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2010 Workshop Topics and Leaders

The School Leader and the Necessity of Personal Confidants

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 27
Ren Siebenga – Principal, Toronto District Christian High School, Woodbridge, Ontario

The business of transforming and unifying a school around a common vision demands incredible personal balance, high levels of energy, and insight to understand and respond to the complexities of institutional change. It is unrealistic for the competent school leader to maintain high levels of effectiveness without drawing from and leaning on personal confidants. Ren Siebenga will use his story as a catalyst for conversation and insight.

Leveraging your School’s Strengths

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 27
Christine Metzger – Head of School, Mustard Seed School, Hoboken, New Jersey

Money is tight. Tensions are high. How can I bring out the best in my faculty, students and board in difficult times? In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore ways to leverage the strengths of your school without breaking the bank. You’ll hear examples from Mustard Seed School’s 30-year journey to stimulate and broaden your thinking. Using a few specific strategies, you’ll be encouraged to tap into your strengths and gain energy and momentum to promote your school.

Transformation: A School’s Journey from a Primary Focus on Curriculum to a Primary Focus on Learning

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 27
Jack Postma – Superintendent, Unity Christian High School, Hudsonville, Michigan

This workshop will use the long, complex journey at Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville, Michigan as a case study as they transformed a large high school from a teacher-selected curriculum driven school to a high school that seeks to be completely aligned around student learning; that is, Bible-based, faith-increasing, and standards-focused student learning.

What on Earth is Broccoli?

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 27
Debra Flores – Principal, Humboldt Community Christian School, Chicago, Illinois

Just as we take Jesus’ view on other topics in Scripture, we are to accept and teach His attitude toward others. This workshop will address the needs the King’s children have in this ever-expanding global society, including different ways of thinking and completely tasks, in order to be more Christ-like and maximize student learning.

Balance Scorecard: Translating Educational Strategy into Achievable Targets

1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 28
Tom Dykhouse – Executive Director/Head of School. Eastern Christian School, North Haledon, New Jersey

The Balanced Scorecard is a strategic planning tool borrowed from the business world and now in use in Christian schools. This workshop will examine the use of the Balanced Scorecard tool to help set and prioritize education, admissions, development, finances, human capital, and operational objectives for Christian schools on an annual and long-term basis.

Professional Learning Communities – The New Paradigm in Professional Development

1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 28
Tim Krell – Co-Director, Alta Vista College, Seattle, Washington

Participants in this workshop will learn how to implement Professional Learning Communities within the context of their own schools. Together we’ll look into the Biblical truth behind why PLCs work to improve student learning and why it is important to help teachers focus on the evidence of student learning. School leaders will leave with an understanding of their important role in starting collaborative, learning communities of teachers.

Telling the Old Story in New Ways…Teaching for Transformation

1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 28
Elco Vandergrift – Executive Director, Prairie Association of Christian Schools, Lacombe, Alberta

Sharing the TfT story: Why and how it started, our journey, what TfT is, Christian school teachers’ TfT stories, and inviting other Christian schools to join our online TfT community.Topics explored will include funding, staff development, lessons learned, and why HC is excited about the end result.

Turning the Tide

1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 28
Dick Ritzema – Superintendent, Unity Christian Schools, Fulton, Illinois
Dee Willoughby – School Board President, Unity Christian Schools, Fulton, Illinois

Through a Powerpoint presentation and handouts, attendees will walk through several stages of Unity’s development of the past decade, demonstrating the necessity of innovative and aggressive strategies required to take a flagging traditional CSI school into a thriving, diverse institution meeting the educational needs of several hundred 3 to 18 year old students.