Breakout Topics
Breakout sessions and Peer Networking groups give you the ability to learn with peers from other schools and dive deeper on topics that are relevant to your role within your school.
Have expertise you would like to share? Apply to be a breakout speaker.
Breakout Session Topics
The conference will host two breakout sessions. Many topics are offered during both sessions. Recordings of most breakouts will be available after the conference. Attendees can pick the two breakouts they want to attend in-person during the conference and review recordings for sessions they missed after the conference.
Raise Resilient Children Who Embrace Life with Confidence, Dr. Kathy Koch
Speaker: Dr. Kathy Koch, Celebrate Kids
Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Anyone that works with kids
Learning about resiliency’s many benefits will inspire you not to panic when your children struggle. You’ll discover how to support and instruct them without over-protecting them or rescuing them too soon so they benefit from struggling and recover from hard times. Learn how to walk that fine line, the best ways to help children handle their disappointments when things don’t go their way, and how to encourage them when they want to give up. Dr. Kathy’s practical techniques work!
Intentional Noticing: An Efficient Approach to Relationship-Building, Christina Meline
Speaker: Christina Meline, Team Meline
Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Anyone that works with students
One of the most important qualities of a strong educator is building relationships with students. Christina Meline outlines an intentional, efficient observation approach to build connections with each student by the end of the first month of school.
Its ok to Disagree: How to navigate different viewpoints in a God-honoring way, Tammie Haveman
Speaker: Tammie Haveman, Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Partnerships, Bethel University
Audience: Leaders, All
Navigate hidden cultural rules and understand the nuances of different viewpoints. Overcome barriers that hinder open communication, including fear, tribalism, and either/or thinking. Master the art of conversations through active listening, open-ended questions and empathy.
Trust Me! The significance of trust in developing relationships and driving culture in your school. | Dr. Bruce Locklear
Speaker: Dr. Bruce Locklear, St Mary’s University
Audience: Leadership, All
Four Suits of Student-to-Student Feedback, Jerry Oehler
Speaker: Jerry Oehler, Maranatha Christian Academy
Audience: Middle School, High School
Giving and receiving feedback between your students can be intimidating for middle and high school students. However, recognizing the difference between mediocre and excellent feedback is easily attainable when students have the right tools. Join me for a hands-on and Biblical approach to helping students assess their own work or a classmates’ work with four memorable tools.
How Anxiety in Teens Impacts Academic Success, Mindy Haukedahl
Speaker: Mindy Haukedahl, MA, LSC, EdS, LMFT, BCN | Director of Academic, College and Career Counseling at New Life Academy, Owner of Afton Therapy
Audience: Counselors, Teachers, Anyone that works with students
Learn “what” anxiety is and “how” it shows up for teenagers. In this session, we will talk about the different types of anxiety, such as test/performance anxiety, public speaking, avoidance of relationships, etc. Mindy will share the physiological symptoms, racing hearts, upset stomach, sweating, and crying. She will explain the underlying emotions that manifest into anxiety, like fear, overwhelm, and lack of sleep. Armed with that information, Mindy will provide educators with tips for helping students feel less anxious, including accommodations that can possibly be met. Additionally, Mindy created a journal for teens that she will share and discuss how writing down negative thoughts brings darkness to the light so that one can decipher thoughts that come from Satan versus what God speaks as truth.
How to Have Longevity in the Classroom, Colette Winn
Speaker: Colette Winn, Maranatha Christian Academy
Audience: Early Ed, Elementary School
In this session teachers will hear tips for self-care, including how to remain an energetic happy teacher throughout the day, how to work smarter and not harder and how to maintain the grit needed to succeed for many years in a demanding profession. Teachers will also walk away feeling empowered and equipped to continue as an education professional!
Creating Growth and Momentum in Enrollment, Dee McDonald
Speaker: Dee McDonald, Crown College
Audience: Enrollment, Business office
In this economy and environment, growth is tough – maybe as hard as ever! At Crown College, we’ve grown by more than 25% over the last 3 years. There are intentional, strategic processes and perspectives that have made this possible and we’d like to share with you – our valuable Partner Christian Schools! Listen, ask questions, find out if you’re on the right track, or bring some new ideas to your school!
Classroom Organization made Easy, Lettie Fundane’t
Speaker: Lettie Fundane’t, Maranatha Christian Academy & Organized by Lettie
Audience: Teachers
As a professional organizer and teacher, I will be sharing tried and true ways that can help you keep your classroom functional and organized all year long. Plus we will discuss ideas for time management so you can leave work at work.
Compliment and Correct to Powerfully Encourage Children, Dr. Kathy Koch
Speaker: Dr. Kathy Koch, Celebrate Kids
Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Anyone that works with students
The ways we compliment and correct children contribute to either a culture of effort and joy or apathy and fear. Our words either build up and encourage children or tear them down and discourage them. Our words can increase behavior, unity, and so much goodness! Therefore, how to compliment and correct well, and not criticize, will be explained and modeled. Examples will make the ideas come alive.
