Articles

Pull, Don't Push

I was frustrated. It was a beautiful morning, and I was tasked with leading a group of 10 six-year-old camp kids from inner city Toronto on a ‘nature’ hike through a hardwood forest on the camp property. It may have looked like herding cats as I attempted to push the group along to the next observation checkpoint on our mini hike

Crucible Moments

Have you ever experienced those days or weeks in leadership where everything is going well? Kids are engaged in learning. Parents are thrilled with the school. Teachers are all healthy and planning exciting lessons that you actually have the time to go and see happening because your email inbox and to-do list are both manageable.

Towel & Basin

The title ‘Towel & Basin’ is a metaphor taken directly from John 13 where Jesus leaves us with perhaps his most powerful leadership image: the greatest leader the world has ever known literally bending over with a towel wrapped around his waist and with a basin of water, washing his followers’ feet. What can we take away from this transformative account of Jesus’ ministry?

Leadership Capacity - Beyond Skills Development to Productive Habits

“Remember back in the days when we just taught?” This question, likely more of an invitation to reminisce, was offered to me not long ago by a fellow Christian school administrator. It was not meant in any way to be diminutive of the role or responsibilities of a teacher, but rather a longing for the simplicity of a defined role around a specific subject in a specific classroom with specific students as assigned.

From Edvance's Director of Leadership

As you wrap up what has likely been one of the most challenging years of your career, I want to ask you a question that I hope you will consider in the days ahead: How is it with your soul? What I mean by that is how is it with your interior self? Ruth Hayley Barton in Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership defines soul as the “very essence of you that God knew before he brought you forth into physical form, the part that will exist after your body goes back into the ground. 

Longevity in Leadership

With the ever-changing landscape of education, one may wonder what it takes to remain effective in a leadership position in a school. There are many factors that play into what it takes to remain effective, but today we will explore the importance of consistent feedback for school leaders.

Enrolment Growth in Independent Schools

Independent school enrolments are on the rise in Canada; and Ontario, the province educating more students than any other, is certainly no exception. Over the period from 2006-07 to 2019-20, StatCan data shows a 34 percent increase in students attending Ontario independent schools, climbing from 114,375 to 153,291 students.

Some Gold

Friends, here is my hook to read further – I have nothing original to offer in this article! This is not a cop out because I have no ideas to share. Rather, I feel fully grateful for three helpful thoughts and tools that have come my way as I think about leadership health.

WayFinder Leadership Training

Love of God and Love of Neighbour was the scriptural North Star for the WayFinder training hosted last week in Cambridge. Even if you weren’t able to attend the event, you could implement some key truths and relevant practices if you’d like to transform conflict into opportunities for discipleship and witness rather than threats.

Reflections on Converge 2022

Last month, 20+ Edvance affiliate educators and leaders travelled to San Diego to attend Converge 2022. This conference is a convergence of many different individuals, organizations, and higher education entities who want to see Christian education flourish across North America and around the world.

Courageous Leaders: Leaning Actively into Failure

What does it mean to be a courageous leader? Perhaps the phrase conjures images of a valiant William Wallace in Braveheart:

Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live, at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!

Perhaps you think of the lone Chinese citizen confronting the tanks at Tiananmen Square, Rosa Parks refusing an order to leave her seat, or even images of a more recent current event as we see average everyday Ukrainians take up arms to prevent their country from being overtaken by Russian troops.

A Tribute to a Good and Faithful Servant

I first got to know Tena in the way most school personnel get to know Tena—she was the competent, professional, understanding, and thoughtful person on the other end of the phone call or email exchange, providing the right answer, document, policy, or survey, or simply pointing you to the right person. You know what I mean; for pretty much anything you needed to know, you could call Tena. She was the key contact point for many in the former Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS) and then Edvance.

Instruments of Peace

I don’t know about you, but I am struggling to watch the news and read newspapers these days.  I want to be informed, but find the reports of war, division, strife, and anger difficult to process.   The turmoil, pain and destruction of the war in Ukraine, raucous “debates” in the House of Commons, convoys, police out in force on the streets of our nation’s capital, rising inflation—these and other headlines make this a challenging time to navigate on many levels. I know some of these issues have splintered families (mine included), school communities, and even churches. It appears that in many incidences people have stopped talking with each other and have moved to talking at each other, often from the platform of social media or in emails written in a moment of anger and irritation. Active listening to others to gain perspective does not appear to be a skill that is often used, and divisions and ultimatums rule the day. This is the culture and climate in which you must lead your schools!

Announcing Edvance’s New Director of Leadership and External Relations

I am excited to announce the appointment of Tim Bentum as Director of Leadership and External Relations, effective August 1, 2022.

With fifteen years of school leadership experience, Tim has previously served as vice-principal at Niagara Christian Community of Schools, as vice-principal at Toronto District Christian High, and as the principal at London Christian High, where he has led for the past seven years. Tim has spent his entire life in Christian education, both as a student and a leader, and has a deep love and appreciation for the critical role that leaders play in the health and direction of Christian schools. Tim, an Ontario Certified Teacher, holds a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Calvin University, two Bachelor degrees, including a Bachelor of Education from Redeemer University, and is a Van Lunen Fellow with Calvin University.

