by Mark Hobbs As April turns into May, educators often find themselves contemplating how to navigate the remaining weeks of the school year with a sense of optimism and energy. The term “Mayday,” as defined by Merriam-Webster, serves as an internationally recognized radio word to signal distress, mostly by aircraft and boats. While most of us are happily only familiar with it through TV and fiction, stepping into a 7th grade classroom in May might […]
Tag: teachers
Inspire Lifelong Learners: Modeling the Novice Mindset
By Sierra Downs The First Year “Genghis Khan was a pretty good guy, actually.” This concluding remark to a student essay written during my first year of teaching has haunted me for years. I had just begun teaching history at the middle school level and had high expectations for my classroom–I wanted to encourage my students to ask big questions, consider lofty ideas, and allow the subject to shape the way that they saw themselves […]
Educational Leadership through a Global Lens
By Dr. Bill Sterrett, Dr. Erik Ellefsen, and Jill Anderson In 2023, the Baylor Center for School Leadership’s (BCSL) efforts expanded in unexpected ways through being invited into communities around the world. With a bit more cultural familiarity, the BCSL team had the opportunity to visit schools and speak in England, Canada, and Australia. Invited into new settings, the BCSL led Just Teaching leadership networks in South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In March 2024, […]
In Pursuit of Paul’s “I Became”
By Dr. Joel Hazard The apostle Paul’s ultimate goal was to guide individuals toward embracing faith in Christ by engaging with them on their own terms and making the message relatable. In 1 Corinthians 9:20-23, Paul outlines his strategic approach to evangelism, emphasizing the importance of adapting to diverse audiences. He simply became. “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22 NIV). […]
Through the Lens of Eternity
By Jami Courson Virtual learning revealed to the world what educators have known for decades: teacher-student relationships matter. Research shows that student achievement increases and questionable behavior decreases when students believe that their teacher cares for them. As Dr. Jon Eckert writes in his book Just Teaching, “We have learned that being present and in relationship matters for each student. Learning in person increases student morale and student achievement. Having teachers who care improves student […]