ACSI: Moving Forward with Lynn Swaner

About Today’s Show Today’s podcast features Jon Eckert, the Copple Professor for Christians in School Leadership at Baylor University and a Cardus Senior Fellow. Jon talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Leadership Interdependence, where “leaders, including board members, have diverse backgrounds and are transparent about and rely on others to offset their weaknesses.” Jon shares his work around collective leadership and shares insights for Christian schools on creating dynamic leadership teams that do transformative work together. To go further in learning about this construct, check out the blog post Collective Leadership: A Catalyst for Flourishing Schools by Jon Eckert. To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here. About the Guest Jon Eckert, Ed.D., is the Copple Professor for Christians in School Leadership at Baylor University and a Cardus Senior Fellow. He taught intermediate and middle school students outside Chicago and Nashville for 12 years. He completed his doctorate at Vanderbilt University and served at U.S. Department of Education during the Bush and Obama administrations. For ten years, he prepared teachers at Wheaton College. He is the author of The Novice Advantage: Fearless Practice for Every Teacher and Leading Together: Teachers and Administrators Improving Student Outcomes, book chapters, and numerous articles. He researches collective leadership, teaching quality, and school improvement through Baylor’s Center for School Leadership. About the Host Dr. Lynn E. Swaner is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at ACSI, where she leads initiatives and develops strategies to address compelling questions and challenges facing Christian education. Dr. Swaner serves as a Cardus Senior Fellow and is the co-author or editor of multiple books on Christian education, including Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools and MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education. Prior to joining ACSI, she served as a professor of education and a Christian school administrator in New York.

About Today’s Show Today’s podcast features Rex Miller, founder of MindShift and author of WHOLE: What Teachers Need to Help Students Thrive. Rex talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Resilience, applied to Christian school leaders and teachers, where they “handle stress effectively and respond well to/bounce back from difficult situations.” Rex unpacks the dangers of the “caregiver’s dilemma” and shares principles for post-traumatic growth in schools. To go further in learning about educator resilience, check out these resources: Caring Too Much: How Educators Can Fill the Gap Without Burnoutrexmiller.com To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here. About the Guest Rex Miller is the lead author for WHOLE: What Teachers Need to Help Students Thrive, which examines ways to create a healthy workplace in schools. His company, MindShift, has tackled numerous large and complex problems in various fields, including education. His books have won international awards for innovation and excellence. About the Host Dr. Lynn E. Swaner is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at ACSI, where she leads initiatives and develops strategies to address compelling questions and challenges facing Christian education. Dr. Swaner serves as a Cardus Senior Fellow and is the co-author or editor of multiple books on Christian education, including Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools and MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education. Prior to joining ACSI, she served as a professor of education and a Christian school administrator in New York.

About Today’s Show Today’s podcast features Marianne Vangoor, Director of Leadership at Edvance in Ontario, Canada. Marianne talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of God’s Story, where “students believe they are a part of God’s bigger plan and can be used by Him to ‘make a difference’.” Marianne shares insights on how schools can ask “what does love require?” as a guiding question for students and staff as they grow in faith and serve God and their communities. To go further in learning about this construct, check out these resources: What Does Love Require?Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and SchoolsMindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here. About the Guest Marianne Vangoor is the Director of Leadership at Edvance in Ontario, Canada. Prior to this role, she served as principal of Halton Hills Christian School in Georgetown, Ontario, for 15 years out of 26 years in school leadership, in addition to teaching all grades in elementary school, including special education. She is passionate about having Christian education be life changing for students and helping them see that they can be difference makers in the world right now. Marianne believes in empowerment at all levels of the school—teachers, staff, and students—and loves seeing people flourish and grow as they step into their own leadership roles. Marianne is the proud Nana of nine grandchildren and is thrilled to see them growing and learning in their local Christian schools as the next generation. About the Host Dr. Lynn E. Swaner is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at ACSI, where she leads initiatives and develops strategies to address compelling questions and challenges facing Christian education. Dr. Swaner serves as a Cardus Senior Fellow and is the co-author or editor of multiple books on Christian education, including Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools and MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education. Prior to joining ACSI, she served as a professor of education and a Christian school administrator in New York.

