LIVE session
replay
Empowering educators to joyfully fulfill their God-given calling
Using Questions to Reach the Next Generation
with Valerie O'Brien of Aspen Ministries
Do you ever struggle to connect with this generation of students? If you feel more distant from them, you are not alone: the current generational gaps have grown wider than ever before. What strategies and insights can we use to reach students who are culturally so different from us? Val O'Brien shares how to engage the hearts of our Gen Z and Gen Alpha students with good questions and teaches us how to make our classrooms safe places for our students to ask their own deep questions.
The session was recorded live at 1:00pm EST on Saturday, October 18. Please click the button below to jump in the WebinarJam room and watch the replay:
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About Valerie O'Brien
Val is a native of Cleveland, OH and is passionate about seeing the next generation come to know and love Jesus. She has served in student ministry through the local church for over 15 years, and has counted it a true privilege to serve students, walk with families, and lead a team in that context. She holds a BA in Bible and Student Ministry from Moody Bible Institute, as well as an MA in Organizational Leadership from Regent University.
In 2020 Val transitioned to a parachurch organization where she trained and coached youth workers–both vocational and volunteer–in building disciple-making student ministries patterned after the ministry of Jesus. This role allowed her the privilege to hear the hearts and concerns of youth workers all over the US and all over the world. While her work in the local church was deep, her work coaching leaders was wide–giving her insight and passion which lead to the launch of Aspen Ministry in 2024.
When not in the office, Val can be found biking, running, hiking, and talking late into the evening with friends on her front porch. Always in search of fun with a touch of chaos, she also loves turning the first floor of her house into a ball pit for her 5 nephews.
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We want to thank our sponsor....
Gracelyn University
Gracelyn University is an accredited online university that equips aspiring educators to answer God’s call, without stepping away from their classroom or community. We offer affordable, fully online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs designed for working adults in public, private, and faith-based schools.
Whether it’s a paraprofessional in a public district, a teaching assistant at a Christian school, or a second-career educator in training, Gracelyn helps people earn their degree and certification while continuing to serve. Every course is taught from a biblical worldview, integrating academic rigor with spiritual purpose.
If someone you know has a heart for students and the potential to be a great teacher, we’d love to support them.
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This free resource provides a side-by-side comparison of four online master’s programs, including Gracelyn University, WGU, SNHU, and Liberty. You will see how each program handles tuition, course pacing, mentorship, certification, and more.
The guide is designed to help you choose a program that fits your goals and equips you to create meaningful change in your classroom, school, or district.
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