And we believers also groan … for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. Romans 8:23 NLT As a school-based mental health counselor in a Christian school, I often work with students whose behaviors have become dysfunctional in the school setting. I have counseled students who were unable to make eye contact with their teachers. … Read More
The Leadership Gap in Christian Schools
Forming Teachers as Leaders I remember the moment clearly. I was sitting across from one of the strongest teachers on my staff during her annual evaluation. As I shared with her how impactful she was and how there wasn’t much room left for her to grow, I noticed her expression change. Frustration crept across her face. So I paused and … Read More
Overflow and the Not-so-inspiring Spanish Teacher
In my first few years of teaching, I taught Spanish. I was not a good Spanish teacher, and my students knew it. It was the kind of teaching where the teacher said things and students did activities, but learning was minimal. I could not speak Spanish. I had never been to Spain or any Spanish-speaking countries. I did not know … Read More
An Invitation To Imagine: Come With…
Ben’s request Lao Tzu of the 6th Century BC is credited with saying, “The good traveler is not intent on arriving.” This quotation has been a favorite of mine for more than thirty years, not because I live it out well, but because it serves as a reminder for me, someone who has been destination-oriented, that I have often missed … Read More
An Invitation To Imagine: Strategic Excellence for the Sake of Formation
During a new family interview, a father paused before asking a question that carried more weight than he likely intended. “Can you tell me more about the academic program here? Is it better than what I experienced?” He went on to explain that he had attended a Christian school himself but felt unprepared for college and eventually dropped out. “I … Read More
An Invitation to Imagine: Unity, Partnership, and Shared Mission
Imagine a Christian school where the common thread holding the staff, leadership, parents, and students together was a shared understanding of the gospel (the creation-fall-redemption-restoration narrative of God’s work in the world) and the fundamental truths that have historically defined orthodox Christianity. What if that understanding, and that alone, was the litmus test for a school’s mission, academics, culture, and … Read More
An Invitation To Re-Imagine: Collaborative Christian Education Ecosystems
Christian schools have long pursued excellence within their own walls. But the work of forming disciples, developing educators, and strengthening communities is too great for any one school to accomplish alone. If we are to faithfully carry out this mission, we must think beyond isolated excellence. Here is our vision: In ten years, Christian schools will be strengthened through Christ-centered … Read More
Invitation To Imagine: Human Flourishing in the Digital Age
Current reality check Christian school leaders are caught in a painful tension. On one hand, we know our students will enter a world where AI is ubiquitous. Banning it entirely feels like sending them ill-equipped into a reality we’ve refused to acknowledge. On the other hand, we’ve watched technology erode attention spans, facilitate academic dishonesty, and replace deep thinking with … Read More
An Invitation To Re-Imagine: Radical Accessibility and Deep Belonging
What if every family who wanted their child to experience a Christian education could? Or, perhaps more pointedly, what if every family in your community who wanted the Christ-centered education you offer was given access? Does this opportunity happen already? We, as Christian educators, may say that any student is welcome, but if we are honest with ourselves, there are … Read More
An Invitation To Imagine: Communities of Courageous Hospitality
I thought that I belonged here. It was a December basketball game, and my husband and I were visiting our alma mater. We had both graduated high school from the same place: a predominantly white, Dutch-reformed, Christian school. We were high school sweethearts, the Homecoming king and queen, recipients of similar high school accolades. It was both awkward and sweet … Read More