that I know a little bit from that. And some are not Adrian kids. So it's always good to me. It's great working with Michelle. She's done it for a while and knows what she's doing. I learn a lot more about my faith by being in that role. And I think we learned that, when we're teaching, others. we learn a lot ourselves. So, we were a member of Sacred Heart Parish. Starting when I was in Morenci, until I became superintendent, we lived over by Hudson. So, I taught seventh and eighth grade catechism there for five or six years as well, and I've learned a lot more about my faith through doing that. as well.

Katie:

Mm-hmm Can you give us some examples of things you've learned about your faith through teaching?

Nate:

I think just, a, deeper knowledge, and, we're constantly learning more, and it's, a journey, and we learned the basics as coming up as kids and, the more you can read the same thing or hear the same thing and, in another way every time you hear it. But, then as you're teaching and trying to help others to understand as well, it takes you to a deeper level, I think.

Katie:

I know I learn all the time from the kids. Jesus talks about faith like a child and that's really what it is, right? So you were at Sacred Heart and now you're here, parishioners here? Yes. We're, we're happy to have you. We're happy to have all new people. So, bring some friends next time when you come here.

Nate:

Okay. yup. Yep. Hopefully I can do that.

Katie:

It's, one of the great joys in my life is watching the kids when they walk in and see your teaching, because a lot of times they see you in a different role. So, has anyone said anything to you, like, oh my gosh, I didn't know you were Catholic, or,

Nate:

You know, I really haven't heard that yet. I have, a few of the kids that say, Hey, you know your son's in my class, but not

Katie:

Not, not those alarming things. Yeah. So, have you always had a strong Catholic faith or develop over time,

Nate:

I think it's always been a big part of my life. you know, attended Catholic school, and then, seventh and eighth grade, went over to the middle school, the public school, in St. John's, where I grew up, had just, St. Joseph Catholic school, was a K six program, so we went there, and then went over to the public school, my parents as well, it was, big part of their life, and we were gonna be in church every Sunday, no matter where we were or what we were doing, there's always a place you can find a Catholic Mass, and I think that's something I've tried to Make sure with my kids as well, and obviously life is busy and you're on the road sometimes on the weekends, but, a lot of good things about being Catholic, but one of them definitely is no matter where you are, you can find a church, and you can find a Mass time, and find a way to get to Mass on the weekend and that was one of the subtle things, I think is we just, we were going no matter where we were and I've continued that and Obviously my mom and her role as a youth minister and a DRE, it was obviously a big part of her life and my father as well in a more subtle way, but you knew for sure that he was prayerful and he was committed to it.

Katie:

a lot of times I hear people say their children fall off if they've been a DRE or a youth minister because they had to spend so much time at the church. Was that ever an issue for you?

Nate:

You know, it wasn't because it wasn't that we were there that much. When we were young, she was a stay at home mom. as we got older, she took on some of that. And then, the part as a DRE was really after we had grown up. that dynamic was a little bit different in that regard because it was, the timing of when she was doing those things.

Katie:

Yeah, because I hear it's a common thread amongst people who are like oh yeah, our children don't go to church anymore because I had to all the time when they were little do you have a hard time getting your kids to go to church?

Nate:

you know, not really. it's just, I think,' Because we've know It's what we do, yeah, it's not a conversation

Katie:

I can speak, to your daughter. I've coached her now in basketball season And she did a fabulous job of walking the faith. there was this interesting dynamics because they all knew each other and they were all friends and I, watched some things unfold, and, Casey just had the outlook of optimism. Like, oh, that person wouldn't really do that on purpose. while we all saw it happen on purpose, but that's okay. And she's like, I don't think she really meant that. And a couple other times she, had displayed her faith. Not in, like, an in your face way, but just in a very public way, which was interesting. So, is that. something that is instituted in your house, like, we're working really hard to promote what we do on Sunday Cause in, a lot of, cases we go to church on Sunday and then it stops on Sunday.

Nate:

one thing we've done, I don't know, maybe it's been the last five years or so, is we do have, Wednesday night is prayer night. that could mean we watch an episode of The Chills, and It could mean we listen to, and then, Father Joe Krupp was a, was the priest at Sacred Heart when we were there for a while. He now puts his stuff online. He's up in Flint somewhere, so it might be we listen to that. We might read the readings for the next Sunday or whatever. that's one intentional thing we've tried to do. and I think the rest of it, is, it's not, you know, in the day to day, just you got to live your faith It doesn't do any good if it's just, ritual and tradition, which those things are important. But if, if it's not changing how you live and what you do in your daily life, we're missing the boat. So, treat people the right way and we're here to help others.

