The Dock School Leader Podcast

Slavery. The births of Argentina and Brazil. The Industrial Revolution.

Are your students' eyes glazed over yet? Studying the past can involve a wearying barrage of names, dates, and far-away forces. But those events were very real and life-changing for thousands of people. To allow your students to imagine what life must have been like in the past, Deana encourages hands-on activities. Whether making a map of South America with coffee beans or weaving a bookmark from cotton they've processed themselves, students will grow in their empathy with and interest in the people of the past.

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Which computer system do you prefer: one that costs more than your school can afford, or one that needs constant maintenance from school staff? Neither are ideal for small schools short on funds and staff. Howard offers insight in school technology gained from his decades as administrator at Countryside Christian School. Which hardware should you buy? Where can you find affordable software? How do you prepare for the inevitable problems?

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As Christendom disintegrates around us, we Anabaptists have a unique opportunity to awaken other Christians to the truth of nonresistance and to point enquirers (seekers) to a more holistic understanding of the life God offers us in Jesus Christ. This session will show the importance of nonresistance, its place in the Gospel message, and encourage our outreaches to recognize that fact and not neglect teaching nonresistance. 

Our world is ridden with darkness of all kinds. What is a Christian to do? Val urges us to place ourselves in harm's way to build the kingdom.

This session will look at three important types of spiritual relationships: mentors or coaches, peers or co-labourers, and followers or admirers. We will look at the nature of each of these types of relationships and how they can be built and used effectively. 

You are looking forward to graduation, or graduation is still visible in the rear-view mirror. Business, helping at home, Bible School, voluntary service, teaching school, industry, adventure... what is your next step? Are you at the right spot now? How should you be preparing for the future? What is God's role and what is your role? Come to explore these questions! 

What are advantages of long-term ministry? What is the mentality needed to continue effectively? What is often behind great-sounding excuses to quit? What are causes of burnout? Should there be a difference between the Christianity of a Christian who is not involved in organized ministry and that of one who is? 

Born in the year of D-Day and V-E Day, Elida Mennonite School is one of the oldest private schools still operated by conservative Anabaptists. Lyndon describes how the Mennonite community built the school with a sense of mission, and how shifting cultural forces and internal divisions have tested the community since then. Elida Mennonite School still stands among the cornfields and manufacturing towns of western Ohio, a place of preparation for the young people who will write the songs and teach the children of tomorrow.

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What are practical ways to interact with manipulative parents? What is the core problem with manipulative parents? What's underneath the communication problems you experience with parents, and what can you do about it? Specifically, how do you effectively communicate with a parent when basic trust and respect has broken down? A panel of education veterans respond to school administration's worst fears. They discuss the cultural shifts that enshrine children's happiness and the opportunity for school leadership to build expectations for parents and school to work together for the health of the church.

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If a student breaks an important rule, your classroom culture is disrupted. But which rules are important? Which violations can you tolerate? While not all problems are equally serious, all your rules are important, says Anthony. Rather than ignoring small issues, teachers should address them with solutions that match the level of the problem. Anthony and Joey share practices they have helped them maintain healthy classrooms.

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