Summit Schedule
(Content still being updated!)
Equipping teachers to boldly fulfill their God-given calling
Sessions
Plan your weekend using the summit schedule below. Click the session's title to view full description of content.
Live Sessions
Please join us LIVE for the following sessions at the times indicated:
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17
8:00pm ET 
RISE UP KICKOFF:
How to be Unoffendable in a Culture of Offense
With Brant Hansen, Linda Kardamis & David Schmus
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18
8:00pm ET
Cultivating Connection: Bridging the Gap Between Teacher and Student
With Leslie Rob
9:00 pm ET
Idea Swap Party 
With door prizes & advice from teachers around the globe!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19
11:00am ET
Helping Students Handle Big Emotions
With Elizabeth Styffe
1:00pm ET
Help, I’m Caught in a Culture War! Navigating Ideological Challenges with Truth & Love
With Christian Educators staff
2:30pm ET
Boost Learning and Discipleship with Cognitive Science Strategies
Wth Dave Stuart Jr.
4:00pm ET
The Case for Christ in Education: Planting Seeds in Students’ Lives
With Lee Strobel
The Discussion Room will be open for 30 minutes after EVERY LIVE session.
On-Demand Sessions
Watch these sessions on-demand throughout the weekend:
Reducing Stress & Overwhelm
Finding Balance: Intentional Strategies for Prioritizing What Matters Most
With Rhapsody Jordan-Parisi
Finding Wisdom and Rest in a Doomscrolling World
With Brett McCracken
Handling Difficulty with God’s Help: The Power of Biblical Lament
With Catherine Morrill
Soul Care Over Self Care
With Kasey Bell
Finding Courage to Teach for Another Day: Strengthening our Calling in the Classroom
Exhibition Session with Dordt University
Teaching Effectively
8 Review Games That Don't Waste Time
with Linda Kardamis
How to Turn Even Difficult Parents into Effective Partners
with Jill Miller
Motivating Every Student to Succeed in Math Class
with Juliana Tapper
Standing on the Front Lines: Legal Answers for Christian Educators in 2024
with David Schmus, Clint Elliott & Tyson Langhofer
Reaching Hearts
Helping Educators And Their Students Unlock Their God-Given Identity And Unique Purpose (Part 1)
With Jamie Winship
Helping Educators And Their Students Unlock Their God-Given Identity And Unique Purpose (Part 2)
With Dawn Rowe
Cultivating Integrity & Responsibility in the Classroom
Exhibition Session with TeachBeyond
Cultivating Transformative Discipleship in the Digital Age
Exhibition Session with RightNow Media
Upgrade to the
All-Access Pass
All sessions are free to watch the weekend of the summit (Oct 17-22).
But if you upgrade today to the all-access pass, you never lose access and can watch all 20+ sessions at your own pace - wherever & whenever you like.
Why Upgrade?
20+ In-Depth Sessions
Watch all sessions at your own pace & revisit favorites whenever you want.
Certificates of Attendance
Print certificates of attendance to submit for possible PD credit.
Free Resources
Download a plethora of free resources to help you implement what you’ve learned.
Rise Up 2024 is here to provide answers, hope & encouragement so you can shine the light of Christ in a confused and uncertain world - by God’s grace alone!
Sessions revolve around three main topics:
1
Teaching Effectively
Need some fresh inspiration for your classroom? Level up the good you are already doing and minimize distractions with these easy-to-implement ideas for content engagement, classroom management, and student motivation.
2
Reducing Stress & Overwhelm
Demands on you and your time have only increased. These sessions provide practical strategies & mindset shifts you can use no matter where you teach to restructure expectations and find strength to persevere in Christ alone.
3
Reaching Hearts
Darkness will not overwhelm teachers who rise up and shine brightly for Christ. Plug into that light source and learn how you can protect yourself as you do so in these sessions that will help you grow your impact on the kingdom.
You also won't want to miss this years' Exhibition Sessions, which will introduce you to some of our amazing partners and the fantastic resources they have to support you as an educator (many of which are free!).
LIVE Session Details:
Join LIVE as key note sessions are recorded with you in the online audience!