Katie:

So how does your faith play into your job? You're in a public school, separation of church and state to an extent. How do you think your faith plays into your choice of career?

Nate:

I mean, education is definitely a service industry and our faith tells us we're here to serve others so whether it's a public school or a Christian, you know, it's, Our faith tells us we're supposed to serve. And I think educators, that's why we do what we do. Because we want to serve people, we want to help others, we want to be there for people. So, how we talk or rules and, statutes and regulations and stuff, it still doesn't mean that we can't serve people and, we live our faith, and we witness just by how we treat others and, that's the core, of our faith, it's how you treat others and what you're doing to make that next person's day better, to make sure that they're, moving forward in life and, I think at the core that's what we do as educators.

Katie:

do you get to get a lot of interaction with the kids?

Nate:

I try to make sure I still do Obviously as a teacher, there's, and then as a building principal, it, you get a little bit more separated, but you got to make it a point to do that, because that's why we're there is for the kids, and if you get too far separated, you lose that anchor to what you're doing, so I try to make sure I get in the buildings, and it's nice at Adrian, the superintendent's office is at the high school. So, daily, you can walk the halls, and you can do That and I always, I schedule to get into the buildings, so on my weekly schedule, there's, go to this elementary, start my day there, and just, Intentionality. Intentionality, I can't imagine not having that energy from the kids because that's what keeps you going.

Katie:

I imagine it could get bogged down with paperwork, or meetings,

Nate:

Yep, for sure. you, just gotta schedule it. To get into the buildings and see what the kids are doing.

Katie:

So how has that helped you intentionally scheduling all of these things? Like if you don't do it, does it throw your whole week off

Nate:

Sure, Yeah. I think if we're gonna make the most of the time we have You got to schedule things. if it's on the schedule it's gonna get done. if it's not it might get done the busier things get the more we get involved in the more that schedule is important.

Katie:

what have been key components to keeping your faith strong for you

Nate:

again, as I've mentioned, just making that commitment, we're going to find somewhere to go to Mass, that's that feeds you every week. That's the center of what you do. And it's that worship, but also the lessons you hear there in the homilies, I think. I get up early and spend probably a half hour I read the daily scriptures and then spend spend some time. I might, like right now, I've made part of that, Oh, what's the book they just gave us? The three ordinary voices of God, because as I've said, even if you schedule it with my job and with kids if, The rest of the day is crazy. So I try to get up early and make that first half hour of my day is something, the daily readings and there's other things I might do, or, once in a while, pray a rosary or Sometimes just sit and pray and ponder and, I think that's been key this podcast would be one example, but we are blessed that. A lot of people in the church are using social media to get the word out, to amplify the word. And, again, I mentioned, Father Joe,he's got several podcasts through the week to try to, There's a lot of garbage out there on the media, so I try to make sure if I'm, do have time to be on media, it's something that's positive, and you know, I do some professional things as well, but trying to feed that faith and listen to other people talk about it and their experiences is, is key to doing that.

Katie:

you talk about social media and the faith, I, it amazes me when I talk to kids. I'll say something about, the rosary or something random. And, and they go, yeah, I learned that on tikTok. I'm like, what, excuse me? But, there are a lot of positive resources. We just have to look at what they are. you know? and the kids can help you find them. it's amazing to me. Like, we'll, talk about the weekly reading for, Sunday Gospel for middle school. And the kids will be, yeah, I saw that on Tik Tok.

Nate:

Again, it's like anything else. There's a lot of good uses of it, but there's a lot of garbage out there, too, that we gotta make sure we're monitoring what our kids are doing, and what they're on it, Because, but, you're right, if used in a good way, it can bring the gospel into your home and to your

Katie:

Yeah, do your kids use a lot of social media? because you have all different ages. Sure. Right? College to, to sixth grade?

Nate:

So. Yes, they do. none of my kids got to have a phone till they were freshman So I think we delayed it some, but yeah, they're on, but we also monitor it and we talk about it. There's positive uses of it. And when they're in college classes and stuff. Some of that stuff is handled through there, so, yeah, you can't. avoid it, but I think you can talk about it, monitor it, and make sure it's being used in a productive way.

Katie:

So, your parents were a big instrument in your faith growing up? Was anybody else instrumental in your faith growing up?

Nate:

I can mention some uncles and aunts and probably some teachers and those types of things, but, specifically, Most of my uncles and aunts were also Catholic and, it was important to them. Family definitely is the big one I think I would mention.