About Today’s Show Today’s podcast features Sean Schat, Assistant Professor of Education at Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ontario (Canada). Sean talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Caring Environment, where alumni report that “teachers were kind, students felt included in class, and students were protected from bullying.” Sean unpacks the idea of educational care and shares his research on how it takes much more than just good intentions to build relationships with students. Rather, educational care also requires that teachers effectively communicate care, that students perceive and receive the care offered by teachers, and that the care is “completed”—with opportunities for students to reciprocate and care for others. To go further in learning about this construct, check out the blog post Communicating Care in Education by Sean. To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here. About the Guest Dr. Sean Schat is Assistant Professor of Education at Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ontario (Canada). Sean has previously served as a classroom teacher and educational leader (director of staff development, vice-principal, and principal) in Christian independent schools in Ontario. Sean has led workshops on educational care, interpersonal theory, perceptual theory, invitational education, cooperative learning, differentiated learning, assessment and evaluation, curriculum design, and a number of other topics. About the Host Dr. Lynn E. Swaner is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at ACSI, where she leads initiatives and develops strategies to address compelling questions and challenges facing Christian education. Dr. Swaner serves as a Cardus Senior Fellow and is the co-author or editor of multiple books on Christian education, including Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools and MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education. Prior to joining ACSI

In this podcast, Dr. Lynn Swaner interviews Dr. David Kinnaman, President of the Barna Group, on a new research project on today’s teens. As a partner in the research, ACSI is working with Barna to apply this research in the Christian education context and deliver insights to Christian school educators all over the world. Called “The Open Generation,” the research reveals how today’s teens are open to Jesus and the Bible, and how Christian adults are greater influences in their lives toward faith than anything else. Dr. Kinnaman shares how this is encouraging news for Christian school leaders and teachers as they educate, disciple, and influence today’s teens. For more information (including webinar recordings and to order copies of research journals), visit: https://www.barna.com/the-open-generation/. About the Guest David Kinnaman is the author of the bestselling books Faith For Exiles, Good Faith, You Lost Me, and unChristian. He is president of Barna Group, a leading research and communications company that works with churches, nonprofits, and businesses ranging from film studios to financial services. Since 1995, David has directed interviews with more than two million individuals and overseen thousands of U.S. and global research studies. He lives in California with his three children. About the Host Dr. Lynn E. Swaner is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at ACSI, where she leads initiatives and develops strategies to address compelling questions and challenges facing Christian education. Dr. Swaner serves as a Cardus Senior Fellow and is the co-author or editor of multiple books on Christian education, including Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools and MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education. Prior to joining ACSI, she served as a professor of education and a Christian school administrator in New York. Check out the research!

About Today’s Show Today’s podcast features Tia Gaines, director for Educational Strategies for UnifiEd, A Center for Hope and Unity. Tia talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Insular Culture, where “the school shields students from the world’s brokenness, the school is independent from the surrounding community, and/or the student body lacks diversity.” The conversation focuses on creating communities of belonging for students within Christian schools. To go further in learning about this construct, check out these resources: UnifiEd DigestPD by DesignTaking a Selah Moment: Black History Month and Christian Schools To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here. About the Guest Tia Gaines is the director for Educational Strategies for UnifiEd. She serves as department chair for the English department, as well as the 6–12 instructional coach, for Insight PA Cyber Charter School. She coaches more than 200 teachers on teaching strategies in a virtual setting. She has also taught in the School for Applied and Innovative Learning program at Delaware County Christian School in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. In addition, Tia provides consulting to schools, universities, and organizations on diversity, equity, and inclusion alongside her husband, Joel. She resides in Philadelphia with her husband and their four children. About the Host Dr. Lynn E. Swaner is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at ACSI, where she leads initiatives and develops strategies to address compelling questions and challenges facing Christian education. Dr. Swaner serves as a Cardus Senior Fellow and is the co-author or editor of multiple books on Christian education, including Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools and MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education. Prior to joining ACSI, she served as a professor of education and a Christian school administrator in New York.

