Baylor Center for School Leadership Inspires Hope and Gritty Optimism at CESA Symposium 2024

 The Baylor Center for School Leadership (BCSL) proudly served as a platinum sponsor at the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA) Symposium 2024, engaging with over 600 educators from independent schools nationwide. The Symposium is designed for Christian school leaders to engage with like-minded peers from across the country and the globe, while pouring into their leadership teams.

Baylor University President Linda Livingstone delivered a powerful keynote address, sharing her personal leadership journey and highlighting Baylor's vision for the future of Christian education. She spoke candidly about stepping into leadership during a challenging time for Baylor, navigating the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the efforts she and her husband, Brad, made to support students during this period. President Livingstone also emphasized the importance of maintaining balance, mentioning how she and Brad recharge by spending time at their house near the lake with their daughter, Shelby, and their dog, BU. 

Additionally, Jan Kyster from Baylor admissions joined the team to emphasize the importance of Baylor’s mission in shaping educational leaders. She also had the opportunity to speak with many Baylor parents and prospective Baylor graduate students, further highlighting the strong presence and representation of Baylor at the event.

Erik Ellefsen, BCSL Director of Networks and Improvement, partnered with Dr. Will Percy, Executive Vice President of Team Optix, to deliver a session entitled Slaying Zombies, inspired by Percy's new book, which places relationships and talent development at the heart of feedback cycles that lead to more engaging professional workplaces. Tige Watson, Director of Student Affairs at Valor Christian High School, reflected on Percy's insight— “The presence of hope changes the physical formation of the brain. It’s amazing how God has created us. As believers, it’s essential to provide hope for others. Hope is an anchor for those under stress or in distress. I want to be a hope-giving leader.”

In a separate session, the BCSL team including Dr. Jon Eckert, Sahira Kodra, and Erik Ellefsen presented on Gritty Optimism from Eckert’s forthcoming book, the belief that based on evidence and experience, we have a certainty that we can become more of who we were created to be. The session explored fostering joy in education by reframing well-being, humanizing engagement, and cultivating integrity through feedback.

Percy expressed his key takeaway from the session, stating, “Hope! Hope and a desire for a brighter future for the profession, coupled with effective use of positive psychology, can help us flourish. Professor Eckert's work reminds us that through collective leadership, our schools and communities can also flourish.”

Likewise, two BCSL Fellows, Jenny Brady, Senior Director of Community Engagement at Legacy Christian Academy, and Joel Hazard, Head of Academic Collaboration and Culture at Fellowship Christian School, were also in attendance and led a panel session highlighting the experience of colleagues in creating more diverse learning communities. Reflecting on the session, Jenny Brady shared, “It was an honor to co-facilitate a discussion with Joel and fellow school leaders on utilizing data to deepen our understanding of how to create cultures of belonging for employees. We explored how this data can inform strategic planning, not only for attracting exceptional candidates but also for retaining them, ensuring a lasting impact in our schools.”

BCSL’s involvement at the CESA Symposium 2024 reaffirmed its commitment to being a catalyst for educational excellence and leadership development in partnership with independent Christian schools worldwide. Attendees walked away inspired by a renewed sense of hope in the field and a shared commitment to gritty optimism, recognizing the transformative power of joy, well-being, and collective leadership for a flourishing future.

For more information about BCSL's initiatives and upcoming events, visit our website.