Description: The purpose of academic leadership is to clarify, implement, prioritize, and protect the school’s model of education. For classical schools, in particular, this model is the most important distinctive of the school, which means that being attentive to it is crucial to the very mission of the school. The person most responsible for academic leadership, therefore, plays a necessary role that cannot be overlooked in any school that desires to be healthy. However, academic leadership can be difficult to implement, given that many schools do not have an official position named “Academic Dean” or “Director of Instruction.”  And even when a school does have such a position, the tendency in administrative work is to let priorities be dictated by the most pressing problems and not by a sustained vision for academic health.  The good news is that there is a process by which academic leadership can function productively, being a source of strength to the admin team and a source of encouragement to the faculty and families. This cohort will walk you through that process and support you in fulfilling the purpose of academic

leadership at your school.

Bio:  

Andrew Smith serves as Academic Dean at Veritas School, in Richmond, VA. Before joining the senior administrative team at Veritas, in 2017, Andrew was Director of Upper School at The Geneva School, in Orlando, FL from 2014-2017 and before that was Head of Upper School at Westminster Academy, in Memphis, TN. Along with his 19 years of teaching and administrative work in three different classical schools, Andrew has provided training and consulting for numerous additional schools. He has been a national fellow of the Alcuin Fellowship since 2010 and currently serves as Director of the Mid-Atlantic chapter. He and his wife, Keri, have four children.

Syllabus:

Sessions 1-3 Anchor Documents for Creating and Maintaining Alignment

One: Portrait of a Graduate, Portrait of a Faculty Member, Portrait of a Student

Two: Professional Development and Curricular Alignment

Three: Faculty and Parent Alignment; Principles of Partnership

Sessions 4-5 Understanding the Model of Education and How to Implement It

Four: Common Vocabulary and Goals

Five: Curricular Practices

Session 6 Co-curriculars, Extra Curriculars, Electives, and Class Trips

Session 7 Academic Support, Sequencing, Tracking, and Giftedness

Session 8 Hard Decisions—Hiring/Firing, Admitting/Expelling

Session 9 Parent Education

Session 10 School Profile and Transcript 

Description: The Grammar School Heads cohort is designed to support, equip, and encourage classical and Christian Grammar School Heads and future Heads, through training, collaboration, and fellowship. This cohort will explore a key topic each month, with discussion of the reading material assigned.  It will include time for fellowship to encourage one another in our good and challenging work and access to Jessica Gombert as your mentor. 

 Bio: 

Jessica Gombert has been the Grammar School headmaster for 17 years at the Geneva School of Boerne. She holds a MA in Education and has been involved in many aspects of education for over 30 years. Teaching experiences include: special education, kindergarten, adult classes for Region 20 Alternative Certification program, and university student teacher supervision. She has a passion for teaching students to become lifelong learners, encouraging and leading teachers, and for Christian and classical education. Jessica has led the SCL Grammar School Heads cohort for two years and has presented at several conferences. She is currently writing children’s readers to supplement the phonics curriculum. She also has a love for serving and teaching children in Africa. She has taught and trained teachers in Zambia and is currently helping to build a classical and Christian Grammar School in Uganda.

Syllabus:

• The Foundation of a Classical and Christian Education
• The Heart of Leadership
• The Grammar School Learner, Curriculum, and Instruction
• Communication and the Power of Words
•  Teacher Training, Hiring and Retention
•  Starting the School Year Successfully
• The Heart of Grammar School: Maintain the Mission and Build a Culture
• Personal Growth, Study and Care
• The Reading Brain  
• Assessment in the Grammar School

Description: The Grammar School Heads cohort is designed to support, equip, and encourage classical and Christian Grammar School Heads and future Heads, through training, collaboration, and fellowship.  This cohort will explore a key topic each month, with discussion of the reading material assigned.  It will include time for fellowship to encourage one another in our good and challenging work and access to Jessica Gombert as your mentor. The Year Two cohort is for individuals who have already completed Jessica Gombert’s Year One cohort.  

 Bio: 

Jessica Gombert has been the Grammar School headmaster for 17 years at the Geneva School of Boerne. She holds a MA in Education and has been involved in many aspects of education for over 30 years. Teaching experiences include: special education, kindergarten, adult classes for Region 20 Alternative Certification program, and university student teacher supervision. She has a passion for teaching students to become lifelong learners, encouraging and leading teachers, and for Christian and classical education. Jessica has led the SCL Grammar School Heads cohort for two years and has presented at several conferences. She is currently writing children’s readers to supplement the phonics curriculum. She also has a love for serving and teaching children in Africa. She has taught and trained teachers in Zambia and is currently helping to build a classical and Christian Grammar School in Uganda.