Designing Professional Learning that Aligns with Your Learning Vision

Many of you have had a chance to interact with my colleague and friend, Steven Levy. Steven, and his wife, Joanna, were keynote speakers at a past educators convention where the theme was “Leading with Love.” In his opening keynote address, Steven stated:

“How do we know what love looks like in our schools? In the same way we know about God through the way he was embodied in Christ, we know about our schools’ love by the practices and the cultures that we create in our schools. At the very heart of it is engagement.”

Is It Enough?

Think back to the October Edvance Annual Gathering and Dr. David Smith’s retelling of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. Dr. Smith invited us to consider this story from the viewpoint of the Samaritan woman, in light of her circumstances in the cultural climate of the times. This story, as framed by the cultural understanding provided by Dr. Smith, paints a picture of a woman who did not feel a sense of belonging in her community.

So…What Do You Do?

Not long ago, a curious Grade 1 student at my school wanted to know more about my job. He asked his teacher, “So what does that office boy do? While I am not convinced that the question was answered thoroughly, it did create a good laugh, and netted me both a t-shirt and a coffee mug with the new title of “Office Boy”.

President's Report - January 2022

Happy New Year, dear colleagues!

Although we begin another calendar year learning and working virtually, with all the discouragements that entails, we also begin 2022 with a spirit of hope and optimism.

Board Recruitment and the Role of the Principal

It’s that time of year again when boards begin the process of seeking new board members. This process should be much more than just finding someone who is willing—sometimes the person who raises their hand is not the right person. How can you, as a principal, guide your board through best practices for recruitment?

After Winter

School buildings are closed again. This is news that was hard to hear as we headed into 2022! Even though you have done this before, this current pivot to online school may feel like deep winter to many of you–dark, devoid of warmth, and maybe even feeling hopeless with no chance of spring.

Courageous Leadership: What’s Beyond COVID?

By now, I think most of us have stopped making predictions about the future. The only thing that we can really be certain of is that we can’t be certain of anything, outside of our faith in a good God who loves us and continues to lead us in the midst of uncertainty.

Book Review: Head, Hand, Heart

With typical prescience, Peter Drucker was among several theorists who began writing about the rise of the “knowledge worker” in the later 1950s. Anticipating the impacts of information technology on the economy, he suggested that a new class of workers was emerging that would grow in importance and size and begin to overshadow the place of the manual labourer in the job market. 

Advent Waiting

Waiting is a very hard thing to do in our culture. We have news, games, family chats, Zoom meetings, entertainment from around the world, all at the click of a button. Remember dial-up internet, when we had to wait a minute or more for each webpage to load?

How are you working WITH your co-pilot?

“I wish our Board Chair only knew …”  “I wish our school principal/COO/ED would just …” Do either of these phrases sound familiar? Even as an internal voice?

Whether you are a Board Chair or a Head of School, there is a presumed onus on you for your school to shine and succeed; to be effective in fulfilling its mission. Are you partners standing together in this, or does it feel more like a tug-of-war?

Hospitality: At the Table

At Woodland Christian High School, we have struggled for some time with how to enfold all of our students into a Christian community of learning. We are aware that some students, for a host of reasons, find it difficult to connect and find a place to flourish at school. For many students who do not feel a sense of belonging, engaging in the learning process is a daily challenge. After many discussions with caring teachers and students, we started “At the Table.” 

Building and Keeping

What are you building this year? What are you safekeeping?

At Edvance, we’re beginning our fourth year as a service organization for independent Christian schools. Together with our board, we’re taking this moment to reflect on the building—and the maintenance—we’ve had the privilege to participate in since our founding. We’re also looking ahead to our next three years to imagine and discern what our constructing and safeguarding might include.

Lessons from the Redwoods

A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to walk among giants! I was in Muir Woods in California, the home of some of the world’s tallest trees. As I stood amazed and humbled at the feet of these towering trees, I found out that some of these giant trees thought to be about 2000 years old were seedlings when Christ walked the earth! That is incredible, pointing to our awesome Creator God!

A Parting Blessing of Hesed

The word Hesed appears 248 times in scriptures and speaks to the steadfast lovingkindness of a faithful covenant God. A standard question on my Bible tests for intermediate grade students asked them to define Hesed. It was a theme word of our Old Testament classes. In English, it is represented in multiple different ways, but its context is love, faithfulness, steadfastness, and mercy. AND, it was a fun word because the opening sound is a guttural and rather harsh “ch”!

As I journeyed through my work years in the Christian school movement, I have discovered an even deeper understanding of Hesed.

The Dichotomies of Courageous Leadership

Do you ever go down memory lane to recall moments of learning in your leadership life?  Recently I recalled with humour my first attempt to treat two teachers exactly the same. 