Intentional Leadership, Joanna Richter
Speaker: Joanna Richter, Maranatha Christian Academy
Audience: School leaders, academic chairs, teacher leaders
Are you in a position in your school where you are growing and taking on different leadership opportunities? Are you looking for some leadership coaching that you can live out in your role? At times, in our professional careers we find ourselves stepping into new roles or taking on new positions, and yet feel we are lacking in some of the training for the new leadership. In this session you will learn some leadership principles, interact with those principles and learn how to apply them as you lead!
Bjupress Trove for Teachers, Benjamin Vaduva
Speaker: Benjamin Vaduva, BJU Press
Audience: Teachers, Administrators, IT/Technology
Meet the newest educational technology innovation from BJU Press.
Launching a New Teacher Training and Mentorship Program, Kelly Capp
Speaker: Kelly Capp, Maranatha Christian Academy
Audience: School administrators, Instructional Coaches
In this session, you will experience the New Teacher Program (FIRST) that we have implemented in our school to assist new teachers for the first three years. Our program is a Forum for Inducting, Retaining and Supporting Teachers no matter their level of expertise. Over the past twenty years, we have crafted and refined our program so that we can retain and encourage a healthy culture among our teaching staff. This session will give you a sneak peek into how we kick off the year with an intentional three days of FIRST orientation, monthly meeting topics with lesson plans, our observation schedule, and feedback that we provide to encourage growth. We have attended many leadership and training conferences that have emphasis training best practices. We also take inspiration from reference materials such as Harry Wong’s “New Teacher Induction” and “The First Days of School” books.
Foundations for Effective Project-Based Learning, Lisa Hawthorne
Speaker: Lisa Hawthorne, United Christian Academy
Audience: Middle School, High school
Project-Based Learning is NOT just an educational buzzword. The student benefits are immense, but how can teachers implement PBL with confidence and effectiveness? Please join me if you want to learn about how to create meaningful, standards-based student PBL opportunities. We’ll talk about how to create a strong foundation, then add details for cohesive, thorough assessments. After identifying the “why” of Project-Based Learning and the challenges it presents, I’ll offer building blocks for generating projects that are meaningful and accessible for educators to feel confident as they try new methods for deep learning and assessments. Tools, resources, and feedback will be given for teachers to use as they brainstorm ideas for their own classrooms.
An Introduction to Dyslexia and Implications for Educators, Jamie Kaihoi
Speaker: Jamie Kaihoi, Maranatha Christian Academy
Audience: Teachers, Learning Support Specialists
Some research indicates that up to 20% of our students are dyslexic. This means that every teacher and school needs to know how to create supportive systems in which these students can thrive. This informational session will give you foundational knowledge of dyslexia, dispel common myths, and provide practical takeaways that can be put to immediate use in the classroom. We will also consider the Christian educator’s response to a disability.
Firm Foundation: Cultivating a Foundation of Faith in the First Years of Teaching, Christina Meline
Speaker: Christina Meline, Team Meline
Audience: Teachers in their first 5 years
Developing a foundation of faith in your practice as an educator is powerful. Christina Meline invites early career teachers to explore ways to intentionally create time for meaningful connection with God, along with sharing resources to empower their call to the classroom.
Building a Sustainable Financial Model, Brandon Allen
Speaker: Brandon Allen, Fortify Foundation
Audience: Business/Financial officers, Development, Administrators
Exploring the current financial trends in Christian Education. What facilitates the majority of Christian School’s operating costs? Is Fundraising necessary? Will schools be able to pay their bills AND will families be able to afford Christian education in the future?
Defying the Odds, Dr. Rachel David
Speaker: Dr. Rachel David, Maranatha Christian Academy
Audience: Teachers, Counselors
This session delves into strategies in how to help students break free from traumatic experiences and develop Godly perseverance through trials. The audience will engage with content by evaluating student scenarios to determine appropriate pathways to developing Godly perseverance.
Compassionate Leadership: A Strategic Imperative, Tammie Haveman
Speaker: Tammie Haveman, Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Partnerships, Bethel University
Audience: Leaders, Administrators
Rooted in scripture and backed by research, discover how compassion can:
- Enhance employee well-being: reduce burnout, increase job satisfaction, and foster a stronger sense of belonging.
- Boost organizational performance: Improve learning, increase cost-effectiveness, and create a more positive work environment
- Develop compassionate cultures: learn practical strategies to cultivate a more positive work environment.
Offering an Israel Course at your School (Designed by CUFI)
Speaker: Able Taye, CUFI
Audience: High School, Academic Directors/Deans, Guidance Counselors
The Israel Course session presents a great introduction to the very comprehensive and incremental 20-lesson curriculum and instructor’s guide specifically designed for private Christian schools, home school associations, and Christian high schoolers across the nation. The session gives an overview of the curriculum lessons that will cover subject matter from the biblical reasons to support Israel as a Christian, understanding Jewish and Israeli culture, to the history of Israel and the Jewish people, the modern state, what to expect on a college campus, and more! The Israel Course presentation will engage the audience and inspire them to take the course both as a major subject or as an elective to a group of high school students across multiple grades. The audience will find the course to be an excellent resource for providing valuable biblical context, and important information helping students gain a proper perspective on current events in Israel and in the middle east. As a result, the audience will find great understanding Israel’s biblical history which is very crucial to thinking accurately about what is happening today, and the Israel Course session will effectively meet that objective as the attendance see the course’s layout, the way it is developed and how the flow of information progressed through the material, and how it handled the topic of Israel clearly in a comprehensive fashion.
