Educator Spotlight: BCSL Fellows Lead Through Networks and Community

At the Baylor Center for School Leadership (BCSL), we strive to be the most effective Christian leadership catalyst for educators worldwide. But this work cannot be done alone. 

This is why we brought experts into the fold to do this incredible work with us. Our BCSL Fellows are practitioners who currently serve in the PK-12 space and are skilled facilitators who provide professional learning focused on role-specific leadership development. Anna Bryan, Jenny Brady, and Dr. Joel Hazard lead institutes and multi-month networks that allow participants to collaborate, enjoy valuable peer learning opportunities, show vulnerability, hear different viewpoints, clarify priorities, and address key educational issues. They are in the field and in the work alongside our network of educators.

On the BCSL Insights blog, Bryan, BCSL Fellow and Director of Lower Schools at Norfolk Christian Schools, recently wrote, “God’s design for us to be in relationship extends even into how we learn and grow collectively within the field of education.”

Bryan urges readers to find and join a network of others “who are striving to sustain and maximize commitment to change within their organizations.” Leading by example, Bryan has been a catalyst for the BCSL Improvement Communities in creating content, rhythms to the work, ensuring those involved stay focused on student outcomes, and coaching individual schools. This year Bryan is helping to improve community processes while also co-facilitating a brand new Digital Free Improvement Community. 

“Building habits of mind and practice while fostering a community of educators that support one another is what hope to accomplish through my work with the Improvement Communities,” Bryan said. “Change is more of a constant in life than we like to think, so my hope is to normalize change and build the capacity of educators to navigate it in ways that steward the collective wisdom of the organization.”

Jenny Brady, BCSL Fellow and Senior Director of Community Engagement at Legacy Christian Academy, has been instrumental in assisting our team with operating multiple networks this past year with diverse leaders across the world. 

“This is truly a blessing as I felt all alone when I started my own journey in this work,” Brady said. “I hope no one feels alone now.”

She also helped to develop a Dallas-Fort Worth network of leaders in education and assisted with the BCSL’s Just Schools Academy, Just Leadership, and Culture of JOY events. Brady’s challenges in life led to her purpose in pursuing diversity in all aspects of life. 

“Moving to Honduras in seventh grade after being born in West Texas, I had a severe identity crisis. I didn’t know the language or culture, and I definitely looked different,” Brady said. “When I moved back to the States for college, I wanted to fit in so badly, but I had spent many years outside the States so while I spoke the language and looked ‘normal’, I was still different. After trying hard to be someone God didn’t create me to be, I realized that my identity needed to be defined by him. This gave me a bigger look into the diversity that God created and what the Kingdom of Heaven actually looks like.”

 Brady said she had the privilege of working Dr. Joel Hazard, another BCSL Fellow, in creating a space for diversity directors to meet annually through Christian Educators Diversity Alliance. 

“I developed resources and consulted with Christian schools trying to build diversity programs,” Brady said. “Through this, I was asked to be part of a group of ‘misfits’ called Mindshift. We visited schools across the world reimagining what our own communities could be.”

Brady brought her rich experience to serve the BCSL’s networks and help catalyze great educational leadership. 

“All schools have a mission to develop leaders,” Brady said. “To be a leader, students need to see leadership modeled to them in a variety of ways. They need to know the world is much bigger than their neighborhoods. If they only meet people who are different from them in books or in a transitory way instead of proximity and in relationships, our students will suffer.”

Hazard, Head of Academic Collaboration and Culture at Fellowship Christian School, agrees as he facilitated the BCSL’s Experienced Leaders Network of 35 leaders from Canada, England, and the United States. He has also grown and facilitated the Black Male Christian Educator’s (BMCE) network nationally and now in Canada. 

“The BMCE network is important to me because it continues to serve as a space for, connection, encouragement, and where you can talk through your unique experiences without fear of judgement or being misunderstood,” Hazard said. “My hope is that this group will continue to increase in number, we will continue to provide encouragement, resources, and leadership opportunities that will in turn keep black males in education.”

Networks and Improvement Communities give educators a space to build, grow, and learn. This is how God designed us. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another,” Proverbs 27:17.

“The BCSL serves as a space for connection, collaboration, leadership training, and opportunity to grow as an educator,” Hazard said. “It also serves as a space where you can learn alongside educators and leaders from around the globe.”

Our BCSL Fellows share so much experience and wisdom to help lead our Networks and Improvement Communities to success each year. Even more than being fantastic Christian educators and leaders, they are part of our community. Learn more about the BCSL Networks, and connect with us to stay updated on BCSL professional learning opportunities, expert educational leadership advice, and resources.