After placing a note (yes, hand-written notes were a thing once upon a time!) in a teacher’s mailbox asking for a meeting the following day, the teacher said, “Don’t do that again without giving me warning of what the meeting is about. I spent the entire night worrying and did not sleep well at all.” Ok, note to self. 

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program for Independent Schools

There has been much renewed interest in skilled trades options as career pathways for high schools. Many industries are eager to attract young people to consider these pathways and demographic trends suggest there will be available opportunities in many areas of the skill trades pathways in the future. This sector provides a range of rewarding and challenging vocations which provide a valuable and essential services to our communities.

Mind Your Own Conscience

The following article originally appeared in Cardus Insights, a weekly newsletter by Cardus Executive Vice President Ray Pennings. Reprinted with permission.

My conscience has been challenged recently.

A church member argued that by not facilitating in-person, unmasked worship in my leadership role as an elder, I was violating a member’s conscience regarding appropriate Sunday worship. “The time for debate is over,” a colleague was told in even starker terms. “It is clear. Time to stop talking, repent, and open the churches.”

How to Love Our Neighbours

This year we have been discussing what it means to love your neighbour within the context of racial redemption and embracing diversity within our school communities.

I have become aware of my own blind spots. I have had many interactions with students over my time as a coach and a teacher that I have realized I could have dealt with better. I realized I was unaware of what it really meant to see and hear things from different perspectives. Even though I have been surrounded by diversity, I have learned that I was not really invested in it as I should have been.

Leading through Challenges

Close to Morraine Lake, Alberta, just outside of Banff, is a network of trails to explore the area and its beauty. When you venture a few dozen metres from the parking areas, you will come upon a sign indicating the possible danger of meeting up with a bear. By law, people must hike in a group of four or more to protect themselves from a bear encounter.

We feel the same warnings apply to Christian school leadership.

Conditions for Meaningful Connection

From March through July 2020, I wrote and defended a thesis about face-to-face communication for my Master of Arts in Leadership. Although I had completed my research methods in January 2020 before school buildings closed, it did feel odd to be analyzing data and writing about face-to-face communication while hardly seeing anyone other than my husband and kids in person!

Resting Well

Some of you may have met Franklin, albeit virtually. Franklin is a 12-week-old golden retriever puppy. He has made appearances on a number of Zoom calls as he clamours for my attention. Typical of any puppy, but even more so a golden retriever, he is very active for periods of time and then seeks a warm sunny spot or a comfortable soft blanket or pillow for a refreshing nap that seems to revive him. At 12 weeks old, Franklin has figured out something that takes many of us many years to get: rest after prolonged activity is good for us!

Hold Fast and Let Go

Do you ever find yourself getting tired of the sound of your own voice saying the same things over and over again? Have you run into obstacles this year that in any other year would have seemed so much easier to handle? Have you had enough of words and phrases like “pivot”, “unprecedented”, and “You’re still on mute” yet?

Working Together for the Kingdom

We are entering into a season when school leaders start to lose a bit of sleep as they anticipate retiring board members transitioning out and new board members starting.

This can sometimes be a time of turbulence, especially if there is a change in the Board Chair seat. The relationship between a school leader and the chair of the board is one of the most critical relationships in the organization. Most changes and major decisions in a school community often fall to these two individuals, and many times, we take this relationship way too lightly. But even with so much at stake and so many moving parts, there are ways to make board transitions deliberate, intentional, and positive for all involved.

Keeping the Conversation Going

The ongoing conversation about race and diversity may be making some within our network of Christian schools uncomfortable. Perhaps you look at your school and do not “see” the need to push a conversation that does not seem to be relevant. Maybe your community is homogeneous in colour, ethnicity, church denomination, and even social economic standing. Of course you react with negativity towards the militant stands taken by some groups shared on your social media news feeds, and understandably you want no part of that kind of action. 

Manna for Today

With this sometimes oh so tedious pandemic that just seems to go and on, there’s a risk that overwhelming fatigue and despair can settle into my spirit. As you process the latest pivots to your school’s learning delivery, perhaps you’re feeling this same sense of fatigue and despair. Waiting and wondering is hard work which can exhaust the most resilient leader.

Leadership Self-Knowledge and the Enneagram

Do you know your Enneagram type?

Before you stop reading, hang in with me here. I am a naturally skeptical person when it comes to personality tests. I think we need to be careful about trying to put people into boxes, categorizing them in ways that limit who they are and what they might become. Having said this, we know, as leaders, that having tools and resources available to provide ‘handles’ to talk about ourselves and others can be very useful for growth and development. 

Teaching for Transformation Comes to Edvance!

Because of our strong relationship with the other Christian School Associations that make up Christian Schools Canada, many of you are familiar with the pioneering work of the Prairie Centre for Christian Education (PCCE) on Teaching for Transformation. Edvance is excited to announce its partnership with the Christian Teachers Academy and PCCE in bringing Teaching for Transformation (TfT) to Edvance affiliate schools.