Details for this year's LIVE sessions are listed below:
Thursday
Thursday, October 17, 2024 at
8:00 PM EST
How to be Unoffendable in a Culture of Offense
with Brant Hansen
Join us for a provocative and fun session with nationally syndicated radio personality and author of the counterintuitive and entertaining bestselling book Unoffendable, Brant Hansen. Offering a life-changing approach to handling “righteous anger,” this session couldn’t be more relevant for anyone who works with colleagues, students, parents, or—frankly—any humans, period!
Friday
Friday, October 18, 2024 at
8:00 PM EST
Cultivating Connection: Bridging the Gap between Teacher and Student
with Leslie Rob
Connecting with students is the key to creating a fun and effective classroom. In this comedic, yet informative professional session, stand-up comedian and classroom teacher Leslie Rob provides teachers with unique and authentic takeaways to bridge the relationship gap for better classroom management & connecting with students.
Friday, October 18, 2024 at
9:00 PM EST
Idea Swap
with emcee Leslie Rob and teachers like you!
We all know that the best ideas come from fellow teachers, and hearing what's working for someone else can be invaluable! That's exactly what we'll do in this exciting Idea Swap Party. We'll share ideas, laugh together, enjoy fun giveaways, and more! It's sort of like a party in the teachers' lounge - but without the drama!
Saturday
Saturday, October 19, 2024 at
11:00 AM EST
Helping Students Handle Big Emotions
with Elizabeth Styffe
Many students who enter our classrooms are dealing with trauma and a variety of other difficulties. So how do we help them learn when their emotions feel so big? Join Elizabeth Styffe as she shares an overview and practical tips for classroom application of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)—an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. Elizabeth’s passion for equipping educators to help children handle big emotions stems from her real-world experience raising 7 children, including 3 adopted from Rwanda.
Saturday, October 19, 2024 at
1:00 PM EST
Help, I’m Caught in a Culture War! Navigating Ideological Challenges with Truth & Love
with Christian Educators staff
Are the advances of transgenderism, DEI, or other ideologies threatening to drive you out of your calling as an educator? What happens when these ideas seep into your curriculum or school policies? It may feel that the only solutions are to quit or just keep your head down while the cultural and legal battles play out. While easy answers can be elusive, come learn from a panel of expert Christian educators how you can respond with truth and love and keep your job, making a difference in your school.
Saturday, October 19, 2024 at
2:30 PM EST
Boost Learning and Discipleship with Cognitive Science Strategies
with Dave Stuart Jr.
Learning is hard for several reasons. Some of these have to do with the way our minds work; others have to do with common yet avoidable pitfalls that make learning harder than it needs to be. These difficulties play out in our classrooms, and they play out in our walks with Jesus, too. In this session, teacher-author Dave Stuart Jr. will answer questions about learning and explore strategies to help our students — and us! — to be successful with the help of cognitive science.
Saturday, October 19, 2024 at
4:00 PM EST
The Case for Christ in Education: Planting Seeds in Students’ Lives
with Lee Strobel
Lee Strobel’s dramatic journey from intellectual skeptic to apologist for Christ is detailed in many of his over 40 books and his award-winning motion picture, The Case for Christ. But did you know that God used two Christian educators to plant seeds in his heart that would later bloom into powerful faith? Join us for an inspiring interview in which Lee Strobel shares the powerful impact educators can have and the truth of the gospel. You’ll walk away with your faith strengthened & your heart encouraged to keep planting seeds in students’ lives.
On-Demand Sessions
Below is a sample of the On-Demand sessions that will be available from October 17-22nd. Additional sessions will be added as they become available.
Reducing stress & overwhelm:
CATEGORY: REDUCING STRESS & OVERWHELM
Finding Balance: Intentional Strategies for Prioritizing What Matters Most
with Rhapsody Jordan-Parisi
How do you go from hurried and exhausted to calm and content without being a bad teacher? How do you prioritize presence in a busy life? Rhapsody Jordan-Parisi from Tightrope Teaching shares encouragement and practical tips for deciding what matters most and letting the rest go.
CATEGORY: REDUCING STRESS & OVERWHELM
Finding Wisdom and Rest in a Doomscrolling World
with Brett McCracken
How often do we sit down for a moment to relax and then end up scrolling on our phones believing we will find rest and enjoyment? The truth is that more often we end up with increased anxiety, as well as a sense of emptiness stemming from time poorly spent. In this session, Brett McCracken (author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World) will describe the ill effects of “doomscrolling” for our overall spiritual/emotional health. He will share some tips for better habits to help us experience real rest and growth in wisdom—not foolishness—in a post-truth world.