Description:

This cohort is designed for those currently in positions of senior management or “B-ring” leaders according to the Independent School Management (ISM) Circle. Often serving as a part of a Head of School’s “inner circle,” or executive team, cohort participants include principals, academic deans, directors, and even aspirational department heads. This cohort, ideally, stretches over two years to allow for adequate study of the following topics:  self-awareness, relational leadership, skills for leading in various capacities (leading up, down, across, and self), communication techniques, conflict and crisis management, and exposure to school organization/governance. 

In addition to monthly 90-minute meetings, cohort members are invited to participate in office hours towards the application of skills learned. This cohort aims to not only strengthen individuals as leaders, thereby broadening and deepening the leadership bench in the Classical Christian Education (CCE) movement, but also positions participants to better support their Head of School by creating a unified team galvanized around the school’s vision, mission, and distinctives. For the cohort to be maximally effective, schools should consider enrolling two or three individuals as this will allow for collaboration and application of studied topics to each school’s unique purpose and organization.

Bio:

Starrla Fowler is the incoming Director of Collaborative Schools and Leadership Development  for the Society for Classical Learning (effective August ‘23). She  and her husband were co-founders of Veritas Academy in Austin, Texas, and over the course of 18 years Starrla served in various capacities including Academic Dean, Academic Team Chair, Grammar School Head, and School of Logic Head, in addition to her continued service on the School Board and its Governance and Nominations committee.  

While at Veritas, Starrla developed curricula and academic programs, trained hundreds of teachers, served on accreditation teams for similar schools, and helped many classical, collaborative schools launch and grow. She is passionate about Kingdom building through the expansion of classical, Christian schools; and after receiving her Masters in Leadership through Gordon College, shifted her focus to developing programs for training future Christian school leaders. 

Starrla and her husband, Jef (the longtime Veritas HOS), live in the Texas Hill Country and are the parents of three adult children, all graduates of Veritas Academy.

The Upper School Head cohort will focus on building and protecting school culture through work with faculty, students, and parents. We will examine the skeletal structures needed to support a healthy school atmosphere, along with practices helpful in nurturing it. Responding to threats to good culture—whether student misbehavior, conflicts, or disparities between classroom and co-curricular expectations—will be discussed throughout the year. Preparatory reading will include articles and book excerpts. Each session will include conversation of the month’s topic, updates from participants, and prayer for one another. Robyn will offer office hours between sessions during which participants can bring up situations that they face for mutual brainstorming and encouragement.

Bio: Robyn Burlew is serving her tenth year as the Upper School Head at Veritas School in Richmond, Virginia.  Prior to her time at Veritas, she spent fifteen years teaching biology and math and administrating in the Upper School at Covenant Christian Academy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Robyn has three adult daughters who praise the benefits of their own classical and Christian education, one son-in-law, and two young granddaughters. She earned a B.A. in Biology from Houghton College and an M.Ed. in Integrated Curriculum and Instruction from Covenant College. In her free time, Robyn might be found paddling on the James River, knitting a baby blanket, or playing the piano.

The Upper School Heads Year Two cohort is for Upper School heads who have already completed Robyn’s year one cohort.  Each month will focus on the work of Upper School Heads with faculty, students, and parents—as we did in the first-year cohort. Participants will have the opportunity to share particularly challenging situations and to receive both wisdom and encouragement from others.

Bio: Robyn Burlew is serving her tenth year as the Upper School Head at Veritas School in Richmond, Virginia.  Prior to her time at Veritas, she spent fifteen years teaching biology and math and administrating in the Upper School at Covenant Christian Academy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Robyn has three adult daughters who praise the benefits of their own classical and Christian education, one son-in-law, and two young granddaughters. She earned a B.A. in Biology from Houghton College and an M.Ed. in Integrated Curriculum and Instruction from Covenant College. In her free time, Robyn might be found paddling on the James River, knitting a baby blanket, or playing the piano.

Description: 

This cohort is designed for teachers and administrators looking to cultivate their younger students’ performance, ability, behavior and JOY.  We will discuss how embodied cognition can be implemented in our current classrooms and curriculums using new tools to better meet the developmental needs of our youngest students.

