When a school board chairman fulfills his responsibilities well, it fosters a unified, effective board that supports the school’s mission and community. Tony provides four areas for chairmen to focus on: Carrying the vision. Chairmen should understand the school’s history and mission and should be a

It may surprise you to learn that 44% of K-12 teachers report frequent burnout. Along with burnout, teachers may struggle with: declining classroom morale, lack of respect from students, personal/emotional distress (often exacerbated by heavy workloads, unrealistic expectations, or lack of support).

A treasurer is primarily responsible for managing the school’s finances. Speaking from years of experience as a treasurer, Steve covers the specifics of what this role involves, including the following: Budgeting. A budget is critical, must be approved by the school’s stakeholders, and drives all fi

Teamwork is the ultimate competitive advantage for organizations, particularly schools. Ryan draws from examples such as the 1936 University of Washington rowing team, Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team , and Jesus’ leadership of His disciples to illustrate the value of teamwork. When bu

Jacob Peters draws parallels between the Spartan commitment to military excellence and the Christian call to form disciples for Jesus Christ. He traces God's mission through biblical history, emphasizing the role of Christian educators in shaping students for kingdom impact. Some key points are:

In this talk given at Faith Builders Teachers Week 2010, Luke Bennetch shares a variety of ways to grow as a teacher, including collecting books, staying organized, continued study, saving, memorizing, writing, timing procedural changes, avoiding reactions, staying on the student's level, getting pr

In this talk given at Faith Builders Teacher's Week 2010, Pete Peters communicates the spirit and shares the knowledge that forms the foundation of real teaching--unselfish love for students, willingness to grow, and clear purpose.

In this talk given at Faith Builders Teacher's Week 2010, Pete Peters speaks about the importance of respecting the 'hard sciences' as reflecting God's truthfulness and consistency. There is perhaps less in a proper teaching of these subjects that is particular to Anabaptism, but they can certainly

In this talk given at Faith Builders Teacher's Week 2010, Glendon Strickler begins by sharing his burden for the importance of retaining a distinctive Anabaptist Christianity in opposition to continual secular pressures of doubt and corruption. Strickler reminds teachers to create an environment whe

As a member of the school board, you are responsible for overseeing many aspects of the school: finding staff, facilitating communication among school staff, parents, and church, providing finances, and giving oversight. What is the most efficient use of your time? Jonas encourages boards to organiz

Members of the board of Oceola Christian School discuss the value of educators' conferfences such as CASBI: to ask their questions of others who labor in the field. Courtesy CASBI.

Children scarred by trauma require extra time and energy. How should schools respond to these students? Can we be flexible enough in our methods and expectations to accommodate them? How can school boards help bear the load to keep teachers from burning out? Courtesy CASBI.

In this talk given at Faith Builders Teacher's Week 2010, Howard Bean shares his own stories and ideas and also taps his audience for ideas on getting parents involved in children's education. Many of the ways to do this involve extracurricular, less academic projects such as shop class and other pr

In this talk given at Faith Builders Teacher's Week 2010, John Troyer talks about how to be efficient and effective in everyday classroom matters like grading, Bible memory, class planning, and homework management.

In this talk given at Faith Builders Teacher's Week 2010, Luke Bennetch shares stories and gives insights on relating with care and understanding to boys who are being boys. Having a vision of what boys can become helps inspire a deeper appreciation for them and a wiser approach to their training.

In this talk given at Faith Builders Teacher's Week 2010, Howard Lichty talks about the advantages and disadvantages of being a male in the classroom. Along with the need for humility and authority, Howard spends significant time discussing the importance of male teachers comporting themselves with

In this talk given at Faith Builders Teacher's Week 2010, Jason Croutch discusses ways principals can do well at supporting teachers, such as helping with teacher-parent relationships, supporting new teachers, joining in with student life, and being a servant in small ways.

In this session at Faith Builders Teacher's Week 2010, Jason Croutch discusses reasons and ways to stay in touch with students' parents, sharing numerous stories and addressing some audience questions. Healthy communication fosters parent support for the learning project and helps avoid problems.

In this talk given at Faith Builders Teachers Week 2010, Glendon Strickler shares many specific and creative tips for effective discipline. He discusses the purpose of discipline, examples of matching the seriousness of a punishment to the need, when to escalate, and a few things to always avoid.

In this talk given at Faith Builders Teacher's Week 2010, Pete Peters shares stories from his thirty years of teaching relating his burden for students to grow up as true disciples of Christ. The ways we think of competition vs teamwork can support the Anabaptist focus on brotherhood. The importance