CATEGORY: REDUCING STRESS & OVERWHELM
Handling Difficulty with God’s Help: The Power of Biblical Lament
with Catherine Morrill
Our lives are full of difficulty, and handling it can be so hard. Join us in this session to learn a practical and biblical strategy to process your disappointments, hurts, and grief anchored in the hope of Christ. This practical workshop will include helpful tools you could also share with colleagues and students.
CATEGORY: REDUCING STRESS & OVERWHELM
Soul Care Over Self Care
with Kasey Bell
Teaching is a hard job, and it is easy to burn out quickly. Modern culture has a lot to say about self care in response to stress, but our souls need something more. Listen to Kasey Bell's simple ways to orient your soul to God's ways and find true rest.
EXHIBITION SESSION: REDUCING STRESS & OVERWHELM
Finding Courage to Teach for Another Day: Strengthening our Calling in the Classroom
with Dordt University
Who am I? What am I to be on about? Will I be okay? Teaching sometimes raises these questions every day. This session will explore the concepts of identity, calling, and security as teachers who are disciples of Jesus Christ. You will have space to take a deep breath, reflect on your own and with your colleagues, and be encouraged to keep pressing on as you faithfully serve your students and the larger community.
Teaching Effectively:
CATEGORY: TEACHING EFFECTIVELY
8 Review Games That Don't Waste Time
with Linda Kardamis
Review games can be fun, but are they worth the time? Some games take too much time and energy to prepare with not much gain for our students. In this session, you'll discover ideas for review games that are enjoyable, effective and time-efficient!
CATEGORY: TEACHING EFFECTIVELY
Classroom Management Strategies that Work: An Intro to Whole Brain Teaching
with Chris Biffle
Every teacher faces challenges with classroom management and creating a classroom where every student thrives. Whole Brain Teaching has been helping teachers create classrooms where students feel connected and learn deeply for 25 years! Relying on research-based strategies to successfully engage all students, Chris Biffle shares how using Whole Brain Teaching can make your classroom the best place for every student to learn.
CATEGORY: TEACHING EFFECTIVELY
How to Turn Even Difficult Parents into Effective Partners
with Jill Miller
Dealing with parents as a teacher has driven some people out of the profession. But what if parents might be one of your greatest assets? Listen in as Jill Miller helps us to reframe the way we see our students' parents, and gives tips for working more intentionally with them.
CATEGORY: TEACHING EFFECTIVELY
Motivating Every Student to Succeed in Math Class
with Juliana Tapper
Many students have troubled pasts when it comes to math. But math CAN be for everyone, and it may not be as difficult as you think. Watch as Julianna Tapper shares ways to motivate and inspire any student in math class.
CATEGORY: TEACHING EFFECTIVELY
Standing on the Front Lines: Legal Answers for Christian Educators in 2024
with David Schmus, Clint Elliott & Tyson Langhofer of Alliance Defending Freedom
It can feel like a mine field trying to navigate current cultural and legal issues as a Christian serving in public schools. Are you unsure of how to navigate certain legal and cultural issues as a Christian serving in public schools? Would you know how to respond Biblically and legally to issues like gender, pronouns, race-oriented PD, and sex ed? Do you have questions about advising Christian clubs, what you can say about holidays, current events, or the Bible? The more we know, the more confidently we can demonstrate our faith legally in public schools. Come learn from two renowned legal experts who answer questions provided by actual educators.
CATEGORY: TEACHING EFFECTIVELY
Supporting Learners with Unique Needs: Strategies for ADHD, Dyslexia, and More
with Dennis Eastman
As a Christian Educator, how do you serve your students with unique needs? Do you panic when you see words like dyslexia, ADHD, or dysgraphia on your student's IEP? Dr. Dennis Eastman shares strategies he has been teaching around the globe to help educators serve these students with intentionality and heart.