Leading Through Challenges:

Back in August when I offered to write some reflections for this month’s newsletter about leading through challenges, I was thinking about the significant challenges that leaders in schools faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges of planning for the unknown, responding to new and shifting regulations, calming the fears and anxieties of staff and students, communicating in clear and thoughtful ways to our parent communities, and revising budgets to meet new realities—all of these qualifying as examples of leading through challenges.

Healthy Leaders: Resilience

Advent: hope, peace, love, and joy. The anticipation and celebration of Christmas is a highlight in our lives and in the lives of our school communities.

And then there is Advent in 2020. As leaders, we are tired and weary, and our capacity to be joyful and resilient is waning. Rather than celebrating this season, perhaps your heart is resonating with unspoken lament rather than joy, crying out, “How long, Lord?”

Finding Meaning in Waiting

Advent is officially here! Many of us have experienced our first snow fall of the year, and the days don’t seem like they can get any shorter. We now eat our dinner in the dark and perhaps yearn for the lengthy days of summer. For my wife and many others, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing—perhaps this year more than ever.

Continuing the Conversation...

How do we as school leaders continue to navigate the very tenuous space in which our schools exist as we deal with issues of diversity, inclusion, and hospitality? How do we welcome “the other” into our midst even while many in our communities are wondering if “the other” should be issued the invitation? How do we “flip the tables” of a system while generally only being surrounded by those who are most like us? These are the questions I am continuing to ask myself as I reflect on the presentations and conversations we have had this fall with Dr. Mary Ashun, David Brooks, Dr. Steve Sider, and Miroslav Volf. 

Leading Through Challenges: Trust

As a leader during a global pandemic, you are in the middle of one of the most poignant litmus tests of trust. I say this is a litmus test, not because trust isn’t valued at the best of times; it is. But when times are challenging, trust becomes a vital concern and we must quickly identify:

• who we trust
• who will trust us
• who doesn’t trust us, and,
• who we won’t trust.

Maintaining Connections with Families who Withdraw

In these uncertain times, some families may have made a choice to withdraw their children from your school. As a school leader, it is easy to take these departures personally and even to feel a sense of failure as these families leave. But it’s important to remember that these families are not leaving because of a failure on the part of your school, but due to their concerns and the uncertainty on how COVID might impact schools and their children in particular. 

Stand Firm... and Move On

This year, the first day of school is unlike anything most of us have ever experienced. It’s been almost six months since provincial "states of emergency" due to COVID-19 were first proclaimed. Back then, schools scrambled, but rose to the occasion, coming out of March Break ready to educate. On-line learning platforms were quickly put into place, and aside from the bumps and bruises that go along with trying something new, schools were soon in a more comfortable rhythm. 

Multiplying Our Strength

In Developing the Leaders Around You, John Maxwell shares that “A company cannot grow without until its leaders grow within.” Everything rises and falls on leadership; that is why developing, supporting, and enhancing the leaders of Christian schools is such a key priority for Edvance. If Christian schools are to be healthy and flourishing throughout this year and well into the future, we must have leaders who are healthy and actively developing their own leadership skills. Developing personal leadership is a key responsibility of each school leader. The mantra from the Global Leadership Summit “Everyone wins when a leader gets better” is true! 

Build Your Houses

If you’re like me, you’ve spent a lot of time over the last three months reading articles online, searching for some message that will put into words the anxiety and unsettledness you may have been feeling—something to help make sense of the swirling uncertainty that has overtaken our world during this pandemic. There’s no shortage of content to consume, but not all of it is edifying or helpful. However, one resource in particular that has resonated strongly for me, and for all of us at Edvance, are the thoughtful posts shared by Christian psychiatrist Curt Thompson on his blog.

Lamenting vs Complaining

Christian psychiatrist Curt Thompson recently spoke to Edvance school leaders and educators in a special virtual session. As a follow up, we asked Curt if he would expand on the difference between lamenting and complaining. Can we turn a complaint into a lament? Curt graciously provided the following reply:

Ending Well

“This uncertain future, this madness of time, does not suit my penchant for predicting and regulating all the variables in the world that make me anxious. I believe that the way to contain my anxiety—that has led to my exhaustion, that has led to my irritability, that is wrapped in my grief for all that COVID-19 has robbed me of in the last eight weeks and intends to for who knows how much longer—is to reestablish my capacity to predict my future. To once again be master of my universe. To be like I was before coronavirus.”
Curt Thompson, “It’s Only a Matter of Time”, May 5, 2020

What To Do About Tuition?

COVID-19 has completely disrupted our school year. What seemed worlds away only a few months ago has now landed in our laps and affected our lives tremendously. Little did we know back in September 2019 that we would be talking to our families about maintaining tuition payments, or even considering refunds or credits. 

Hands of Authority and Grace

The image of hands has been resonating with me this week. In a time of physical distancing, holding hands or reaching out and touching someone seems to be a taboo activity.

However, there is such comfort and meaning in hands held together:

A person rubs their hands together for warmth, clenches them together in times of worry, pain or fear and intertwines their fingers in prayer.

