CEDA Presents
4th Annual Christian Educators Diversity Symposium 2021
From Orthodoxy to Orthopraxy: Theology to Philosophy to Practice
June 6-8, 2021 • Virtual + In-Person
Register Today
The 4th annual Christian Educators Diversity Symposium will focus on Theology to Philosophy to Practice: From Orthodoxy to Orthopraxy. Christian experts and practitioners will tackle areas of theory and practice including a deeper discussion on how our work impacts our schools and the larger community. Join us as we hope to build bridges, collaborate, and resolve some of the overarching questions affecting school communities today.
Virtual
After the success of the 2020 CEDA Symposium, we’re committed to expanding our community and to make it affordable & accessible to those who are not able to travel to our symposium location. In order to do this well, we will offer a hybrid option to the 2021 CEDA Symposium. This option will follow the same schedule as the in-person event and hybrid participants will be placed in a family group similar to all participants. Since one of the overarching goals of this symposium is to create a place for learning and vulnerability along with relationship building, we will not be recording this symposium.
Mount Paran Christian School
We’re excited to announce that Mount Paran Christian School is hosting the CEDA Symposium 2021 this year. Mount Paran Christian School is nestled in the shadow of historic Kennesaw Mountain with easy access to Barrett Parkway, Cobb Parkway, I-75, and I-575.
Address
1275 Stanley Road, NW
Kennesaw, Georgia 30152
What is the Christian Educators Diversity Symposium?
The CEDA Symposium is a forum of learning and discussion for educators who strive to push Christian education to reflect the diversity of the Body of Christ.
Plenary Speakers
D.A. Horton serves as an Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Intercultural Studies program at California Baptist University. He is also blessed to serve as an Associate Teaching Pastor at The Grove Community Church.
He earned his B.S. in Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible College, his Masters Degree in Christian Studies from Calvary Theological Seminary and is working on his Ph.D. in Applied Theology with a North American Missions emphasis at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He has authored eight books; G.O.S.P.E.L., DNA: Foundations of the Faith*(both by Moody Publishers); Letters of the Revelation: To the One Who Conquers, To The One Who Conquers (Youth Study); Authentic Love (all through Lifeway Publishers); and Bound to Be Free: Escaping Performance to be Captured by Grace. He was blessed to co-author Enter The Ring: Fighting Together for a Gospel Saturated Marriage with his wife Elicia (both through NavPress). On October 22, 2019 his newest book, Intensional, published through NavPress released!
He and Elicia have been married for 17 years, and they have two daughters, Izabelle and Lola and one son, D.A. Jr. (aka Duce).
Walter R. Strickland II (PhD., University of Aberdeen) is Founder and President ofThe Strickland institute that equips leaders to pursue their mission cross-culturally. He serves as Assistant Professor of Systematic and Contextual Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, and is an Associate Research Fellow at the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge (UK). Born in Chicago and raised in Southern California, his passion to equip people to flourish in their context from a deep commitment to God’s design.
Jenny Brady has served in Christian schools for over 20 years, both as a teacher and administrator. Jenny’s unique perspective to the diversity discussion combines both her personal experience of growing up in Honduras and her professional experience of working within school systems to create more diverse and unified communities. Jenny currently serves as the Senior Director of Community Engagement at Legacy Christian Academy. She is also the co-founder of the Christian Educators Diversity Alliance, co-creator of the podcast GRAACE360, and is a speaker, teacher, author and trainer on diversity, equity and inclusion for schools across the country.
Workshop Speakers
Dr. Karen Bradberry is the Chief Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer at The Galloway School, a PK-12, co-ed, independent, day school, located in the Buckhead/Chastain Park area of Atlanta, GA. As Galloway’s first, senior administrator charged with designing, leading and managing the School’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, Dr. Bradberry works directly with the Head of School, Board of Trustees, leadership team as well as all other school community members to develop and institutionalize programs, policies, practices and procedures that advance the School’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals. After working in the public school and higher education sectors, Karen began her independent school career at Greenhill School in Dallas, TX. There, she became the school’s first, senior administrator in charge of leading and managing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Bradberry also worked in the non-profit sector as the first, executive director of the Future Leaders Program (FLP), a college readiness program, which served nearly 300 public and private school students from Dallas ISD. Karen says that her FLP experience gave her a true glimpse into the headship experience, as she led and managed all programmatic aspects, from designing and implementing a culturally relevant and responsive curriculum to training teachers to building class schedules and overseeing bus pick-up and drop-off schedules. When asked about her passion for DEI work in education, Karen states,” Being able to take my FLP kiddos whom society loved to ‘minoritize, marginalize, and otherize’, place them in the safe, brave inclusive teaching and learning community we built for them, and watch them maximize all their potential and achieve so much success makes FLP the most rewarding learning experience I have ever had. These students (who’d been written off as “can’ts” or “won’ts”) are now administrators in higher ed, accountants, teachers, nurses, lawyers, etc., and knowing that inclusive teaching and learning communities have the power to achieve this level of excellence in education is exactly what fuels my passion for this work!”
