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In the Loop
In the Loop is a lineup of monthly gatherings and conversations for school leaders. Led by experts, this virtual format allows leaders in similar roles from our community of CSI schools to gather, grow, learn, and share.
A Conversation with David Smith About Everyday Christian Teaching
Thursday, December 18 at 12:30 p.m. EST
Listen in on the conversation with David Smith, who will talk about his recent book and share resources for Christian educators about how faith shapes teaching. Discover how ordinary moments in the school year can become occasions for making profound connections between faith and pedagogy. As educators, we want to think well about Christian faith and teaching and act well in the classroom, so we need to learn to reflect well on those ordinary steps in the journey.
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David I. Smith is director of the Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, coordinator of the de Vries Institute for Global Faculty Development, and professor of Education at Calvin University. He writes and speaks widely on Christian education.
Effective Christian School Governance – Alignment Is Key
Thursday, January 15 at 12:30 p.m. EST
This webinar will explore a 21st century best practice approach to Christian School governance. “Policy only” approaches to governance made popular in the 20th century produced only limited benefits and often left boards and executives frustrated. Today, proper alignment between the board and the head of school always precedes policy work and gives that policy appropriate context. You will learn about the Aligned Influence framework and the “road map” for achieving alignment and effectiveness.
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Ken Schuetz is the CEO and founder of Aligned Influence Consulting which is headquartered in Longmont, Colorado. Ken is also an adjunct at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder where he teaches business philosophy and corporate governance. Ken is a life-long Christian, serving as teacher and elder at each church he has attended. Ken’s latest book, Aligned Influence: Beyond Governance, was released in March 2021 and reflects the theoretical foundation of the Aligned Influence model.
Round Table – Tenacious Leadership in Christian Schools
Thursday, February 19 at 12:30 p.m. EST
Tenacity, boldness, and flexibility have become key characteristics of school leaders. Engage in a round table discussion about key issues facing Christian schools. Jennifer Thompson, CEO, and Jim Peterson, director of operations and membership, will be joined by the Christian educator presenters below. Be ready for a lively discussion!
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Erik Ellefsen is a CACE senior fellow and the director of networks and improvement at the Baylor University’s Center for School Leadership. He also serves as senior fellow for Cardus, hosts Digical Education (a podcast providing engaging conversations with some of the most innovative education leaders), and is a leading collaborator and author of the Mindshift and Future Ready projects.
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Terry Kok serves as the advisory and member services consultant for Christian Schools International. In this role, he advises CSI member schools across all administrative and educational operations, providing tailored consulting and mentorship to school leaders. With more than three decades of experience in Christian education—including two as superintendent at Calvin Christian School in Escondido, California—Terry has contributed significantly to CSI governance, serving two terms on its Board of Trustees and currently serves on its Pension Board as chair.
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Dr. Tim Van Soelen serves as the executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Christian Education (CACE). Tim is also a professor of education at Dordt University, teaching courses in Educational Leadership, Philosophy of Education, and Research Methods to graduate and undergraduate education majors. Prior to teaching at Dordt, he served as the principal/CEO of Calvin Christian School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as an assistant principal for Redlands Christian School in Redlands, California, and a middle school math and computer teacher in Redlands.
Ideas to Increase Your School’s Safety, Security, and Preparedness
Thursday, March 19 at 12:30 p.m. EDT
School safety is now as much a part of our jobs as curriculum, schedules, recess duty, or conferences. It is also a major question that families are asking about as they consider our schools. But where to begin? Or what else can you add? This session will cover some basic and also more complex aspects of school safety and security that you can consider adding to help improve your campus and school community.
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Ross Van Der Bill taught middle school social studies for thirteen years at Timothy Christian School in Elmhurst, IL before becoming their director of campus life. This position includes being responsible for all aspects of campus safety, security, and emergency response as well as guest reader, field trip bus driver, recess football referee, emergency art class sub, and whatever else happens to come his way! His experience as a classroom teacher coupled with being an Army combat veteran of the Iraq War has created a unique skill set for his present role at Timothy Christian School. He enjoys sharing his insights and experiences and bringing more clarity and direction to school security at his school and hopefully yours, too.
Coaching That Lasts: From Surveillance to Sustainable Growth
Thursday, April 16 at 12:30 p.m. EDT
Coaching is most powerful when it empowers rather than exhausts. This training equips department chairs, instructional coaches, and school leaders with practical, sustainable approaches that maximize time, reduce costs, and build trust—moving beyond the deficit mindset and the unhelpful “spy” stigma. Together, we’ll embrace the truth that “what got you here may not get you there” and uncover the hidden “zombies” of outdated habits that drain energy and hold schools back, replacing them with strategies that create lasting momentum for growth and breathe life back into our schools.
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John Belgeri, a senior executive learning and development consultant at TeamOptix, is dedicated to helping organisations cultivate a culture of learning and coaching. With over 15 years of experience leading internal coaching programmes in the US and Asia, John is an exceptional coach who specialises in delivering coaching and coaching supervision for multinational projects. His passion lies in fostering a safe environment where teams and individuals can reach their goals through data-driven and innovative coaching approaches for individuals and teams. At TeamOptix, John plays a pivotal role in custom-building an AI- driven platform that delivers team and individual insights, paired with a comprehensive training programme that transforms managers into effective coaches.
Stay tuned for more sessions coming soon!
March 20: Guiding Schools to Flourish: Board Governance and School Leadership
April 17: Setting (and Actually Accomplishing!) Your Strategic Enrollment Goals