A New Perspective: How To Refocus

First, I want to recognize that lots/most of us are being pushed and stretched in different ways.  Business owners/leaders are concerned about their businesses and employees, employees are concerned about their companies and paying their bills.  And people are concerned about their health and the health of those they love (especially the vulnerable).  I understand that, and really do empathize. 

Do Not Fear, God is With You

It was just over a week ago when the news broke that Ontario’s publicly-funded schools would be closed, and Edvance recommended the same for our affiliate schools. That began a flurry—or more accurately, a blizzard—of activity. Suddenly, there was a whole list of new questions to be considered regarding school operations. People rose to the challenge with advice and assistance. It poured in from everywhere. Many new meetings were held virtually, while less-urgent meetings were postponed or cancelled. In some cases, solutions were found where previously there were voids. Education now looks radically different than it did just a fleeting ten days ago. And now that March Break is over, we are getting ready for what this week and beyond will bring.

Called, Connected, Committed:

Imagine spending a week visiting Christian schools across the UK countryside.

Imagine hearing lead Anglican theologians discuss fresh articulations of the scriptural foundations for leadership in education.

Imagine engaging with 35 Christian education leaders from Australia, America, Canada, and England for seven full consecutive days.

Imagine the ever-changing settings for lectures, conversations, discussions, debates, presentations, introductions, questions, hugs, and laughter:

Responsive Classroom Making an Impact

Elora Road Christian School began implementing Responsive Classroom practices into our school this past September. Already, we have been amazed by the changes that we are seeing in our staff and students. Our teachers have enjoyed the chance to get to know their students better during the daily "Morning Meeting" time, and the students have responded very well to a less academic and more socially interactive start to their day. As a school, we have also incorporated a Morning Meeting time into our weekly Friday assembly time, with a message, greeting, sharing time, and sometimes an activity. This has allowed for increased interaction and relationship building between students across grades. Parents who attend these assemblies are getting a glimpse into how their children typically begin their school day.

Edvance Announces Leader in Residence and next Director of School Services

We are excited to announce the appointment of a Leader in Residence and our next Director of School Services to join our growing organization effective August 1, 2020.

Edvance’s mission is to further the cause of Christian education by promoting excellence in Christian schools. Time and again, we know that flourishing schools are exemplified by effective leaders of courage, competence, and character. To that end, we are structuring our team for 2020 and beyond to provide the best support for school leaders in their work.

High School Cohort Spiritual Retreat

In January, members of the High School Cohort gathered at the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga for a two-day spiritual retreat.

Led by Spiritual Director Renee VanderWindt, we examined tools and practices for ourselves and for our staffs that would help us take care of the soul of our leadership. Renee created a safe place to grow, where each person could be vulnerable as we explored our spiritual journeys.  We enjoyed laughter, worship, collegiality, good food, stories, and the wonderful blessing of connecting with each other and with God.

For the 24 hours of the retreat, Renee took us on a pilgrimage over four sessions: 

Strength in Weakness

This verse in 2^nd Corinthians is the basis for the theme “Strength in Christ”, which our student leaders here at Woodland Christian High School chose for the 2019-2020 school year. Their desire was that our school would be a place where weakness could be shared and strength could be found in Christ.

 The notion of being strong when we are weak certainly seems counter-intuitive when we think about leadership development and school effectiveness. From an early point in my service as a teacher, I was encouraged to identify my weaknesses and work hard on changing them into strengths. When I knew someone would be coming to visit my class, I would display my finest work and make sure any weaknesses were deeply hidden. All my early performance assessments as a principal were focused on how to address areas of weakness. 

Asking Questions

Leadership is a shifting thing. Just when you think you have something figured out and you are on top of your game, a curve ball comes your way and you have to navigate through new experiences. Even in this my 28^th year of being an elementary school principal, I am still dealing with challenges that I have not yet faced and having to solve problems that I had not anticipated. As a leader, this can be frustrating and overwhelming unless we approach things with a spirit of curiosity and a self-reflective attitude. There are times it may seem easier to blame others when things go awry: “If only those students would stop … if only teachers would begin to … if only board members would not be so …”

Toronto Cohort Meeting Report - January 2020

At our January meeting, Kayla Goodhoofd, school Social Worker at King’s Christian Collegiate in Oakville, joined us to speak about promoting mental health and well-being in Christian schools. We discussed our roles in supporting students and building staff capacity and self-care.

We were reminded to reflect Christ in our responses to students who are hurting, and remember our hope in Christ Jesus. We are enough in Christ. In our roles in supporting students we need to:

Embracing

Schools tend to run in cyclical cycles, perhaps more than other businesses or organizations. There is a definitive start time (usually right after Labour Day) and there is a definitive end time (usually late June). Between those times, life in schools is very busy with students, teachers, parents, administrators and board members running to catch up. One scheduled event leads to the next one and all of a sudden the year is over, with a brief summer break before it starts up again. There are lots of fantastic things about this definitive start and end cycle. However, there are also some inherent challenges associated with the rhythm and flow of schools. Here are four scenarios that perhaps you have found yourself in:

Be Strong and Courageous in God’s Love, Mercy and Faithfulness

It is December 31, 2019 and I find myself on a plane accompanied by my wife of just one week, flying home from Portugal. The plane is quiet as many passengers sleep, while others are occupied with various devices of one kind or another. We are somewhere over the Atlantic and the clear skies offer an unobstructed view of the expanse of the ocean. Each passing moment brings the coast of North America closer and with it, thoughts of the new year and the routines of normal life.