Dr. Bradberry works with students and adults in local, regional, and national public and private schools, conferences, and institutes in her mission to share information, resources, strategies, and tools that build and sustain inclusive teaching and learning communities for all. A former co-chair of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference, she has served on NAIS’s Call to Action Committee and currently works as a faculty member with NAIS’s Diversity Leadership Institute, where she has taught courses on multicultural education, systems theory, cultural identifiers, and power, privilege. She also works with schools, educational organizations, conferences and institutes as a workshop presenter/trainer, consultant, and speaker on several other DEI-related topics, including, but not limited to bias and brain-based research, content area reading, the art of building community, intercultural conflict styles, allyship, culturally responsive pedagogy, and her own newly-designed inclusive teaching & learning framework, to name a few.
Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in Linguistics from Texas A&M University; a Master of Education in Secondary Education from the University of North Texas; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Reading with a focus in Educational Leadership from Texas Woman’s University. In addition to holding Texas state certificates in English, Reading, Secondary Education, and Secondary Administration, Karen is now attending Harvard University, where she will earn a certificate in school management and leadership this summer.
One of Karen’s favorite quotes is from author James Baldwin who states: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
Sarah Cumming is the Founder and Head of School at Promise Academy. She and her husband, Alan, met at LeTourneau University where Sarah studied Psychology, English, Biblical Studies, and Philosophy. She has spent 18 years in Christ-centered education in a variety of schools from suburban Grace Community School to Manhattan Christian Academy in New York City. Alan and Sarah's children, Charlie and Caed, were born in New York. The Cumming family now lives in Tyler, TX where Sarah leads a great team at Promise Academy.
Two convictions drive Sarah's work: (1) exemplary education is a part of the calling of Jesus for His Body, the Church, and (2) God will be glorified and the gospel adorned when Christian schools serve with families in unison across our communities regardless of social, geographic, ethnic, or economic barriers.
Two convictions drive Sarah's work: (1) exemplary education is a part of the calling of Jesus for His Body, the Church, and (2) God will be glorified and the gospel adorned when Christian schools serve with families in unison across our communities regardless of social, geographic, ethnic, or economic barriers.
Joel Hazard is in his fifteenth year as a Christian school educator. He currently serves as the Head of Upper School at Fort Bend Christian Academy in Sugar Land, Texas. Joel is a member of the Profound Gentlemen organization, a community of male educators of color providing a profound impact for boys of color. Joel has a master’s degree in educational leadership, as well as a specialist degree in educational leadership for learning from Kennesaw State University. Joel has a passion for school leadership and is a champion of diversity within the private school sector. His efforts focus on curriculum development and the creation of a learning environment that is inclusive, racially literate, and socially and emotionally proficient in preparing students to thrive in the 21st century. Joel is married to his bride of fifteen years and has four children.
Aaron Howard is Founder and CEO of As One Christian Diversity Staffing, a consulting agency that helps Christian schools, universities, and organizations hire talent that aligns with their biblical values. He is also a thought leader in the field of Christian diversity and inclusion, and an in-demand speaker and presenter. He has over twenty-five years of experience serving in a variety of leadership roles in Christian churches, schools, and organizations.
Dr. Howard will be starting this fall as Assistant Professor of Ethics and Reconciliation at Lipscomb University and has most recently served as Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Franklin Road Academy. Dr. Howard received his PhD in Ethics and Society from Vanderbilt University, his MA in Theology, Biblical Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a BA in Anthropology from UCLA. He has been married for 22 years and has two children in college.
