The Biggest Small School in Town

Let’s face it: Most Christian schools are smaller than “back in the day”. But if you think you or your students are at a disadvantage in a smaller school, think again. Educational research suggests many factors of small schools increase student learning in ways that are lost in bigger settings. While small schools often long to be larger, many large schools desire the “smallness” they cannot provide. Whether your school serves 6, 60, or 600, you can leverage your school’s size to maximize its ultimate purpose: Learning!

Knock It Off! Great Teaching in an Old-School Culture

Few modern educators really want to be considered an “old-school” teacher. However, many of us also fall prey to The 11th Commandment of Teaching: “Do unto others as was done unto you!”  Certainly, there are some tried-and-true methods worth repeating, yet it’s also worth considering that many common practices in education may actually be wounding our learners. Think you’re not “old school”? The answer may surprise you!

If You Were You, Would You Hire You?

While it’s true that everyone has influence, the reality is that few of us will ever rise to the top of our organization’s leadership pyramid. Despite not being “in charge” of a ministry or business, Christians especially must aspire to lead well in the lower tiers of influence for the good of their organizations. Waiting on the boss to make every decision stifles creativity and morale, and yet full autonomy can also be dangerous and unhealthy. Those who learn to strike the right balance become the type of employees every organization needs and every boss longs for. Use your influence effectively and become a sought-after leader, even when you’re not the one in charge. 

Grade Inflation? Us?

From an academic standpoint, many outsiders view Christian schools with skepticism and have even accused us of providing a less-than-rigorous education. While those of us on the inside know nothing could be further from the truth, we must also be aware of our responsibility to give students an accurate and honest assessment of what they have learned. This session will help educators identify and eliminate grade inflation in their teaching and provide solutions to avoiding this hidden killer of rigorous academics.

The Question Great Educators Ask

Questions accomplish many things: They show what we value, what we believe, and how we think. Come learn about a profound question you should ask yourself in any environment that has the potential to affect your influence in a powerful way. This question gives you a glimpse of what could be and should be for the benefit of your followers and your organization. Are you willing to ask it?

Transactional vs. Transformational Teaching

Are you a teacher or an educator? Does your school increase learning or just do the things schools have always done? Your answers depend on the standard you use to assess yourself and your school. This session will break down an international education research study and help us apply the findings in practical ways. Come see how to use simple research to increase learning in your classroom and in your school.

Who is The Variable?

Who is the one person in your classroom, school, or ministry you can control? The answer is obvious…You!. Although we know this to be true, we sometimes waste energy by reacting instead of proacting. Great teachers are purposeful–From planning to relationship building, nothing is accidental. This session encourages us to be the kind of teacher who will be remembered…for all the right reasons.

Good to Great

We are blessed with many wonderful teachers in our Christian schools! Content is getting covered, students are learning, and kids are being loved on. What more could we ask for? But more than just good teachers, what Christian schools really need are great leaders. This session covers several practical ideas to help us take our influence from good to great in our Christian schools.

Personality Clash: A Love for Teaching in a Burnout Industry

It’s no secret that our country faces a national teacher shortage. Being a teacher means long hours and low pay, and yet surprisingly, these are rarely the reasons behind turnover in our industry. Influential educators have a unique type of personality, yet it’s one that rarely comes naturally and one that must be developed purposefully. With this approach in mind, we can equip ourselves to be long-term influencers who burn bright, not out.

Simple-er Stats for STEM

Math is the language of science, and yet many students enjoy either math or science but not both. A current problem in STEM education is that many students do not understand how to connect these two subjects. Statistics can be an interesting, enjoyable tool for relating science and math, and teaching stats is not as difficult as you might think! This session will implement several simple stats as well as online apps you can incorporate into your middle school or high school classroom. Take your math and science teaching to the next level and help students connect the dots in STEM.