Engaging and Entertaining Our Students, Jake Kerschner
Speaker: Jake Kerschner, Maranatha Christian Academy
Audience: Teachers
Building Relationships with your Students, Jodi Thill
Speaker: Jodi Thill, Retired Educator
Audience: Teachers, Anyone that works with students
This session will have discussions about building relationships with students, stories of successes through building student relationships, suggestions on how to build relationships, and practice with peers to build relationships. After the session, you should leave having a few ideas of how to know your students at a deeper level, getting to know students in your building outside of your classroom, giving positive feedback, and treating all with respect.
The Science of Reading is not enough! Jonathan Friesen
Speaker: Jonathan Friesen, North Central University
Audience: Teachers, Administrators, Academic Director/Dean
In this session, we will explore why understanding the cognitive processes behind reading is only part of the puzzle. To truly foster literacy, we must also consider students’ emotional, social, and motivational needs. By integrating affective strategies into reading instruction, we can create a more holistic approach that not only teaches reading skills but also nurtures a love of learning, engagement, and resilience in students. Join me to learn practical ways to combine the science of reading with student-centered, affective strategies that transform literacy education.
Prepare, Respond, Recover: Empowering Schools to Handle Any Emergency, Bob Johnson
Speaker: Bob Johnson, Raptor Technologies
Audience: Administators, Operations/Security
This presentation focuses on Raptor Technologies’ Emergency Management platform, which includes a partnership with The “I Love You Guys” Foundation. Raptor Technologies’ solution engineer, Bob Johnson, will detail the different modules within the Emergency Management software, compliance with Alyssa’s Law, and how schools can use Raptor Alert to navigate themselves through a crisis. This session will also touch on updates to Raptor’s Visitor Management system, used by tens of thousands of schools across the country.
Truth and Lies, Heidi Hoefs & Heather Kohnen
Speakers: Heidi Hoefs (University of Northwestern) & Heather Kohnen (Christian Educators)
Audience: Teachers
We all know teaching is hard work! Sometimes we can begin to believe the lies that are whispered into our hearts and minds about the work we are doing. This interactive session will explore and expose those lies and provide opportunity to evaluate them in light of our calling. In this session, Heidi and Heather will cover:
- Expose the lies we believe about ourselves, our work, and God
- Evaluate the lies by identifying who God is, who He says we are, and what He has called us into.
- Replacing the lies we believe with the truth.
FREE Resources and Trainings to help Grow Your School! | Jonathan Edmondson
Speaker: Jonathan Edmondson, Herzog Foundation
Audience: Administrators, Leaders, Development, Admissions, MARCOM, Operations
The Herzog Foundation exists to equip Christian school leaders, teachers, and board members with the tools necessary to better lead and grow their schools! The Herzog Foundation Institute runs 100+ conferences and events each year covering topics like Donor Development, Marketing & Enrollment, Strategic Planning, Spiritual Formation, Crisis Management and School Safety, and more. For each conference, the Herzog Foundation covers hotel, food, and conference costs for all schools accepted to attend each event. Additional resources for parents, teachers, and school founders can be found through our many other initiatives. Come hear how we can support your school!
Early Education Imagination Station, Samantha Valder
Speaker: Samantha Valder, Maranatha Christian Academy
Audience: Pre-K and Kindergarten Teachers, Admin, Pre-K principals or Pre-K assistants.
This session will be focused on teachers who teach Pre-K-Kindergarten in early education. We will be discussing ways to help students to focus on how to be innovative and creative in their day-to-day lessons. We will discuss in groups and participate in our own innovative activities just like our students.
Unleashing Creativity: Transforming Classroom Assignments into Engaging Experiences, Rachael Kaiser
Speaker: Rachael Kaiser, North Central University
Audience: Teachers
In this session we will explore how to design assignments that ignite curiosity, foster student ownership, and accommodate diverse learning styles. Through practical examples and hands-on activities, we will discuss strategies for incorporating creativity into everyday tasks while still meeting academic goals. Teachers will leave with tangible ideas to inspire creativity in their students and make learning engaging and vibrant.
Creating a Healthy Team Culture, Alicia Weiers
Speaker: Alicia Weiers, Living Word Christian Center
Audience: Leadership
In this breakout, we’ll explore fostering a culture that respects diverse viewpoints while honoring each person’s gifts. As leaders, we’re pivotal in shaping such an environment.
Objectives of this session:
- To gain insight into how to manage team dynamics with practical applications for every day.
- To see value in each person on the team God has placed you on and find ways to demonstrate that.
- To feel encouraged and equipped to succeed in a variety of team cultures.
Register Now!
October 17, 2024 | 7 am – 3 pm
Early-bird $30 per ticket | Regular $40 per ticket
You and your staff can join other local Christian educators to experience this unique and inspirational conference.