Registration Fees

SCSBC Members $65 + GST
Non-members $250 + GST
Included are the plenary, coffee break, featured workshop, lunch, SCSBC AGM and an afternoon workshop.

Deadline to Register
October 30, 2016

Register Online

Conference Location

Surrey Christian School,
Secondary Campus
15353 92 Avenue, Surrey, BC

Leadership Conference

for Christian School Boards and Administrators

Crafting the Culture of Canada’s Future

You are invited to join Christian school leadership teams from all across British Columbia and beyond for our 17th annual SCSBC Leadership Conference. This year we welcome special guest Dr. Beth Green, Program Director for Education at Cardus. With Beth we explore education’s impact on the social architecture of the future, the Cardus Education survey data report, and the powerful tool this research can provide for Christian education. After the plenary, we take a look at the impact of the new BC Ed Plan in our featured workshop The BC Ed Plan: A Compelling Opportunity presented by SCSBC’s Directors of Learning.

During lunch, the SCSBC annual general meeting offers opportunities for you to get to know the work of this organization better. The afternoon brings you a choice of workshops in specialty areas. Whatever area of Christian school leadership you serve in – administrator, board member, committee member, staff – come prepared to have your leadership vision encouraged and expanded.

Schedule

8:00 am
Coffee and Registration

8:30 -10:15
Welcome and Devotions
Plenary with Beth Green

10:15 -10:45
Coffee Break

10:45 -12:00
Featured Workshop

12:15 -1:30
Lunch and AGM

1:30 -3:00
Workshops

Plenary Address

Crafting Culture: Education, Research and the Common Good

Educators are master craftsmen and women. Their attentiveness to the academic, civic and spiritual formation of young people shapes the culture of tomorrow. Cardus Education began capturing the story of this formation in the US and Canada five years ago because one can never fully master a craft without using good tools. This year, the Cardus Education survey will report data on Canada’s Christian school, public school and independent religious and non-religious school graduates. In this keynote address, Dr. Green will present the latest findings from Cardus research. She will show that research is a powerful tool in the educators’ kit, but that we need to get better at using it. Education has a foundational role in Canada’s social architecture. Dr. Green will illustrate how drawing on the full range of tools can help us to dream bigger about graduate outcomes, the nature and impact of our school communities and support the daily acts of faithful presence in education.

This conference is one of the exclusive tour dates for the release of the Cardus Education Survey 2016 Report.

Beth Green, Education Program Director, Cardus

Dr. Beth Green is Program Director for Education at Cardus. She previously directed the National Centre for Christian Education at Liverpool Hope University in the United Kingdom where she also ran the Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD). Dr Green has a DPhil from the University of Oxford which was funded by a prestigious Economic and Research Council Scholarship; she is also a graduate of Cambridge and London Universities and took the Hans Prize in Education for her MA thesis in Education Management.  Dr. Green has an international reputation for her expertise in religious school ethos; leadership and management; teaching and learning and social theory in education. She regularly publishes her empirical research in international journals including the British Journal of Sociology and Education and the Cambridge Journal of Education. Her consultancy regularly takes her to Europe and Australia where she advises on effective approaches to measurement, professional development and pedagogy in the religious school sector. Dr. Green is a former high school history teacher who has worked in both government and non-government schools in the UK.

The BC Ed Plan: A Compelling Opportunity

presented by SCSBC Directors of Learning Darren Spyksma and Greg Gerber

The new BC Ed Plan has the intent of preparing students for their future in a demanding world. To accomplish this, the plan states, curriculum must be learner-centred and flexible and maintain a focus on literacy and math skills, while promoting deeper learning. The Plan redefines the educational purpose from one of content-focus to that of developing student competencies, and this means greater flexibility for teachers, while allowing space and time for students to develop personal skills while exploring their passions and interests.

This workshop will provide an overview of the foundations of the BC Education Plan and identify how it supports the formational-learning-experience approaches embraced in Christian schools. Providing a solid foundation in the purposes behind the change, participants will understand how to better support teaching staff as they work to implement the new curriculum and its tenets. The BC Ed Plan is not a change to dread, but rather a compelling opportunity that can be implemented well – to benefit our students.

Matt Beimers

Matt is the principal at Surrey Christian Elementary School, and is currently serving a one-year assignment as principal at Cloverdale Christian School. Many years earlier, he was assistant principal at Fraser Valley Christian High School. He is a member of The Bridge Community Church in Langley. He received his Ed.D. from George Fox University, Oregon.

Darryl DeBoer

Darryl DeBoer is the Director of Learning at Surrey Christian School. Prior to his current role, he served as vice principal of curriculum and instruction at White Rock Christian Academy, and a Science, Math and Outdoor Education teacher at Christian schools in BC and Ontario and International Schools in India and Switzerland. He has seen increased motivation and engagement from students and staff alike when the teaching is centered on formative learning experiences that are rooted in the Biblical story. Weekends find Darryl and his wife enjoying their kids’ sporting events and walking their water-loving dog at the beach.

