UPGRADE

October 22, 2022 at 2:30 PM EST
Classroom management that fosters respect

with Linda Kardamis of Teach 4 the Heart

Have you found your classroom derailed by misbehavior, chaos, and disrespect? It's time to create a classroom management plan that actually works! Join us to discover how to create a plan that fosters respect, helps students focus, and results in a smooth-running classroom.

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR MISSION
Serving Jesus in Your Classroom Mission Field

with David Platt of Radical

In all the busyness of teaching, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that God has placed us right where we are for a reason. Join us as David Platt, author of Radical, inspires us to teach on mission - reaching those people whom God has placed in our path, and clinging to the hope that is to be found only in Christ.

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR MISSION
Insights for Educators on Race, Identity, the Gospel & Hope

with Jasmine Holmes

As Christian teachers, we stand emphatically against racism. But trying to understand complex racial issues can still be confusing. In this session, Jasmine Holmes, teacher and author of Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity & Hope, provides valuable insights, helping us view race and identity through the lens of the Gospel and exploring how we can exhibit care, grace, and love in our classrooms and conversations.

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR MINDSET

Responding to Controversial Issues with Compassion, Conviction, & Hope

with Dr. Sean McDowell

So much of our cultural discourse has devolved into shouting past each other. How can we engage with students, parents, and colleagues on important controversial issues in ways that both speak the truth and demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus? Join author and Christian apologist Sean McDowell as he equips & inspires us to be a light in our schools through conversations we may have previously thought impossible.

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR MINDSET
Walking in Hope When Life is Hard

with Vicki Davis of The Cool Cat Teacher

Whether they happen in or out of the classroom, trials are never easy - but, oh, how God can work in through them! In this hopeful session, Vicki Davis shares how God showed up and showed Himself strong as she dealt with a debilitating broken foot. Discover how you, too, can walk in hope every day of your life and rest in God's goodness, even in the midst of trials.

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR MINDSET
Overcoming self-censorship amidst a cancel culture

with Clint Elliot of A Cornerstone Law Group

In our current cancel-culture environment, many Christian educators end up self-censoring their own speech and actions. But when we fail to speak truth, our students’ learning is diminished, and we start to feel disillusioned and dispirited. In this session, we’ll examine recent research about why this is happening and discuss an empowered path forward to overcome self-censorship through faithful living.

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR METHODS
Critical Thinking Skills to Help Students Navigate Our Confused Culture

with Dr. Bunnie Claxton of Liberty University

From social media to school hallways, students are bombarded with ideas and arguments that they rarely stop to analyze because the information is disguised or misleading. As a result, students believe false ideas which may hurt themselves and others. In this session, Dr. Claxton will teach a framework to help students think critically and discern truth for themselves in both public and private schools.

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR MISSION
Building Positive Relationships with Students, Colleagues & Parents

with Sarah Trussell of TeachBeyond

Having good relationships is vital if we hope to make a difference in our students' lives, but that doesn't mean it's easy. In this session, Sarah Trussell from TeachBeyond will provide guidance on how to develop positive relationships not only with students but also with colleagues and parents.

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR MISSION

Gender Identity, Anxiety, and Depression: Reshaping Identity Issues with the Gospel

with Jonathan Holmes of Fieldstone Counseling

At the core of many of the issues facing both teens and adults is a question of identity. From confusion about gender or sexual identity to struggles with anxiety, depression, and self-worth, how we view ourselves is at the core. Join us to discover the differences between a traditional view of identity and a modern one, and how a Gospel identity transcends and transforms both views, enabling us to overcome with our identity fixed in Christ.

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR MISSION

Building Belonging: Strategies for Engaging Students of All Abilities

with Tyler Harms

Too many students are simply not engaged at school, but with some intentional planning, you can change that in your classroom. Discover practical strategies to keep your students engaged and create a classroom community where students feel they belong.

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR MINDSET

Prioritizing Your Time when There's Not Enough to Go Around

with Dr. Sandra Battige

Do you ever feel like you're living at warp speed twenty-four/seven? In this session, you'll learn how to prioritize your time and integrate spiritual disciplines throughout your day so you can walk in peace and experience true rest, despite the busyness.

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR METHODS

Marketing & Enrollment Strategies for Private Schools

with Sadie Elliot and Darrell Jones

"How can we increase enrollment?" If this question has been on your mind, this session with the Herzog Foundation will provide clarity, ideas, and next steps to improve your school's marketing, increase quality prospects, and, Lord willing, see your enrollment increase.

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR MINDSET

The Forgotten Power of Intercessory Prayer

with Tyler Staton of Bridgetown Church

Prayer is the subject of Jesus’ most audacious promises this side of grace, but prayer is also the subject of doubt and disappointment for so many believers. What if something as simple as prayer, properly understood and practiced, can not only become the source of intimacy in our personal lives but also create renewal and revival in our schools?

CATEGORY: HOPE IN OUR METHODS

Saving Time with Grading, Lesson Planning, & Paperwork

with Linda Kardamis, Alexx Seipp, Jen Frey, and Sarah Humes of Teach4theHeart

If grading, paperwork, and lesson planning are taking up way too much of your time, you won't want to miss this session. Join us as the Teach 4 the Heart team shares a variety of ideas to streamline and save time in these areas that need our attention but shouldn't be taking over our lives.

CATEGORY: EXHIBITION SESSION
Using Education to Reach the Unreached Around the World

with Tim Wong of International Schools Consortium

More and more of the world is closing its doors to Christians, and countries like China and the UAE are limiting the number of Christians able to work and serve in them. But in spite of these closed doors, teachers and educators can still get into these largely unreached areas. Come and learn how education continues to be the key that opens even the greatest barriers and helps fulfill God's call to bring the gospel to the lost around the world.

CATEGORY: EXHIBITION SESSION
5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Considering Teaching Abroad

with Heather Brown of TeachBeyond

Have you ever thought about teaching internationally? In this session, the Director of Mobilization at TeachBeyond will walk through self-coaching questions to help you discern if God is calling you to a new opportunity, perhaps teaching abroad. You’ll consider how God has been leading you up to this point and explore possible next steps to pursue serving with TeachBeyond.

CATEGORY: EXHIBITION SESSION
Using Your Unique Strengths to Create Moments of Meaningful Connection

with Joe Elliot of The Catalyst Collective

With limited time in the classroom and lots of material to cover, it can be challenging to make the connections you desire to have with your students. In this session, you will learn how you can create intentional moments that drive a deeper connection with and among your students. Author, speaker and founder of the Catalyst Collective, Joe Elliott, will walk you through the 5 strategies that helped his team discover and leverage their strengths in order to spark a fresh movement of teen mentoring in Austin, Texas. Get ready to be inspired by real stories of impact that remind you why you chose to become a teacher in the first place!