The Academy

JUNE 12-14, 2023

well-being + engagement + feedback

Register Today

JonE_video_screen

Attend the 2023 Just Schools Academy Three-Day Conference

“If you are interested in the most effective ways to serve each student based on the best research on how students learn and the wisdom of thousands of educators with the best tools available in a way that focuses what we do as educators, let’s go.”
– Dr. Jon Eckert

Bring your team of up to 10 to The Just Schools Academy June 12–14!

The Just Schools Academy will catalyze the growth you desire for your school. And we have added a FULL DAY to this year’s conference to focus on what it means to be Just Schools. Developed from the concepts of Dr. Jon Eckert’s new book Just Teaching and the Collective Leadership Development Model, the Just Schools Academy is built to facilitate each school’s unique path to become a Just School.

You’ll work through the Adaptive Challenge Framework with your team and dig into a focus on “each student and teacher” rather than “all” which makes teaching infinitely interesting, brings meaning to what we do and leads us to see school improvement in a new energized way.

Your team of up to 10 members will:

  • Be trained in a structured method using 8 tools to assess your strengths and weaknesses as a Just School.
  • Apply Just Schools practices in facilitated break-out sessions to experience real-time process benefits.
  • Collaborate around school specific challenges, opportunities, and action steps.
  • Strategically identify Feedback, Engagement, & Well-being implementation opportunities school wide.
  • Network with like-minded school teams from across the country.

Unleash your team’s power for creative problem solving so each student, each teacher, and each school can thrive. Join the movement June 12-14 at the Just Schools Academy.

PREVIEW OF OUR ADAPTIVE CHALLENGE FRAMEWORK MODEL
PREVIEW OF OUR ADAPTIVE CHALLENGE FRAMEWORK MODEL

How The Adaptive Challenge Framework Works

Identify and agree on crucial challenges Identify and agree on crucial challenges
Define quantifiable 1-year goals Define quantifiable 1-year goals
Launch the Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle Launch the Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle
Establish 90-day targets Establish 90-day targets
Record and evaluate your results Record and evaluate your results

Details for this 3-day Conference

Hosted at Legacy Christian Academy, Frisco, Texas

3-10 Team Members

3-10 Team Members
from your School

$3,000 per School or $600 per Person

$3,000 per School
or $600 per Person

June 13-14, 2022<br/>Hosted at Legacy Christian Academy, Frisco Texas

June 12-14, 2023

June 13-14, 2022<br/>Hosted at Legacy Christian Academy, Frisco Texas

Special Accommodation Rates & Reservations

Register Today

Professor of Educational Leadership, Baylor University jon_eckert@baylor.edu Jon began his career as a teacher and coach of intermediate and middle school students outside of Chicago and Nashville for 12 years. He has served as a Teaching Ambassador Fellow at the U.S. Department of Education, where he worked in both the Bush and Obama administrations on teaching quality issues. Previous to his role at Baylor, he prepared teachers at Wheaton College. He currently holds the Lynda and Robert Copple Chair for Christians in School Leadership at Baylor University. Jon is the author of several books, including his newly released Just Teaching(Corwin, 2023), the #1 in Education Assessment on Amazon this year. His other publishings include The Novice Advantage: Fearless Practice for Every Teacher (Corwin, 2016) and Leading Together: Teachers and Principals Improving Student Outcomes (Corwin, 2018), book chapters, numerous peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Educational Administration Quarterly, Professional Development in Education, and Education Policy Analysis Archives, and practitioner publications such as Education Week and Phi Delta Kappan.

Jon Eckert, EdD

Professor of Educational Leadership, Baylor University
jon_eckert@baylor.edu

Jon began his career as a teacher and coach of intermediate and middle school students outside of Chicago and Nashville for 12 years. He has served as a Teaching Ambassador Fellow at the U.S. Department of Education, where he worked in both the Bush and Obama administrations on teaching quality issues. Previous to his role at Baylor, he prepared teachers at Wheaton College. He currently holds the Lynda and Robert Copple Chair for Christians in School Leadership at Baylor University.

Jon is the author of several books, including his newly released Just Teaching(Corwin, 2023), the #1 in Education Assessment on Amazon this year. His other publishings include The Novice Advantage: Fearless Practice for Every Teacher (Corwin, 2016) and Leading Together: Teachers and Principals Improving Student Outcomes (Corwin, 2018), book chapters, numerous peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Educational Administration Quarterly, Professional Development in Education, and Education Policy Analysis Archives, and practitioner publications such as Education Week and Phi Delta Kappan.

Luther Sweet Endowed Chair in Disabilities, Baylor University, Executive Director, Baylor Center on Developmental Disabilities erik_carter@baylor.edu Dr. Erik Carter is the Luther Sweet Endowed Chair in Disabilities at Baylor University and Executive Director of the Baylor Center on Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Carter’s research and writing focus on principle-driven and research-based strategies for promoting full participation, belonging, and valued roles for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). He is particularly interested in the intersection of faith and disability, where his work focuses on calling, equipping, and supporting churches to be places of deep embrace and contribution for individuals with IDD and their families. Dr. Carter has co-authored more than 200 articles/chapters and six books, one of which is Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities: A Guide for Service Providers, Families, and Congregations. He has received numerous awards for his research and work with the intellectually and developmentally disabled.

Erik W. Carter

Luther Sweet Endowed Chair in Disabilities, Baylor University, Executive Director, Baylor Center on Developmental Disabilities
erik_carter@baylor.edu

Dr. Erik Carter is the Luther Sweet Endowed Chair in Disabilities at Baylor University and Executive Director of the Baylor Center on Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Carter’s research and writing focus on principle-driven and research-based strategies for promoting full participation, belonging, and valued roles for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). He is particularly interested in the intersection of faith and disability, where his work focuses on calling, equipping, and supporting churches to be places of deep embrace and contribution for individuals with IDD and their families.