Using Data to Measure School Effectiveness

As an administrator, you’re committed to providing an exceptional learning environment, where students can thrive socially, emotionally, spiritually, and academically. But how do you know if students are learning? Is your school effectively supporting the growth of each student, regardless of ability? What are the specific learning gaps within a classroom and how do you identify them?

Some Give and Take

In my digital immigrant reality when it comes to podcasts, I’m like the apostle Paul—there are some good podcasts that I want to listen to, but I simply don’t. A few days ago, however, I was lucky enough to have the vehicle to myself for a few hours and remembered to cue up a podcast from EntreLeadership. Perhaps by divine intervention, I noted the title, “The Humility to Serve”.

Reflections on Advent

December is flying by and Advent is upon us. Many families mark the advent season with a chocolate calendar or special countdown.

This year at our house, we decided to do something different and have been working our way through The Wonder of the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp. Each day, my daughter Annabella eagerly awaits our evening reading time. She gets to open up a new square that contains a tiny ornament with a picture correlating to a Bible passage. These stories retell portions of God’s redemptive plan and point us to the coming King, which is the greatest gift of all.

Kindergarten food drive blesses local food pantry

The kindergarten students at Timothy Christian School completed a month-long food drive on Dec. 11, concluded with a delivery to a nearby church.

The third annual initiative combined math skills with discussions about Jesus and His example of loving and caring for others, said teacher Lorraine Groot. 

“Running a food drive puts all of this into practice,” she said. 

Communities Are Built

Do you have the impression that years ago, when our parents were raising us or our grandparents were raising them, it was easier to build community? In my mind, there was more time for church dinners or school education nights when I was a child than there is today. It seems like there was more room in the weekly schedule to be together in community, whether it be school, church, or neighbourhood—sometimes in organized ways and sometimes for the pure joy of having time together. I don’t know if it’s true, but it’s the impression I have.

High School Cohort Meeting Report - October 2019

Members of the High School Cohort met for a pre-Edvance Educators Annual Gathering meeting on October 23, 2019, at Hamilton District Christian High School. Attendees came from Windsor, Ottawa, Fort Erie, and from many points in between.

Our discussion topic was conflict. Sometimes we are the ones mediating conflicts. Sometimes we are part of the conflict, or even the cause. We are told that conflict is good for an organization and for us individually. We have probably all seen occasions where it might be good. But at the end of the day, conflict situations are hard to get excited about.

Finding Joy in Your Vocation

This is a tale of two waiters in two restaurants I visited on a recent golf trip—one somewhat up-scale, the second a hamburger joint. Both were busy as we entered with our group of 20. 

Tyler was the waiter in the first establishment. He was well dressed and greeted us professionally. But as the evening progressed, Tyler struggled to serve us. Orders were confused, meals were cold and service was slow—his demeanor was less than enthusiastic. It became apparent that Tyler was not fully engaged in his work. For Tyler, this was clearly just a job, perhaps a stepping stone to his next career move. 

The Importance of a Cohesive Team

I recently had the chance to hear Patrick Lencioni in person. Though not quite the same as going to a big-name concert, Patrick is certainly a rock star in the world of business leadership and organizational health. He has a self-professed heart for smaller businesses, schools, and churches, so his talk felt really relevant.

Patrick’s core point was that teamwork remains the ultimate competitive advantage for organizations. He suggested that a major factor that makes an organization healthy is a cohesive team. A team is a small group of people who are collectively responsible (via selfless, shared sacrifice) for achieving a common purpose for their organization.

Edvance Educators Annual Gathering 2019 - John's thoughts

For me, just the opportunity to worship and learn together with this many people involved in common vocation is invaluable. Everything, starting with inspiring worship led by Momentum Choir, to the fun and profound leading of Sara Pot and Justin Cook in devotions, to our keynote speaker Dr. Rob Loe, reminded us of the “imperative of love”, a beautiful description of the work that we do each and every day. 

I was struck by a number of things in this year’s gathering. The first was the frequent encouragement we received that our work in Christian education makes a difference. There is data that provides evidence that what we are doing in our schools is having a lasting impact on the students who graduate.

Edvance Educators Annual Gathering 2019 - Carolyn's thoughts

The Edvance Educators Annual Gathering began with communal worship led by the talented members of Momentum Choir. Music is not a large part of my life, yet I found myself taking a moment to catch my breath. Soon I was caught up in the worship and able to forget about my to-do list and focus on spending time with the Lord. What a privilege to be able to invest in my relationship with Him to start the conference! 