Today’s podcast features Andrew Neumann, Executive Chair and CEO of Open Sky Education. Andrew talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Resource Constraints, where leaders believe “we could be more effective as a school if not for fiscal constraints, and we lack the resources we need to make changes in our school.” Andrew discusses the ways in which the Christian school sector can move from a scarcity to abundance mindset when it comes to resources and reaching more children with Christian education. To go further in learning about this construct, check out the book MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education, which features Open Sky Education as a case study in the chapter “From Scarcity to Abundance.” To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here.

Today’s podcast features Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski, Director of All Belong Center for Inclusive Education. Elizabeth talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Responsiveness to Special Needs, where “teaching staff works together to serve students with special needs, aided by processes and resources for identifying and responding to those needs.” To go further in learning about this construct, check out these resources: Leading Insights: Special Education and InclusionBelonging TogetherAll Belong: Defining Christian CommunityChrist-Centered Educational Services StandardPuzzle Piece Perspective To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here. About the Guest Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski is the executive director of All Belong Center for Inclusive Education, equipping congregations and schools to glorify God through purposeful, innovative inclusion of persons of varied abilities. All Belong partners with Christ-centered schools across the country to support their students, and welcomes conversations and questions about inclusion of students of all abilities. About the Host Dr. Lynn E. Swaner is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at ACSI, where she leads initiatives and develops strategies to address compelling questions and challenges facing Christian education. Dr. Swaner serves as a Cardus Senior Fellow and is the co-author or editor of multiple books on Christian education, including Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools and MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education. Prior to joining ACSI, she served as a professor of education and a Christian school administrator in New York.

About Today’s Show Today’s podcast features Justin Smith, Head of the Upper School and Vice President of Little Rock Christian Academy. Justin talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Questioning, where “students have doubts about their faith, lack time to pray or study the Bible, and feel that most Christians are too judgmental.” Justin share how questions can actually be harnessed in the classroom as tools for both spiritual formation and academic learning. To go further in learning about this construct, check out these resources: The Harkness Approach Brings Student-Centered, Discussion-Based Learning to LRCAFlourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and SchoolsMindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here. About the Guest Dr. Justin A. Smith currently serves as Head of Upper School and Vice President at Little Rock Christian Academy. A graduate of the University of San Diego, Dr. Smith earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State. He has led well in administration, teaching, and coaching. With a number of published articles and peer-reviewed presentations on record, he also received such honors as the Excellence in Superintendency Program Award from Sam Houston State University and recognition as The Woodlands Preparatory School's Most Inspirational Educator. Additionally, Justin serves on the board of an independent boarding school outside of Philadelphia. Prior to leading at Little Rock Christian Academy, he served as Head of Middle School at Second Baptist School in Houston, Texas. About the Host Dr. Lynn E. Swaner is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at ACSI, where she leads initiatives and develops strategies to address compelling questions and challenges facing Christian education. Dr. Swaner serves as a Cardus Senior Fellow and is the co-author or editor of multiple books on Christian education, including Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools and MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education. Prior to joining ACSI, she served as a professor of education and a Christian school administrator in New York.

About Today’s Show Today’s podcast features Tyler Amidon, Director of Student Life and Middle School at Denver Christian School. Tyler talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Mentoring Students, where “staff point out talent in each student, help students see how they fit in God’s bigger plan, and are aware of students’ struggles at school or home.” Tyler shares foundational approaches for mentoring and how Christian school leaders, teachers, coaches, and staff can build life-on-life, eternally impactful relationships with students. To go further in learning about this construct, check out Tyler Amidon’s website which features a podcast, blog, and other resources. To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here.

Today’s podcast features Ginger Hill, Founder of Good Health for Good Works. Ginger talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Stress, where “constant feelings of stress and being overwhelmed accompany a lack of time to prepare for instruction (Teachers) or to focus on physical health (Leaders).” Ginger shares practical strategy for staff and schoolwide well-being during this time of increased stress and burnout in education. To go further in learning about this construct, check out these resources: From Fatigue to Flourishingemployee wellness strategypersonal well-being plan To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here.