Katie:

it's always interesting to me when people come on here and they'll say like a name of a teacher and we've had that a couple of times. The interesting thing about a teacher is oftentimes it doesn't just end at that day.

Nate:

That's always one of the biggest rewards of being an educator is when a student or somebody comes back and mentions it's how important you're, you know, whether it was your class or, just a conversation and I coached for quite a while too, but yeah, there've been students who have done that and that's, It's flattering, you're honored by it, it's one of the I guess, the intrinsic rewards of being an educator and working with kids that you have that that impact on some of them.

Katie:

What kind of advice would you give a parent to help them impact their child in a positive way about their faith? you have some family dynamics which are super helpful. How would another family get there? Because oftentimes, like Parents will be like I can't get my kids to go to church You you have any suggestions on that realm for them?

Nate:

I think obviously starting when they're little and that it's just, it becomes, it's just what we do. I think you got to do it from the time they're young, and I think I'm trying to remember what book it was anyway, it was, it was a, it was a book about fathers and people writing in about how their fathers impacted their life. And I'm trying to remember the name of the guy. He used to do one of the Sunday shows, But, one of the stories that somebody had sent him was about how When their father died, and they're talking about memories of him, one of his memories would he say, you know, I remember I would see him when, either when I'd get up in the morning or go to bed, and he'd be kneeling down at the rocking chair praying in that he really never really talked to us about his faith. He never really spoke about it or pushed it. But the fact that I saw him told me how important And then all of the other siblings shared, I saw that too. That impacted me. So, obviously, you want to talk to them about it, but they need to see you practicing it in that way. And it doesn't have to be a deliberate way, but if they see you praying, they're going to know it's important to you. If they know that, hey, every Sunday, no matter how busy it gets, we're finding a way to get to church, it's going to become important to them.

Katie:

I can't imagine, with a son in college, does he live at the school?

Nate:

Yes.

Katie:

So, it's a deliberate choice to come home because you could hide out at college when we're doing all these family activities. I don't want to go to church, I'm trying to hide out at college. So it's got to be an intentionality on his part, too.

Nate:

Yeah, I think so. I mean, he is, fortunately, he's at Adrian College, so that's not too far away. But, he's not always with us, but, I always tell him I got eyes everywhere.

Katie:

No, I have seen him at 8:00 Mass by himself it's a nice sight to see because here he is, are the Parkers coming? No, just him.

Nate:

Right. He knows it's important and it's important to him. it's, that's nice for me to see too that he does

Katie:

Is it interesting to have your children at the same school you're the superintendent of?

Nate:

You know, I always wondered how that would be as I was coming up as a young educator and, you heard people who said both and made choices both ways, that there are people, you know, they wouldn't go anywhere else but except for him, You heard other people say, you know, I really, I don't want them working the same place I am because I want them to have their own. And so I always kind of was curious how that all would go. And what I would say is it's been great. It really has. there's never been an issue with it. I believe what we do at Adrian Public Schools is great. We do great things. I believe in our staff and we have great people working there. So why wouldn't I want my kids there? And they have had outstanding experiences and and I also think I've been able to keep the separation good that I'm, wanting them to be able to be who they are it'd be interesting to see what their take on that is too, And you know, I've never really asked them deliberately. I just know the staff have been great and they've had an awesome experience at Adrian Public

Katie:

Dayton We were talking to Patrick McDaid and his dad taught and so he had his dad as a teacher. And he was glowing about how wonderful the experience was. I think some of it is, Tom McDaid was a phenomenal, educator But he said, yeah, he said, I heard for years all these stories about history and then I finally got to be in my dad's class and it was real, So, I just always wondered how that would on the opposite side of That How does that look?

Nate:

And obviously when I've had them I've been the administrator, not their classroom teacher. So there's some separation there too, I think has been neat is, When they're middle school students, so at that, time we were still living over by Hudson So, we had about a 25 minute drive. That meant I got 25 minutes in the car with him every morning. and a lot of times 25 minutes on the way home And we all know how important those middle school years are. kids are becoming who they are and In making choices and decisions. So, that was just kind of an unintended perk of having a 25 minute drive every morning when they were in middle school, they'd come to work with me every morning. And we gotta spend that time in the car, and sometimes it was silent, there wasn't much said, and other times there was, but how often can you say, I've got 25 minutes of undivided time with my kids.

Katie:

That's true. I think what you do in those 25 minutes is so important. too, Right. Because, like you said, sometimes it's just silence. But it's the presence of, you're in that car. They know they're safe. And sometimes, It's talking about everything that happened, Or is going to happen. So do you miss that time then? Do you get that time by yourself now on the way to work?