As we transitioned to our keynote speaker, my mind pondered the various relationships within my classroom. Dr. Rob Loe and Relational Schools’ research has affirmed that a student’s well-being is affected by classroom relationships. The feeling of being known by one’s peers creates a positive well-being within students. Relational Schools research finds that a positive teacher-student relationship enhances a student’s overall sense of well-being. The general well-being of our students and the sense of belonging that they may or may not feel at school, in turn, impacts their academic achievement.

What Does Love Require?

“Why did those gunmen want to shoot those people in New Zealand? I bet if they only knew some Muslim people, they wouldn’t want to hurt them. They could be friends instead.”    

This was a question asked of one of our grade four teachers one morning during the class’ morning meeting, shortly after the mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand. The question stayed with the teacher and brought her to my office door. In her follow up discussion with the class, it became apparent that not many of her students knew any Muslim kids. She had an idea. Could the grade 4 classes go and visit a Muslim school in a nearby city as an expression of friendship? There were some worries though. How would this idea be viewed by the Muslim school and by our own parents? Would there be fear and hesitation?

Sticking Up for Christian Schooling

Article is shared from Convivium; please visit the link below to read the full article

Convivium’s Peter Stockland checks out the innovative independent school in rural Eastern Ontario that was denied a chance to pay top dollar for an empty public school building.

The Christian independent school that ignited controversy in Eastern Ontario last month is so rural that its students raise goats on the grounds as a class project.

Fear Not

At a recent Edvance event, I had the opportunity to sit down with one of our Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and hear about his life journey and his calling to become an MPP. His story of finding ways, as a Christian, to engage and influence the current political scene in the province was fascinating.

Event Recap: 2019 Autumn Christian School Leadership Retreat

Last week over 100 school leaders gathered in Niagara-on-the-Lake for two days of collegiality and renewal at the 2019 Autumn Christian School Leadership Retreat. Participants were challenged and inspired to increase the competencies of their leadership team in the areas of business, legal, and finance/development.

Who Is On Your Team?

Do you ever feel like an imposter? 

I’m picturing you on the “stage” of your school, strolling through the halls with all things under control. I’m imagining you answering questions with confidence, but in your gut, you question your own words and advice. You may even wake up some days and ask yourself, “How did I get here?”

Be Strong and Courageous in God’s Love, Mercy and Faithfulness

After 39 years in Christian school employment, you’d think I would greet the start of another school year without concern or nervousness. Alas, not so much… Unfailingly on Labour Day Monday, I encounter the same emotions as in previous years. Along with the rush of anticipation for the start of a new school year comes a familiar blend of sorrow, excitement, anxiety, confidence, fear and hope:

The Importance of Connection

One of the great traditional practices in our Christian schools is the regular gathering of principals and leadership team members with others in their region through cohort meetings. These regional cohorts are an integral part of our leadership initiatives. Many of our school leaders make the effort to be active participants, recognizing the importance of connection to their leadership journey.

To Live is to Lead

Leaders give leadership, creating meaning and taking responsibility to create what should be out of what is. Meaning in our lives exists in the tension between the reality of what is and the reality of what could, should, or must be. Leaders do this with words, story, using their authority, making decisions, and modeling the way to go, centred around a purpose that creates identity in a group and/or school.

The reality of life has both known and unknown sides to it. The known is the realm of order, security, predictability and standards. The process of life, however, often takes us into the unknown realm that can present promise, revelation, creativity and innovation—in other words, renewal and growth. Both the known and the unknown have their scary parts. The known can become blind, tyrannical, and stagnant. The unknown has chaos, terror and destruction to contend with.

There is a Theme That Makes Your Heart Sing

There is a theme in your life that when you think about it you get lighthearted and you will have to be distracted to be brought back to reality. When you begin to talk about it, your eyes sparkle and you come to life. The search for that theme is an exploration of what you have done, and what people highlight when they tell you how you have affected them. Our personal theme is something we bring in our encounters with others—it guides us in how we execute our tasks and responsibilities. A theme contains philosophy, boundaries and mission. As a leader, I know that I cannot live up to it completely. It will curb my style, and if I fail, it is because I have failed my theme. As you think about leaders, notice how their personal theme is made visible in what they say and do. It is very difficult to be a leader and keep one’s personal theme hidden. It has to be allowed out of the cage; it is visible through words and actions. Authenticity and integrity are evidenced through theme.  

Courage - An Encouragement

An old cartoon has this dialogue

“Get up honey,”
“Don’t want to get up, want to stay in bed”
“But you have to get up, you have to go to school”
“Don’t want to…the kids hate me, the teachers hate me, everybody hates me”
“But you have to go, you’re the Principal”

The Soul of Your Leadership

How many balls do you juggle? While the answer to that question may vary from school to school, your list may resemble something like this: vision, strategic planning, human resources, operations, school culture, and relationships. For some of us, that may be just the beginning. The list may be longer.

So how are you doing in the middle of all the juggling? While you may wish to give a quick and rehearsed “doing well” response to that question, a deeper look may reveal that your soul is in need of some attention.