The resurgence in classical education has been focused on levels designated as Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric.  Yet very young children, ages 4 to 7, were rarely included in that initial programming.  As classical education moves forward it is crucial to have a better understanding of childhood development, including both our understanding and misunderstandings. The current concept of embodied cognition is commonly viewed as complicated and challenging to put into practice. This group will collaborate through research, sharing of best practices, and fellowship to build and support innovative classroom strategies. Developing methodologies and curricula for the upcoming years will also be discussed. Some of the major topics to be addressed are:

•  Early Childhood Development
• History of Early Childhood Classrooms
• Discovery BEFORE Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric
• Poetic Knowledge
• Differences in Learning and Behavior
• Handwriting and Flexible Seating
• Socratic Discussion for the Young
• Motor Labs and Centers
• And more!

In addition to the monthly 90-minute meetings, office hours will be available for those with concerns, comments, and questions.

Bio: 

Athena Oden is the owner of Ready Bodies, Learning Minds and works with public and private schools, non-profit organizations for children, and as an Early Childhood Intervention consultant. She has created and implemented successful motor programs for schools throughout the U.S., headed Assistive Technology teams, and designed accessible playgrounds. She has presented at the local, state, national, and international level on topics dealing with the neurological and physiological development of the child in the classroom. As author of the book/curriculum Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: Cultivating the Whole Child (3rd edition) she hopes to help children and schools perform at their peak. She earned her degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Texas Medical Branch and has spent the past 40 years in pediatrics. She has also written screening tools for typical and atypical children. She and her husband David classically trained their three children, were founding members of Gloria Deo Academy in Texas, and Athena currently serves on the GDA board. She has a passion for classical education, old musty books, and a good cup of tea.

Bio:  

Beck Brydon was the Director of Athletics for Regents School of Austin in Austin, Texas, for 17 years.  He is currently serving as the Varsity Head Football Coach and Director of Student Impact at Second Baptist School in Houston.  He served as Regents’ Director of Advancement from 2004-2006.  Beck is an Executive Board Member of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS), the primary governing body of private school athletics and fine arts in the state of Texas.  He and his wife Trish, also a teacher at Second Baptist, have 3 children,  who have graduated from Regents.

Description: The Athletic Director cohort supports current and aspiring Athletic Directors in Classical Christian schools through the sharing of best practices across a variety of topics, problem-solving at both the tactical and strategic levels, and building relationships with other AD’s for long-term support.

 Syllabus:

Session 1 Leading Your Department

      Establishing expectations and creating alignment

Session 2 Building Community

Educating and energizing parents, faculty/staff and alumni

Session 3 Coach Training & Development

Considerations for establishing a coach training and development program

Session 4 Coach Performance Evaluation

Establishing, promoting and celebrating growth mindsets

Session 5 Budgeting & Finance

Observations of the various budget and finance models and how to solve funding problems

Session 6 Identity & Mission

The single most important question to answer – Who are you?

Session 7 Planning & Calendaring

Working backwards to allow you to advance forward

Session 8 Spirit of Celebration

Ideas for ending seasons and the school year strong

Session 9 Policies & Handbooks

Philosophy should drive policy.  Making sure all athletic department policies have 

a proper foundation.

Session 10 Redeeming Sports for Christ

A discussion on Christian worldview and theology of sport

Description: 

This cohort is for new or aspiring heads or board members of collaborative schools. The collaborative (hybrid, university-model, etc.) terminology is shorthand for schools that are programmed as a mixture of homeschooling and private education. Whether you are thinking of starting a school like this or have just started one, this cohort is for you. The cohort will work through all the principles and strategies that are essential to building and sustaining a collaborative model school. 

Bio:

Neil Anderson has been the head of school at Trinity Classical School (Houston) since 2010. The school was founded in 2009 and Neil was hired as the first head of school. Neil has a deep passion for liberal arts education and spiritual formation. After graduating from Wheaton College with a degree in Biblical Studies, he served as an associate pastor at churches in the Midwest. With a growing family of four children, the Andersons moved back to his hometown of Houston. Prior to joining Trinity Classical School, Neil worked at Baytown Christian Academy, serving as teacher, department chair, and dean of students. During these years, Neil completed a Master’s of Liberal Arts degree at Houston Baptist University.  He also currently serves on the board of the Society for Classical Learning. Neil is also passionate about leadership, family life, investing in students, poetry, classical literature, theology, carpentry, coffee, hiking, running, and bird-watching. 