John has worked as a public high school teacher from 1996 to 2000 in the Cy Fair and Clear Creek School Districts in Houston Texas and at Whitehouse High near Tyler Texas from 2000 to 2012. He has been at Grace since 2012 coaching speech and debate, pole vault, and cross country, and teaching Modern World History, US History, US Government, and Economics. During his career John has taught both general education and AP courses in Geography, World History, U.S. History, Government, and Macroeconomics. John has been a College Board grader/reader for AP World History and US Government and Politics for 10 years. He also taught an elective Bible course in public schools. He also helped author the World History Essential Knowledge and Skills and Bible curriculum for the state of Texas in 2009. He received his B.S. in Political Science from Texas A&M University. John and his wife, Bonita (Bo), have two daughters at Grace, Ela and Madeline. John and his family are members of Southspring Baptist Church where John teaches an adult Sunday school class. John is a self-described nerd who loves all things political, theological, science fiction, the 80's, and Star Wars. He also loves reading, running and hiking with his family.
Schedule
Sunday, June 6th, 2021
Session
Time
Title
Sponsored by
Dinner
6:00-8:00PM
Dinner hosted by Joshua Expeditions at Mt. Paran Christian School
- Dress comfy for dinner outdoors as we get to know each other
- Tours provided for anyone who wants to see the amazing campus of Mt. Paran Christian School
Schedule
Monday, June 7th, 2021
Session
Time
Title
Speaker
Welcome
7:45-8:15AM
Welcome and Devotional
Dr. Tim Wiens
Plenary on Theology
8:15-9:15AM
Pursuing Kingdom Ethnicity in a Divided World
The author of eight books, DA Horton will discuss the divisions in our world. He will break down the different groups we place ourselves in within the church – ethnic segregation, classism, sexism, and theological tribes so that we can seek true reconciliation in Christ.
D.A. Horton
Lunch
10:45-11:45AM
Lunch
Lunch EARLY due to need to leave for Center early
Plenary on Philosophy
11:45-12:45PM
Critical Race Theory in Evangelicalism
Christians have winsomely engaged the ideas of the world since Paul’s encounter at Mars Hill in Acts 17—today is no different. Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a contemporary concept that is vexing Evangelicalism. Participants will be equipped to lead a more productive conversation about the pitfalls of CRT at their schools by having a working definition of the theory, knowing its origins, understanding the contours of the debate within Evangelicalism, and being equipped to analyze its tenants.
Dr. Walter Strickland
Field Trip
2:30PM
Center for Civil and Human Rights
Provide shuttle for return to Mt. Paran but also give restaurant list of places in downtown.
Schedule
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021
Devotional
8:00AM
Devotional
Dr. Katie Wiens
Plenary on Practice
8:30-9:30AM
Setting Up Your Practice for Success
Through an interactive discussion with experts and participants, we will learn together about best practices, successes and failures. Understanding that “one size doesn’t fit all” we will acknowledge that context and school culture affects each community’s needs differently. Listen from student perspectives and lean into the conversation with applicable takeaways for your school environment.
Jenny Brady
Lunch
11:00-12:00PM
Lunch
Wrap-up
3:00-4:00PM
Students report back to adults
Schedule
Workshops
Workshop 1
Support for Economically Diverse Students
As your school considers the depth of economic diversity available, many aspects of inclusion need to be assessed. From uniforms to school activities to workload, join Dr. Bradberry as she discusses what it looks like to create a school community where every student feels as though they belong with the economic diversity they bring.
Dr. Karen Bradberry
Workshop 2
The Untold Stories in Your Classroom
From history to English, from math to Bible, Sarah will help you diversify your heroes, authors, voices and characters in order to create an environment where students are seen and heard. If your school is very diverse or if you have little diversity, this is an equally important component of teaching as it allows all students to envision people beyond their current understandings.
Sarah Cumming
Workshop 3
Interpreting the Data
Data helps us strategically plan as it gives quantitative information to the qualitative stories being told. Work together with Joel Hazard to interpret what the data surrounding DEI says and how it impacts your community.
Joel Hazard
Workshop 4
A Biblical Approach to Teaching Politics
Politics has increasingly become a substitute for religious faith and the primary identity of many Americans. We will discuss strategies for helping students understand their primary identity as adopted heirs of God’s Kingdom so that they can embrace their role as ambassadors to the government of man.