Prophets, Priests, and Kings

We expect our school leaders to occupy the offices of prophet, of priest, and of king. Each office comes with both promise and a dark side. At different times in a school’s history, one of these offices will be emphasized. However, on a given day, the leader can be called upon exercise her authority in all three of these offices.

How Welcoming Is Your School?

As our schools head deep into recruitment season, we may be well served to stand back and do a hospitality audit. You know the old adage of “You only get one time to make a first impression.” We can brush this off and give cursory lip service to it or deeply learn from the truth it may contain. So how welcoming are our schools?

Do those who check out our schools online find our websites easy to navigate? Is our information current and timely? Are the images engaging and draw viewers in?

A New Perspective: Controlling Your Emotions

I’ve said this before, but I think it bears repeating with the explosion of mental health issues we’re seeing at work. I’m not a psychologist, and I understand that there are issues that need deeper dives to work out with a counselor or therapist.

That said, here are the 3 basic levers you can use to control your emotions and attitude at home and at work:

New Trademark Law Coming into Effect in Canada

On June 17, 2019, new rules for registering trademarks will come into effect that make it more difficult – and more expensive – for schools to protect their brand.

A trademark can be a word, phrase or design and is an important part of the school’s brand. Registering it gives the school the exclusive right to use it to sell their services and keeps others from confusing customers by using something similar in their business. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office fact sheet (https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/vwapj/ip_academy-trademarks.pdf/$FILE/ip_academy-trademarks.pdf) gives a good summary of what a trademark is and why you should register it.

Clear, Cool Water

In The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, our white-hatted hero, guitar in hand, rolls comfortably in the saddle to the clop-clopping of his horse’s rhythmic gait. He croons a familiar song, and it echoes against the hills of the wasteland vista—“… with throats parched dry and souls that cry for water, clear, cool water.”

Earlier, I wrote about the idea of leading self as the first leadership challenge and suggested a helpful assessment (energy profile) for initiating a personal dashboard. The gauges of the dashboard are impacted by the rhythms we have in our lives, rhythms directed to the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of one’s life. Simply put, if I find myself low in one of those aspects, what daily, weekly, or even monthly rhythms can I practice to lead myself more effectively? Leading self is the first leadership responsibility.

Character of a Leader

Character is engraved in your being, or as David Brooks says in his book, The Social Animal, it is embedded down deep in your DNA and could date back several generations. Do you ever have it that you respond to something in an uncharacteristic manner and you say to yourself, “where did that come from”? Character is what guides your motivations and your conduct. It narrows your path as you grow stronger and helps you reveal the choices that you have made to those around you. Your character gets revealed as you interact with your circumstances.

Progress for Independent Schools in Ontario Budget

Child Care, Pensions, and a Task Force on School Boards Stand Out  

The Ontario government’s first budget, released April 11, 2019, demonstrates that the province is listening to parents and to a wide variety of education partners and stakeholders.

Budget themes included improving outcomes, efficiency, accountability, choice; and reducing regulatory burden. These showed in at least two ways that will directly impact the independent school sector. One involves child care provision and the other non-unionized multi-employer pension plans. 

Crafting Lenses

Last year, many leaders gathered around Trevor Throness to receive a helpful tool or “lens” to use for having purposeful conversations with staff members. We developed a matrix based on three mindset expectations (or values) of the school and three descriptions of productivity to guide focused coaching conversations with individual staff members. It is a tool for understanding who the “star” employees are (and aren’t). Not surprisingly, these conversations require honesty and courage. At King’s Christian Collegiate, we have found this tool useful and enlightening. Many staff have responded positively.

Special Education Funding Fairness in Ontario

This past Thursday, more than 50 Christian and independent school leaders gathered (in person or virtually) at Edvance to discuss the corrections needed to special education funding in this province. That same day, Cardus released the new report, Funding Fairness for Students in Ontario with Special Education Needs.

The Answer is in the Room

When I first took on the mantel of leadership over 30 years ago, I was advised by the outgoing principal that if I did nothing else for my self preservation as a leader, I should never, I repeat, never, miss a regional principals' meeting.

Who Matters Most?

While the research clearly points to the fact that teachers have the most significant impact on student achievement, school leaders can take solace in the fact that they come second in the ability to influence student learning. Kenneth Leithwood suggests that “to date, we have not found a single documented case of a school improving its student achievement record in the absence of talented leadership.” School leaders do make a difference.

Your Work Matters ... A Lot!

Recently I had a chance to meet with some Christian education leaders from Nicaragua, where the political situation has become very tense in recent months. One of these leaders described a situation where she had to approach a large man armed with an AK-47, who had entered her building and had some ‘questions’ for the leader. 

Leaders Need Competence

Leaders need competencies for their roles. These are acquired through education, training, and experience.

Most often, the first half of life is filled with acquiring the education needed (skills and tools), and the next half is spent in continuing education, and more importantly, in training, experience and developing one’s story.

Who are your truth-speakers?

I prefer praise and affirmation to correction and rebuke, but if I fail to acknowledge my need for the latter, I foolishly deny my participation in the human condition. It has been said that the higher one’s position, the less truth one hears.