Join us at 5pm for one of these helpful workshops as we seek to serve you in your calling to the schools!
All workshops will be held at Cornerstone Church at 5pm. We look forward to connecting with you soon!
Navigating the Minefields for Christian Educators in our Public Schools
David Schmus, Executive Director, Christian Educators Association International
Unbiblical worldviews, including ideas about sexuality and gender, are increasingly required to be taught as truth in our public schools. What are the options for Christian educators?
David Schmus is the Executive Director of Christian Educators Association International, which seeks to encourage, equip, and empower Christian educators in public, charter, and private schools. Prior to his tenure at CEAI, he was a high school AP US History/Government teacher and a Christian Club adviser for 15 years, being repeatedly honored as Most Inspirational Teacher. He holds an M.A. in Biblical Studies and Theology from Biola University, and has taught Biblical Worldview and Introduction to Teaching classes at Biola as an adjunct professor. David has provided leadership for gatherings and weekend conferences around the nation during which thousands of Christian Educators have been equipped and inspired to walk out their faith legally in our public schools. David and his wife Elizabeth have been married for over 27 years, have 3 daughters, and are based in Orange County, California.
Permission to Care: How the burgeoning fields of Neuroscience and Social and Emotional Learning create space to engage students as if their soul matters
Jennifer Jagerson Ph.D., Professor, School of Education, Vanguard University
Jennifer Jagerson was a teacher in the upper elementary grades for Redlands and Hesperia Unified School Districts. Her path to teaching began while working an urban ministry when she realized that working with children in the classroom was one of the most powerful ways to have an impact on the next generation. She served in full time ministry with Hollywood Urban Project in Los Angeles and as a church planting missionary in New Delhi, India with Christar. In the midst of these opportunities, the Lord lead her to complete an MA in Education at Azusa Pacific University, an MA in Biblical and Theological Studies and a Ph.D. in Christian Education at Talbot School of Theology (at Biola). She is currently prepares new teachers for their credential in the Department of Education at Vanguard University.
Two Frameworks for Integrating Faith and Teaching: John the Baptist Model and The Story Model
Lorelei Coddington, Ph.D., Professor, School of Education, Biola University
Nicholas Block Ph.D., Professor, School of Education, Biola University
Are you looking for ways to integrate faith and teaching? We will explore integration using two biblical integration models, John the Baptist Model and The Story Model, as frameworks appropriate for public school teachers to use in preparing students’ minds and hearts for Christ. Practical ideas for applying these faith integration models within and across the curriculum will be provided.
Lorelei Coddington has been an associate professor in the School of Education at Biola University since 2018. She instructs courses at the graduate and undergraduate level in both teacher preparation and in the master’s degree program. Prior to Biola, Lorelei taught and mentored teachers in preparation at Whittier College and Claremont Graduate University. Her research in teaching and learning has been drawn from three multi-year K-12 research grants in math, science, and history. Lorelei began her career in the elementary classroom, including service as a teacher on special assignment.
Nicholas Block has been a professor at the School of Education at Biola University since 2014. Previous to that, he worked for almost 30 years as a teacher, beginning in Bogotá, Colombia as a science teacher, then in the Bay Area and in Los Angeles (Montebello Unified), mainly as a teacher in the upper elementary grades. At Biola, he teaches philosophy of education and research methods courses. From the beginning of his career, the classroom was a place where faith and life must somehow intersect, and he is passionate about supporting teachers who share the same vision.
Leading like Christ
Dennis Cole, Director of STEM and Humanities, Orange County Department of Education
It is a lifelong journey to learn how to lead others like Christ leads his disciples. Leading Like Christ, focuses on scriptural examples of His interactions with others to exalt the Father through humility, authority, obedience, and servant leadership. We will make a plan to put these inspiring scriptures into use in our everyday lives to grow in Leading Like Christ.
Dennis has been a teacher, principal, and education director for 24 years. He became a follower of Jesus Christ a few month before graduating from Garden Grove High School. He and his wife Christine married in 1994 and they have adopted 5 kids – Mario, Melissa, Pete, Phineas, and Phoebe and have been foster parents for 11 kids. Dennis serves as an elder and leads the deacons in serving at his church, plays guitar and sings on the church worship team, and he and Christine host a dinner and Bible Study for 20-30 college students in their home every Friday night. Their deepest desire is to bring God glory in their home and community.
Southern California Christian Educators 