John Keeling
Workshop 5
Building and Retaining Diverse Talent
Finding diverse talent is an ongoing challenge for Christian schools. When that talent must also embody a commitment to biblical principles and values, the challenge becomes even more formidable. If a school manages to find the talent, the work is not done – they must then successfully retain them. In this workshop, you will gain insight and learn practical strategies for helping you hire and retain diverse leaders, faculty, and staff who advance your school’s mission.
Dr. Aaron Howard
COVID Policy
- Masks required in buildings; disposable masks provided
- Synexis filtration system running in each classroom and portable filtration provided in other areas
- Socially distanced workshops and keynotes
- Hand sanitizing systems
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the registration cost include?
The price of registration will include a shuttle to and from the hotel daily, dinner on Sunday night, lunch on Monday and Tuesday, and your attendance at the Center for Civil and Human Rights.
What are family groups?
Participants, both hybrid and in–person, will be placed in family groups based on registration demographics. They will remain in these family groups for the duration of the symposium with the goal of building community to learn together from each other. Upon arrival, at the symposium participants will receive their family group information and schedule. Their family group will determine the schedule and rotation of the workshops.
Will participants be able to choose their own schedule?
Participants will be paired in family groups and will follow the schedule of their family group, rotating through the workshops and plenaries together.
What is the deadline for registration?
In-person registration is limited to 80 participants due to Covid restrictions. Once we reach 80 participants, in-person registration will close. Hybrid registration will remain open through May 28th.
Will the sessions be recorded?
Sessions will not be recorded. Since one of the overarching goals of this symposium is to create a place for learning and vulnerability along with relationship building, we will require attendance during the planned schedule for participation.
Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta NW/Kennesaw
Contact
Cheryl Pattee, Director of Sales
678-460-3992 x692
cheryl.pattee@hilton.com
Rates
1 King Bed $109.00
2 Queen Beds $114.00
This rate does include a hot cooked to order breakfast and not To-Go Bags.
Shuttle included
Experience Historic Atlanta
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
We couldn’t do this without the generous support of our wonderful sponsors and partners.
Team
Jenny Brady has served in Christian schools for over 20 years, both as a teacher and administrator. Jenny’s unique perspective to the diversity discussion combines both her personal experience of growing up in Honduras and her professional experience of working within school systems to create more diverse and unified communities. Jenny currently serves as the Senior Director of Community Engagement at Legacy Christian Academy. She is also the co-founder of the Christian Educators Diversity Alliance, co-creator of the podcast GRAACE360, and is a speaker, teacher, author and trainer on diversity, equity and inclusion for schools across the country.
Joel Hazard is in his fifteenth year as a Christian educator. He currently serves as the Head of Upper School at Fort Bend Christian Academy in Sugar Land, Texas. Joel is a member of the Profound Gentlemen organization, a community of male educators of color providing a profound impact for boys of color. Joel has a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership, as well as, a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership for Learning from Kennesaw State University. Joel has a heart and passion for school leadership and is a champion of diversity within the private school sector. His efforts focus on curriculum development, building a learning environment that is inclusive, racially literate, and socially and emotionally proficient in preparing students to thrive in the 21st century. Joel is married to his bride of fifteen years and has four children.
Yvonne Jones holds a bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and serves as the assistant director of the A.C.E. Student Success Center with the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). For over twenty plus years Yvonne has tutored, mentored children at various stages and levels of life, and taught as a substitute teacher. Her heart to educate children through exposure broadens their educational base. One way of accomplishing this is by building relationships. The exchange of ideas, gifts, and talents allows us to celebrate our differences while acknowledging our commonness resulting in sharing the love of Christ while glorifying the Father.
Grace Lee has a variety of experiences serving students of all ages. She is the first Director of Diversity at Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, GA and has been in this role for three years. She graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy. Since then, Grace has worked with college students in undergraduate admissions, taught 600 elementary students in South Korea as a Fulbright grantee and Korean American, was a preschool and middle school, and now serves in a leadership role at ELCA. Outside of education, she is also the first Executive Director for Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission (KKOOM). KKOOM means “Dream” in Korean, and the organization improves the lives of at-risk youth in Korean children’s homes through scholarships and outreach. Her strengths with diversity initiatives are event programming and creating a safe and inclusive space for all students to feel seen and heard through the Diversity Council.