Dr. Carter has co-authored more than 200 articles/chapters and six books, one of which is Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities: A Guide for Service Providers, Families, and Congregations. He has received numerous awards for his research and work with the intellectually and developmentally disabled.

Principal, Hall Success Academy cbnickerson@aldineisd.org Cierra Nickerson is the principal of Hall Success Academy in Houston and is an advocate for educational equity. With over a decade of educational experience, she is a Teach for America alumna and has served in various capacities in teaching and leading in campus, district, and county central offices. Mrs. Nickerson began her teaching career in Aldine ISD at Shotwell Academy teaching English-Language Arts and Reading. In her previous role in the Wraparound Services Department at Houston ISD, Mrs. Nickerson contributed to the development and implementation of over 150 community schools. She also served as the School Climate and Culture Specialist for the Harris County Department of Education in providing professional development and support for districts to reduce exclusionary practices and establish safe and secure schools. Mrs. Nickerson received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan, a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston, and presently is a doctoral student at Baylor University studying K-12 Educational Leadership.

Cierra Nickerson

Principal, Hall Success Academy
cbnickerson@aldineisd.org

Cierra Nickerson is the principal of Hall Success Academy in Houston and is an advocate for educational equity. With over a decade of educational experience, she is a Teach for America alumna and has served in various capacities in teaching and leading in campus, district, and county central offices.

Mrs. Nickerson began her teaching career in Aldine ISD at Shotwell Academy teaching English-Language Arts and Reading. In her previous role in the Wraparound Services Department at Houston ISD, Mrs. Nickerson contributed to the development and implementation of over 150 community schools. She also served as the School Climate and Culture Specialist for the Harris County Department of Education in providing professional development and support for districts to reduce exclusionary practices and establish safe and secure schools.

Mrs. Nickerson received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan, a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston, and presently is a doctoral student at Baylor University studying K-12 Educational Leadership.

Director High Quality Curriculum and Instruction, The Johns Hopkins Institute for Ed Policy Founder, The Living Water School dr.atprather@gmail.com Dr. Anika T. Prather earned her B.A. from Howard University in elementary education. She also has earned several graduate degrees in education from New York University and Howard University. She has a Masters in liberal arts from St. John’s College (Annapolis) and a PhD in English, Theatre and Literacy Education from the University of Maryland (College Park). Dr. Prather’s research focus is on building literacy with African American students through engagement in the books of the Canon. She is the author of Living in the Constellation of the Canon: The Lived Experiences of African American Students Reading Great Books Literature and co-author of The Black Intellectual Tradition with Dr. Angel Parham. She has served as a teacher, supervisor for student teachers, director of education and Head of School. Currently she is a sought after speaker on the topic of the relevancy of classical studies to the Black community. She teaches in the English dept at Howard University, serves as Director High Quality Curriculum and Instruction at Johns Hopkins University, and is the founder of The Living Water School. Dr. Prather co-founded The Living Water Center in 2022 which houses The Blacks in Classics Museum that displays original artwork featuring Blacks who have been inspired by classics and the works of the Canon.

Dr. Anika T. Prather

Director High Quality Curriculum and Instruction, The Johns Hopkins Institute for Ed Policy
Founder, The Living Water School
dr.atprather@gmail.com

Dr. Anika T. Prather earned her B.A. from Howard University in elementary education. She also has earned several graduate degrees in education from New York University and Howard University. She has a Masters in liberal arts from St. John’s College (Annapolis) and a PhD in English, Theatre and Literacy Education from the University of Maryland (College Park).

Dr. Prather’s research focus is on building literacy with African American students through engagement in the books of the Canon. She is the author of Living in the Constellation of the Canon: The Lived Experiences of African American Students Reading Great Books Literature and co-author of The Black Intellectual Tradition with Dr. Angel Parham.

She has served as a teacher, supervisor for student teachers, director of education and Head of School. Currently she is a sought after speaker on the topic of the relevancy of classical studies to the Black community. She teaches in the English dept at Howard University, serves as Director High Quality Curriculum and Instruction at Johns Hopkins University, and is the founder of The Living Water School. Dr. Prather co-founded The Living Water Center in 2022 which houses The Blacks in Classics Museum that displays original artwork featuring Blacks who have been inspired by classics and the works of the Canon.

What Educators Are Saying About The Just Schools Academy

“The Academy gives you access to peers who are doing similar work. Each person you meet will be a future resource for you as you do our important, life-giving work. An added bonus, each presenter, offered their best advice from often hard-learned lessons that can help your school dodge pitfalls and advance God’s mission through Christian schooling.”

“I feel the Academy gives the opportunity to hear research-based, Christ-focused educational leaders share valuable information that guides best practice in a spiritual context for student success.”

“The Academy is intended to directly benefit leaders of K-12 Christian schools without the pressures, prejudices, preconceptions, etc., that often arise from a conference that is provided by an accrediting group. It was good to see a wide variety of schools in attendance. Good speakers in breakout sessions. There just aren’t many opportunities like this.”

Register Today

Reservations at AC Hotel Dallas Frisco

Reservations at AC Hotel Dallas Frisco

Reservations at Holiday Inn Express

Reservations at Holiday Inn Express

Building Better Schools Together

Stay on top of current research and training resources for best practices to build better Christian schools and improve student outcomes by subscribing to Baylor’s Center for School Leadership emails.






By subscribing, you agree to receive emails from Baylor Center for School Leadership, One Bear Place #97215, Waco, TX 76643, US. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link found at the bottom of every email.