Greg Gerber

SCSBC Director of Learning Greg Gerber is a passionate educator who is deeply engaged in the practice and scholarship of teaching and learning.  He finds great joy in resolving tensions between teachers’ espoused learning theory and classroom practice, finding clear and creative ways to engage professional educators in refining and enhancing their learner-centred practice.  Greg’s proficiency in experiential education techniques and commitment to engaging and connecting people’s previous knowledge and understandings to new learning and discoveries are evidenced in all of his workshop and teaching engagements.  Greg has extensive experience in curriculum and pedagogy design, school leadership, technology integration, and secondary and post-secondary instruction.

Cathy Kits

When it came time to make a decision for her childrens’ education, Cathy found herself captivated by the possibility of integrating faith and learning. She soon found herself immersed in and enveloped by the Christian school community in Langley. More importantly, she was transformed into a passionate believer in Christian education.

This led to 15 years of service as the Director of Development at Langley Christian School; years of great learning and stretching, growing the Development program from infancy to young adulthood. During this time she presented at conferences on all things related to development work in Christian schools and provided consultant services for SCSBC and Endeavour (Australia).

In 2015 Cathy joined the team at SCSBC as the Director of Development where she is responsible for providing resources and leadership to Christian schools in their development initiatives as they seek to grow enrolment, build strong community, develop fundraising strategies, engage in capital campaigns and strive to maintain long term financial sustainability. She thrives on the synergy of professionals working collaboratively to turn challenges into opportunities.

Ed Noot

Ed passionately believes that Christian education is as relevant and necessary today as it ever has been, and it brings him great joy to serve in an organization that seeks to help Christian schools flourish. Ed has spent his entire career in SCSBC member schools working as in various roles as teacher, vice principal, principal and superintendent. He has embraced opportunities to participate in school inspection and policy development work for the BC Ministry of Education both in BC and internationally. He has served on the boards of The King’s University, The Christian Teachers Association of BC, The Christian Principals Association of BC, The Federation of Independent Schools Associations of BC, Christian Schools Canada and Christian Schools International.

Ed began his service as the executive director of SCSBC in August, 2014. As well as being responsible for the organization as a whole, his duties focus on leadership, governance, policy development, and interfacing with associated organizations such as Federation of Independent School Associations, Christian Schools Canada, Christian Schools International.

Darren Spyksma

Darren is one of the two Directors of Learning at SCSBC. Here and in various positions at Agassiz Christian, Unity Christian, Centennial Christian, and Nanaimo Christian Schools, he has challenged others to explore and try out ideas that bring schools closer to best practice within a framework that is distinctly Christian. Darren is committed to learning that is built on meaningful relationships, is demanding and rigorous, and is engaging and relevant for the learner. He is most excited trying something new or tweaking something already present and learning from the experience. Darren is looking forward to working with administrators and learning leaders as they explore the upcoming changes in the BC Curriculum, which he sees as a great opportunity to intentionally develop learning experiences that are transformational and built on students participating as faithful followers of Christ.

Ken Volkenant

Ken is a partner in the law firm of De Jager Volkenant & Company. Called to the British Columbia Bar in 1987, he carries on a solicitor’s practice corporate and commercial law, wills and estates and real estate development. Ken specializes in the area of charity law on the corporate side, incorporating non-profit organizations, charities and foundations and assisting organizations through restructuring, amalgamations, cooperative ventures, property transactions and development programs. Ken also advises charities regarding legal risk management and asset protection and the legal aspects of planned giving and fundraising programs.

Ken is a frequent presenter on topics related to charities and planned giving and serves on the boards and advisory committees of several non-profit and charitable organizations. Ken resides in Surrey British Columbia with his wife Sandee and gets his kicks by playing and coaching the beautiful game (soccer).

Tim Williams

Tim is SCSBC’s Director of Finance. He has extensive professional experience both as an accountant and with not-for-profit organizations. He started his career at PriceWaterhouseCoopers Chartered Accountants, and has held senior roles in a variety of companies and organizations both in Australia and Canada. He has served on several boards including Christian not-for-profit organizations, and has done consulting work for Christian schools. Tim is an experienced presenter who has taught a variety of seminars as well as giving lectures at universities. His educational accomplishments comprise of a Masters of Business Administration, Bachelor of Economics in Accounting, Graduate Diploma Tax Law, and Certified Practising Accountant (CPA). Tim’s responsibilities at SCSBC include financial management consultation with business administrators, finance committees, and school treasurers, SCSBC Business Administrators Forum facilitator, Financial Health Review facilitator, SCSBC School Budget Template, SCSBC Framework for the Issuance of Charitable Tax Receipts, and SCSBC advisor to the SCSBC Compensation Committee and Policy Development Committee.