Nate:

So no. We've moved into Adrian now. We've lived here for about, three years now So now we're five minutes from the school. Again, and there's a lot of perks to that as well. I mean, now that I'm home more, and again, the age there are, they're at the school all the time. So, it's a perfect place to be right now and we love Adrian but I will say, I do kind of miss not having that, we get the time other places, I think, but, and now, of course, two of the three drive, and the other one in high school, they ride to school together, but, when Casey's at Springbrook next year, I'll probably make sure I take her, and even though it's only five or ten minutes, that'll be a good morning for us.

Katie:

One of the things I think you were involved in is sports as a parent. How do you make faith a priority, because I know, it's it's a good thought to say that when we travel we go to church But how do you make it a priority, because, travel sports aren't set up for, families to be involved. So, how, how does that work?

Nate:

I say this with all humility, is that in all the time we've done travel sports with all the kids, There's never been a Sunday we couldn't find a Mass somewhere. Sometimes

at 7:

30 in the morning. Sometimes it's the five o'clock. They've gone in baseball uniforms. I guess having said that, Yeah, it is difficult cause they aren't set up. But, I'm trying to remember. The name of the app slips my mind Mass times.org I think it And we've, we use that all the time. You know, okay, we're here, this is where we are. Alright, where's the masses? Where's the game schedule? yeah, I mean with three, four kids soon. We're in a lot of different places, but that MassTimes. org, boom, this is where we are, we're in the Mass Times, where can we go, and it's always possible, and I think if it wasn't, we'd probably be missing a game to make sure we get to Mass

Katie:

It's a priority. right. right. That's the key to all of it. I guess my, my number one question right now is 'cause you work with children, what advice would you give a child growing up today about their faith

Nate:

to get to know more about Jesus and the faith, and Father Tom's homily I don't know, little while ago that, you should hear the voice saying Come closer. Come closer. And No matter where you are, you can always come closer, you can always learn more, the story of Jesus is amazing. What his life is amazing, what he taught is amazing, you You never learn it all. we always have more to learn about it and, that alone Seeking to learn more about Jesus and to cling to Jesus, whatever is going on, we're going to falter, we're going to have struggles, we're going to have doubts, that's part of the whole journey, but always clinging to that rock of, He died for us, He loved us, our God came to earth to be with us because He wanted so much to have a relationship with us that He was willing to be tortured and killed for us and then rose and that's somebody you want to learn more about. You want to learn everything you can and I think that is, whatever your doubts, whatever the struggles, whatever the barriers, if you hold it on to that. I need to learn more because of What he did for me, I need to learn more. I think take some time for silence. And in that silence, reading, you know, daily readings, especially, that's another, you benefit of social, Social the internet. You know, there's so many sites out there to have a Catholic daily readings. And that's another cool thing about, the faith is that every day they're prescribed readings, and it truly, you can read through them in about five minutes and then sit in silence and reflect and world is so noisy now. It's so busy that I think you've got to take time for some silence in reading the word of the scriptures every day. wherever somebody may be in their faith journey, from the cradle Catholic who's done it all their life, there's always more to learn. Jesus is always calling us to come closer. maybe you're a lapsed Catholic who's not coming to Mass anymore, come closer and, restart that and, Jesus's love is is so incredible one of my favorite parables is the prodigal son. It was the minute he saw that the son was returning, he ran to reestablish that relationship and, to take that son back. So, I can't imagine living my life without that rock of my faith right now. I'm by no means am I perfect, or by no means am I doing everything I probably should be doing as a Catholic or as a follower of Jesus. But, I feel fortunate to have so many positive examples of the power of the faith and the power of just, every day try to get a little closer, try to learn a little bit more and, reflect that light to other people, because a lot of people need that light.

Katie:

if people would like to talk to you, I'm thinking children would like to talk about their faith with you sometime, is that a possibility?

Nate:

Sure, yeah. Yep.

Katie:

Because I think you shared some things that would be helpful, but people may not know how to get into reading the daily readings or those of things.

Nate:

I'd be more than happy to, any way I could help.

Katie:

Great. Well, thank you so much for joining us, Mr. Parker, and we appreciate you being here.

Nate:

well thank you, and thank you for what you're doing, for having this podcast, because I truly think this is one of the benefits of media. We can get this message out to people, and it's, the Gospels are an incredible message. Once again, we thank you for joining us today. We hope that wherever you find an open seat in your life, you will invite someone to join you.

People on this episode

Head Shot

Katie Love

Host