Syllabus: The following topics will be covered over the course of 10 sessions: 

HoS Leadership Overview 

Leading Yourself 

Casting Vision 

Working with Your Board 

Leading Your People  

Stewarding Your Finances  

Defining and Building Culture  

Executing Strategy

Description: HOS Coaching Cohort Year Two follows much of the same flow as Year One but going deeper into the main categories of school leadership. The topics outlined in the syllabus will be covered.  In addition, we will also have a reading recommendation each month to add to our discussion. That could be a book, portion of a book, or article/essay.  Finally, various specialty webinars will take place throughout the year.

Bio: Keith Nix has served as the Head of School at Veritas since 2010. Mr. Nix has served as Chairman of the Board of Society for Classical Learning (SCL), Vice Chairman of the Board of Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS), and President of the Board of Academic Advisors for the Classic Learning Test (CLT). He consults and coaches classical Christian school boards and leaders and currently teaches at Gordon College in their Graduate Leadership Program, equipping Classical Christian school leaders. Prior to moving to Veritas in 2010, Keith was a board member, and then later Head of School at The Westminster School in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a founding Arête Fellow and facilitated the Arete Fellowship for many years. Prior to working in classical Christian schools, Keith was President of Nixgroup, a boutique consulting firm working with start-up and early stage organizations and businesses. Mr. Nix enjoys tennis, golf, and great books. He is married to Kim, an accomplished artist; the Nixes have three grown children and two grandchildren.

Syllabus: These topics will be covered over 10 sessions.   

Leadership & The Liberal Arts

– Growing as a liberal artist

– Our Biblical and ancient roots

– Current best practices

Leading Yourself

– The Annual Agenda re-visited

– HOS well-being

– The HOS and time

Leading Your Team

– Leading with a limp

– Building a high-performance leadership team

– Accountability & performance evaluation

 Leading Your Board

– Defining the ideal

– Helping your board take the right next step(s)

– Deepening your board’s vision

 Leading Your Parents

– Education and enculturation programs

– Finding and developing culture-makers

– Parent engagement and involvement

Advancing Your Advancement

– Building a development office/team

– Cultivating and stewarding major donors

– Building an Advisory Council

The Beautiful School Culture

– Schole

– Arts and Athletics philosophy and practice

– Keys to student life and experience

Mastering the Money

– Becoming the expert you need to be

– Staying ahead of you board

– The Strategic Financial Plan

Description:

Are you a new or seasoned grammar school teacher, dean, or curriculum director? If so, you will enjoy monthly conversations in this cohort centered around Dr. Christopher Perrin’s (of Classical Academic Press) 10 Principles of Classical Pedagogy. Carrie Eben (teacher educator and co-author with Dr. Perrin of upcoming book about the 10 principles) will flesh out these principles each session giving practical instruction and examples for how teachers can specifically apply them to their grammar school day and curriculum. Participants will reflect on the principles in their own practice of teaching and receive encouraging feedback from their cohort and mentor. Each member will have the opportunity to improve the art of their own teaching throughout the year and share what they know with others in their own schools. Within the principles, grammar teachers will discuss:

• curriculum pacing
• effective teaching forms
• how to encourage memory
• how to integrate subjects
• experiential learning
• differentiated learners
• the best types of literature/curricula
• intellectual virtues
• the liturgy of the classroom
• restful classroom organization
• narrative assessment (humane assessment)
• how to cultivate a restful learning culture
• and much more!!

Meeting Dates and Time: Beginning September 12th, mostly second Tuesdays at 6:30pm CST

Syllabus: (Mostly second Tuesdays of every month at 6:30pm CST)

Session 1: Festina Lente, Make Haste Slowly

September 12, 2023

Session 2: Multum Non Multa, Much Not Many

October 10, 2023

Session 3: Repetition Mater Memoria, Repetition is the Mother of Memory

November 14

Session 4: Embodied Learning

December 5, 2023

Session 5: Songs, Chants, and Jingles

January 9, 2024

Session 6: Wonder and Curiosity

February 13, 2024

Session 7: Educational Virtues

March 12, 2024

Session 8: Scholé and Contemplation

April 16, 2024

Session 9: Docendo Discimus, By Teaching We Learn

May 14, 2024

Session 10: Great Books, The Best Teacher is a Good Book.