Reaching hearts:
CATEGORY: REACHING HEARTS
Helping Educators And Their Students Unlock Their God-Given Identity And Unique Purpose
(Part 1)
with Jamie Winship
In part 1 of our 2-part series on identity, Jamie Winship of Identity Exchange will walk us through learning our unique God-given identities while developing our ability to hear God’s voice. You will be blown away by Jamie’s life and death stories of radical dependence on the Holy Spirit while serving as a police officer, and then as an intelligence agent/missionary in the Middle East. Surprisingly, what he learned has direct application to our classrooms. When we understand our unique identity and purpose and learn to discern God’s leading, there is no limit to what He can do through us in our schools, families, communities, and beyond.
CATEGORY: REACHING HEARTS
Helping Educators And Their Students Unlock Their God-Given Identity And Unique Purpose
(part 2)
with Dawn Rowe
In part 2 of our 2-part series on identity, we will apply the powerful tools we learned in part 1 directly to our work with students. Throughout the pages of Scripture, David’s God-given identity becomes clear: shepherd, poet, warrior, king. God used him powerfully when he walked out these identities in faith, but when David strayed from them, so did his impact. What if you could help your students unlock their God-given identities, and strengthen their motivation by unlocking their purpose? Author and educator Dawn Rowe will walk us through the process of helping our students discover their God-given identities, which is possible even in public schools.
CATEGORY: REACHING HEARTS
How Your Job Matters for Eternity (Even When You're Not Sharing the Gospel)
with Jordan Raynor
Sometimes we feel like our work doesn't matter--we might not be getting paid much, we don't have many opportunities to share the Gospel, so what is the point? You might be surprised to hear that God's design for work is bigger than the Great Commission, and deeper than economics. Jordan Raynor joins us to share about the eternal significance of our work and how it might just change the way we walk into our classrooms each day.
CATEGORY: REACHING HEARTS
Replacing Lies with Truth: Living as Christian Teachers in a Confused Culture
with Alisa Childers
We live in a culture that is eager to deconstruct Christianity, replace truth with lies that sound good, and lead us away from the solid rock of God's truth. As teachers, we see the impact of these lies. Alisa Childers joins us to share tips for navigating the cultural movements of our day, even in our classrooms.
CATEGORY: REACHING HEARTS
Transforming Classroom Learning and Relationships Using the Five Love Languages
with Michelle Keso
Learn how to meet students’ deep need for emotional security, acceptance, and love through the intentional application of the Five Love Languages. Understand every child’s special way of perceiving love, and how filling a child’s tank with the right fuel makes a student more likely to respond positively to training and discipline. Take action to practically implement love languages into your practice so your students can operate at their fullest potential!
EXHIBITION SESSION: REACHING HEARTS
Cultivating Integrity & Responsibility in the Classroom
with TeachBeyond
What does it look like to cultivate a classroom environment that fosters integrity and responsibility? This session combines relatable stories with practical tips to approach this topic intentionally. Join TeachBeyond podcast co-hosts, Heather Brown and Keane Fine, in a conversation with Rosemary Openda, seasoned educator and current teacher at Bucharest Christian Academy in Romania.
EXHIBITION SESSION: REACHING HEARTS
Cultivating Transformative Discipleship in the Digital Age
with RightNow Media
Navigating the digital world can be a challenge, but you don't have to figure everything out on your own. Join RightNow Media to learn how to revolutionize your discipleship efforts in the digital age. Explore the digital age’s impact on discipleship and learn how our extensive library of quality video resources and on-demand professional development courses can inspire and engage your school community.
FAQ
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Mark your calendar to join us for special LIVE sessions Thursday & Friday evening AND throughout the day Saturday.
There will also be amazing on-demand sessions that will release on Thursday, October 17 and will be available to watch throughout the weekend.
Everything is FREE throughout the weekend, but if you'd like to keep access and watch on your own schedule afterwards, consider upgrading to the all-access pass.
We'll email you throughout the weekend at the email address you used to sign up so keep an eye on your inbox.
No! Everything is online. All you need is internet access. We’ll send you the links as the event gets closer or you can check back here on the sessions page for links.
Certificates of attendance will be available for all-access pass holders. You can upgrade to the all-access pass here.
If you teach in an ACSI or AACS school, you'll be happy to know that we are an approved PD provider for both organizations. This means you should have no trouble receiving PD credit for this summit.
Head to Teach 4 the Heart's online learning platform to access your online videos and bonus resources:
https://learn.teach4theheart.com/login. If you need any help please email our customer service at hello@teach4theheart.com
Email us at hello@teach4theheart.com, and we'll be happy to assist you.
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