David Mawhinney is Dean of Faculty and Director of the Trinity Institute for Leadership and Social Justice at Boston Trinity Academy. Boston Trinity has been ranked as the most diverse independent school in Massachusetts for the last several years, reflecting the mission of the school which is to provide an academically demanding education to students from all backgrounds in a Christ-centered community. Although born and raised in London, England, David holds a BA in History from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MA in East Asian Studies from Harvard University. His particular academic interest is Chinese history and he lived and worked in China for four years. In his capacity as the Director of the Trinity Institute, David oversees the school's social justice programs, both curricular and extra-curricular. The Trinity Institute promotes student leadership in its programs and David works with student leaders as they grow into their callings to love their neighbors in the Greater Boston community and beyond.
Jennifer has been an educator for over 18 years and has served as a middle school English teacher and currently as an administrator. Her passion for cultivating the whole child, and seeing students grow into strong leaders and advocates for unity, speaks to the work she currently does in diversity, equity and belonging. Jennifer currently serves as the Director of Diversity at Wesleyan School, where she leads teachers in professional development and supports students and families with the intent of creating and sustaining a community where all feel welcomed and valued. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Morris Brown College; a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Central Michigan University; a Specialist in Ed. Leadership and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University.
Jennifer desires to create spaces where conversations around our unique differences helps us all embrace the beauty of God’s creation and learn how to treat and love one another well. Philippians 1:27 says: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.”
Jennifer desires to create spaces where conversations around our unique differences helps us all embrace the beauty of God’s creation and learn how to treat and love one another well. Philippians 1:27 says: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.”
David Robinson serves as the Director of Equity and Inclusion for Grace Community School in Tyler, Texas. David has his B.S. in Bible/Biblical Studies from Clarks Summit University and has over 15 years of experience working in Christian education. This has helped shape his passion for cultivating an environment in which all students have access to a Christ-centered education, while feeling appreciated and celebrated. David is a co-founder of the Christian Educators Diversity Alliance. The organization’s work centers around helping Christian schools develop a more diverse and inclusive environment. David is also a member of Profound Gentleman, a community that provides support to male educators of color around the country. Along with David’s equity and inclusion work, he continues to invest in young people through the world of athletics as a basketball coach.
Catina Taliaferro currently serves as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion and leads the schools' CommUNITY taskforce at Mount Paran Christian School in Kennesaw, Georgia. She has been married to Emmett Taliaferro for 24 years and has two children. Catina has a degree in Business Management and a minor in Administration from Hampton University. Within her roles, Catina has the pleasure of working closely with staff, parents, and students to provide educational opportunities centered around diversity and inclusion. At Mount Paran Christian School, inclusion means accepting and appreciating one another regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, socioeconomic status, and physical abilities. With the belief that God created diversity, Catina feels that racial reconciliation is integral to being united in Christ.
Mr. Johnson joined Brook Hill in 2014 as a Math teacher and coach. Since then he has also served as our Director of Diversity and Intercultural Engagement and began serving as the Middle School Assistant Principal in 2019.
Mr. Johnson graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a B.S. in Mathematics. He went on to earn a Master of Counseling from Dallas Baptist University.
Since information is everywhere, Mr. Johnson believes education should produce life-long learners who are intuitive and creative. For him, academic knowledge isn’t enough; education should also point students to Christ and deepen their faith in Him.
Mr. Johnson and his wife of 27 years, Marcia have six children. They have a grown daughter, Pilar, who resides in Frisco; Joshua, who lives in Dallas; Rachel, a junior at the University of Texas at Tyler; Jacob, who lives in Dallas; Jared (Class of 2019) and Joseph (Class of 2021).
Mr. Johnson graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a B.S. in Mathematics. He went on to earn a Master of Counseling from Dallas Baptist University.
Since information is everywhere, Mr. Johnson believes education should produce life-long learners who are intuitive and creative. For him, academic knowledge isn’t enough; education should also point students to Christ and deepen their faith in Him.
Mr. Johnson and his wife of 27 years, Marcia have six children. They have a grown daughter, Pilar, who resides in Frisco; Joshua, who lives in Dallas; Rachel, a junior at the University of Texas at Tyler; Jacob, who lives in Dallas; Jared (Class of 2019) and Joseph (Class of 2021).