June 4, 2024

Bio: For over twenty-three years, Carrie Eben has championed classical education in both the private school classroom and homeschool arenas. She currently serves as founding board member at Sager Classical Academy in Siloam Springs, AR. Carrie passionately leads teachers and parents in the classical model of education. She develops and delivers customized workshops for administrators, teachers, and parents in both classical school and homeschool settings via Classical Eben Education Consulting (www.classicaleben.com). Carrie holds a BSE in Intermediate Education from John Brown University and a MSEd in Curriculum and Instruction from Oklahoma State University. She is currently a PhD student in the Humanities program at Faulkner University and a CiRCE Institute Master Teacher.

Description: 

The Admissions and Marketing Cohort is designed to  connect Admission/Marketing Directors at classical Christian schools across the country to build a support network of like-minded professionals who will help you do your job better.  It will include strategic assignments between monthly meetings that will help you streamline your workflow, and make things like Board Reports and Prospective Parent Communication easier.  It will include direct access to your cohort leader Elizabeth Perkins through regular “Open Office Hours” live on Zoom for asking specific questions about anything you’re facing at your school.

Bio: 

After serving as the Director of Admissions and Marketing for Westminster Academy for nine years, Elizabeth Perkins recently took a position with North Star Marketing, an agency dedicated to working with K-12 independent and faith based schools on their marketing initiatives. Prior to joining Westminster, she served as adjunct faculty in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis; teaching courses in organizational strategy, communications, and management. In her spare time, Elizabeth serves as the Director for the Memphis Ostrander awards (Memphis’ theatre awards for collegiate, community, and professional theatre) and as a judge for high school theatre. Additionally, she serves on the board of directors at Theatre Memphis. Recently, Elizabeth was named by the Memphis Business Journal as one of the top “40 Under 40” in the Memphis area. In her “previous life” (AKA, before children!), Elizabeth was the Internal Communications Leader for the Capital Aviation Services division of General Electric. She holds a BA in political science from the University of Memphis, an MBA from Union University, and completed the Certification for Admission and Enrollment Professions in 2018. Elizabeth has presented several times on admission topics at previous conferences for SCL, ACCS, ERB, and the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals.

Session 1: August — Introduction + New Family Surveys

We’ll get acquainted and look at what the year will hold for our cohort, then we’ll discuss best practices for New Family Surveys so you can have your survey ready by the time school starts (for delivery in October).

Session 2: September — Tours and Events

This month we’ll discuss Tours and Events. We’ll share best practices, lessons learned, and some fresh ideas to incorporate into your fall tours and prospective parents events.

Session 3: October — Admission Applications

Let’s dive in on Application Reviews so you’ll have time to make any revisions and improvements you want before you open applications for 2023-24! (We always live in the next school year, don’t we?)

Session 4: November — Parent Interviews

Now it’s time to pull out your Parent Interview questions. We will help you craft that prime opportunity with applicant parents to hit all the information-gathering, vision-casting, retention-building goals.

Session 5: December — Admission Assessments

Bring your Admission Assessment tools and let’s figure out what’s working, what’s not, and how we can make your assessments serve your admission goals better. 

Session 6: January — Enrollment Management

Contracts, Re-enrollment, Continuous enrollment? We’ll look at all the options and figure out what the best solution is for YOUR school’s mission. (There is no single “right” answer!)

Session 7: February — Onboarding/Welcoming New Families

This month we’ll discuss what a great Onboarding/Welcome program looks like for new families, from Welcome Bags to New Family Orientation and “connection” families. Getting off on the right foot with your new families will build your future retention numbers!

Session 8: March — Communication

We’re going to cover all-things Communication this month. We’ll touch on automating “nurture” communication with prospective parents, as well as ongoing communication with current families (and how that translates into customer service and, ultimately, retention.)

Session 9: April — Retention

Whew. The crazy-rush of Admission season is behind you. Let’s take a minute to celebrate, then look at Retention. What can we do to keep these new families for the long haul? “Retention begins in admission” — we’ll break it down and set you up for success. 

Session 10: May — Marketing Focus

May is Marketing Month in our cohort! Website reviews, social media marketing hacks, word-of-mouth marketing strategies — it’s all on the table. Bring your examples, your questions and your plans, and we’ll crowdsource them into marketing machines.