COVID-19 has made 2020 a year few will forget. School administrators will remember the sudden shifts needed as the virus spread in March. Leaders and faculty worked together to deliver education virtually so that learning could continue. Later in the spring, plans unfolded for how to finish the school year–how to share final projects, celebrate seniors, and perform graduations. As the … Read More
Competing for Hearts and Minds with Video
Joey Richards, Associate Head of School at Southwest Christian School in Fort Worth, shares several tips for creating high quality videos to share with your Christian school families. He also shares his ingenious setup for quickly converting an office into an improvised studio.
Diversity in the Christian School: Why Diversity Matters to a White Person, Part 2
God’s command in Micah 6:8 is well known: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” That action is lived out in society, not in isolation.
Diversity in the Christian School: Why Diversity Matters to a White Person
By showing up and showing interest, you demonstrate that the concerns of those who are marginalized are important and need to be understood.
Diversity in the Christian School: Learning While Leading
Diversity in demographics isn’t enough if all the students in the school don’t have the same opportunities. Do we possess the superficial markers of diversity without actually embracing and honoring that diversity? Have we built authentic community with all our students and families? Do all the people in the building have the same opportunities to share their voice, perspective, and experiences?
Disruptions (Part 2): The After-Action Review
“It has been fascinating to note the complexity of decisions at every level as the coronavirus has spread across the world. How decisions are made matters. How we press the occasional pause button to reflect on our decisions matters as well.”
Tim Van Soelen reflects on the past weeks through the lens of tool known as the After-Action Review.
Finish Well
In these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever that we, as faculty, help students finish well. We can do that in three ways: engage students’ minds, maintain expectations, and communicate gratitude.
Lift
Just as a pilot needs to consider the physics of lift and drag while flying a plane, school leaders have to consider how they can create lift while leading their institutions. This can be a challenge because it involves change and a willingness to evaluate the current state while also looking to the future…
Disruption, Disorientation, Disequilibrium… Now What?
As we find ourselves in one of the most challenging times in modern history, nearly all our professional focus is on ensuring continuity of student learning and school operations. But the present crisis also presents educators an opportunity for us to learn as well. If we’re not intentional, what opportunities to learn might we be sacrificing?
Disruptions (Part One)
The spread of COVID-19 has caused the biggest disruption of the industry in decades. This has caused a lot of anxiety, frustration, and fear for educators. But how do we respond to and lead through such a disruption?