Today’s podcast features Darren Iselin, Director of Research and Innovation with Christian Schools Australia (CSA). Darren talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Qualified Staff, where “new teacher hires are credentialed (educationally and licensed/certified) and have classroom experience,” and which emerged as a strength for CSA schools through the Australia pilot of the Flourishing School Culture Instrument (FSCI). Darren unpacks a number of reasons for this, including partnerships with higher education institutions and in-school training opportunities for pre-service teachers, and concludes with encouragement for Christian schools to invest in the professional qualifications of teachers. To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instruments for schools here.

Today’s podcast features Dave Hill, Founder of HeartSmart. Dave talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Resilience, where “students handle stress effectively and respond well to/bounce back from difficult situations.” Dave shares insights about developing resilience, character development, and social emotional learning (SEL) in schools. To go further in learning about this construct, check out these resources: Character or Compliance: You ChooseHeartSmartTV To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here.

Today’s podcast features Heather Lee, Assistant Superintendent at Fredericksburg Christian School in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Heather talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Culture of Improvement, where “guided by school leadership and focused on the future, the school is continually improving/makes necessary changes to improve.”

Today’s podcast features Joel Gaines, Head of School at The City School in Philadelphia. Joel talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Community Engagement, where “the school engages with the surrounding community and local churches, and regularly taps into community resources, including networking and resource- sharing with other schools.” Joel shares insights on how schools can be a light and a bringer of shalom to their communities and neighborhoods. ----more---- Additional Resources To go further in learning about this construct, check out these resources: Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and SchoolsMindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian EducationMarked Urgent: Unity within Diversity in our Christian Schools To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research, check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here.

This month’s podcast features Becki Rust, ACSI Thought Leadership Project Coordinator, who interviews Dr. Maria Varlet, Head of Research and Innovation at Crest Education in Melbourne, Australia, about the importance of women's leadership in Christian education. They discuss ways to develop women’s leadership through mentoring, building a leadership network, and taking a strengths-based approach, as well as Maria's recent blog post for the new Women Leaders for Christian Education blog.

This month’s podcast features Betsy Winkle, Director of Evaluation Services at All Belong. Guest host Dr. Charlotte Marshall Powell speaks with Betsy about ways that trauma-informed perspectives can help both students and teachers adjust back to school life during COVID-19. This podcast provides a helpful follow up to Betsy’s earlier blog post on the same topic of trauma-informed instruction for students and support for educators.

This podcast features Phil Puleo, Superintendent of the Christian School Association of Greater Harrisburg (CSAGH), an organization that oversees both Harrisburg Christian School (HCS) and West Shore Christian Academy (WSCA) in the Pennsylvania capital. I talk with Phil about the process of bringing these two schools together, the promise that mergers and acquisitions have for Christian school sustainability, and lessons he’s learned about collaboration that apply to the COVID-19 crisis. View the blog

This month’s podcast features Dan Beerens and Erik Ellefsen, who are co-editors of the new book MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education, along with podcast host Lynn Swaner. The editors discuss their two-year journey with over 60 leading educators through a Christian education “mindshift,” which is a transformational process of dialogue and exploration pioneered by futurist Rex Miller. With nearly 11,000 copies of the book picked up by educators since its release in early fall 2019, schools and leaders are eager to not just face the challenges of today’s marketplace and educational environment—but also seize new opportunities to provide a deeper and more authentic Christian education, share stories of love and hope with our neighbors, and catalyze the growth of the church and the Kingdom.

This month’s podcast features Tom Rudmik, who is the CEO and Founder of Master’s Academy and College, an award-winning R&D Christian school located in Calgary, Canada. I interview Tom about Master’s Future Ready Model of Education and the innovative methods that Master’s uses to prepare students to “learn from the future.” Tom also shares insights for Christian school leaders as they work to inspire their staff and teachers toward transformation. Additional Resources: How Do Students Learn from the Future?