North American Division’s Educators’ Convention 2023: Something Better

Rose Thomas, Ph.D.

The North American Division (NAD) Office of Education held its Educators’ Convention from August 7-10, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona, a city that is breathtaking — for both its hot temperatures and its huge talents for the arts. Every five years, thousands of educators all over North America and beyond gather to celebrate the great commission to educate, learn, and fellowship together as one. This year, close to 6,000 individuals attended the “Something Better” convention.

The Southern Union Office of Education, along with its eight conferences, Southern Adventist Univeristy, and Oakwood University, eagerly responded to the invitation to join in the throng of educators as we collaborated with others for the success of the convention. We left the gathering armed with new joys, hopes, and insights, and we are inspired to carry the work of education into the future in a strategic and focused manner that will impact our Southern Union territory for the better.

Invitation

The Educators’ Convention is an exercise in eternity where people of all cultures, colors, and customs gather to celebrate the work of redemption through the process of education. Carlton Byrd, D.Min., president for the Southwest Region Conference in Dallas, Texas, was the opening speaker for the convention. He offered the greatest invitation from the Holy Spirit that we all might connect our will to God’s purpose, so we can understand our worth in the work that God has ordained for educators. Our success as Adventist educators is etched into God’s heart and in His perfect plan for our lives. Byrd declared that God’s purpose for each educator is “creative, customized, comprehensive, and connected” to the heart of the living God, which gives us the power to work faithfully and tirelessly for the cause of God.

Donnett Blake, D.Min., pastor and director of women’s ministries for the Northeastern Conference in Jamaica, New York, served as our morning devotional speaker. Blake raised the congregation of educators before the throne of God daily, and invited us to connect to the Holy Spirit so we might obtain power as we work to transform our schools into spaces of protection, restoration, and inclusion for all children.

In addition to connecting our will to the heart of God, other speakers entreated us to refine our skills and create conditions that are healthy and happy for students and teachers to succeed in our schools. Mario Acosta, Ed.D., author and associate from the Marzano Resources Team, shared that the quality of the classroom teacher determines the outcome for students. To that end, educators must build, sharpen, and focus their expertise to guide our students to be successful in faith and in life. Discipline and consistency are keys, according to Acosta. Educators must have the support necessary for them to connect students to their teachers and their peers in a safe and caring environment; to ensure that each student learns the most critical parts of the curriculum; to measure the impact of the teachers’ work; and to make adjustments that support students’ and teachers’ improvement.

Tina Boogren, Ph.D., author and associate from the Marzano Resources Team, continued the urgent invitation for teachers to work within a framework of effective teaching practices. Boogren underscored the proven principle that teachers’ actions drive students’ achievement; and, when teachers instruct within a framework, they have a model by which they can evaluate themselves, receive feedback from their peers and leaders, change, adjust, and grow in their practices — for the benefit of all students.

Our educators will be connected to the heart and purpose of God who grants teachers the heart to love and the skills to teach, assess, intervene, and give feedback to students as they progress and grow academically, spiritually, physically, and social-emotionally.

Collaboration

The work of education is extensive and expansive. Our Adventist education system is connected at all levels, so that everyone must labor in cooperation for the work to be successful. While the NAD planned and invited educators to the convention, many hands worked together to bring about programs and processes that were uplifting and transformative for all.

In the Southern Union, more than 900 educators attended the convention, and many of them collaborated in numerous ways to train, model, present, and encourage others in the field of education. Some, such as Jonathan Sumner, northern regional director of education/associate superintendent for Georgia- Cumberland Conference, and Eder Marski, IT director for the Southern Union Conference, provided technological support, while Bryant Taylor, D.Min., communication director for the Southern Union Conference, served in photography. Luberta Biggs, certification registrar for the Southern Union Office of Education, took time during the convention to meet with teachers to inform and support them in their quest to maintain their teaching certification. Many educators from the Southern Union territory presented in breakout sessions. Quite a few of them offered several successful sessions to rooms full of participants.

Inspiration

The Educators’ Convention had uplifting music by musicians and recording artists such as Micah Tyler, Nicole Mullen, CYIZA, and Laura Story; unbounded messages by powerful speakers; and unforgettable memories that provided a refreshing atmosphere and time of reflection. The Office of Education has been inspired to continue the work of education in a focused and strategic way so that schools within our territory might continue to 1. Build safe, supportive, and collaborative school environments; 2. Grow effectively in teaching practices; and 3. Streamline the content of the curriculum to teach those concepts that are critical for students to learn at each grade level. These three concepts formed the foundational elements of Standards-Based Education (SBE). Additionally, we will place emphasis on recruiting and retaining teachers, and we will focus our energy and resources in collaborating with conferences to support their schools in tangible and meaningful ways.

Toward a Standards-Based Education

There are three foundational principles as designed by Marzano Research: Level 1 – Safe Culture, Level 2 – Effective Teaching, and Level 3 – Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum. They are levels of commitment, or what schools must do and be, as they journey toward Standards-Based Education. Together with levels 4 – Standards-Referenced Reporting, and 5 – Competency-Based Education, the five levels form the required elements needed for schools to be High Functioning or High Reliability Schools (HRS). These levels are tightly connected to our Adventist Edge (Educators Designing GREAT Education) initiative which commits that, in all schools across the Southern Union, we would design education that is GREAT:

God-centered

Result-oriented

Environment that Nurtures

Aligned with Standards

Team Effort

The Southern Union is focusing its efforts and resources on the three foundational levels (1-3) of HRS at this time, as those levels are the bedrock of standards-based teaching and learning. Levels 4 and 5 support and complete the process. The five HRS levels, which culminate into Standards-Based Education, are not a departure from the Southern Union Adventist EDGE. Rather, the five levels provide a concrete and common language that the Southern Union educators can share and practice as we design GREAT education for all students in our schools.

Efforts to Recruit and Retain Teachers

The Office of Education is also focusing its efforts and resources to the recruitment and retention of teachers. Under the leadership of Murray Cooper, education director for the Southern Union Conference, collaborative plans between Education and the universities, Southern and Oakwood, are under way in the form of Aspiring Teacher Clubs at the High School level, as well as sponsorships and scholarships at the university level. Education sponsored a group of pre-service teachers and their chaperones to attend the Educator’s Convention. This seemingly simple gesture has been life-changing for those students who attended and has secured their commitment and respect for the educational field.

Below are some testimonies from the pre-service teachers and a chaperone who attended the convention:

“I would like to extend personal thanks and gratitude to Mr. Murray Cooper for making this trip to the convention possible. I am grateful for the opportunity and will cherish the information and lessons learned on the trip.” –Samuel Brand, Oakwood University

“I am very appreciative to the Southern Union for helping me go to the convention even before I start my teaching career. I was able to see some of my own teachers from elementary school who really impacted my life and helped me to make the decision to follow in their footsteps and work in education. The community that encompasses the Adventist education system is amazing!” –Hannah Guenin, Southern Adventist University

“It was amazing to see all the wonderful educators who made the trip to Arizona and to understand that this career is so important. It definitely caused me to realize that I made the right career choice, where I can truly make a difference in the world.” –Nicole Rodriguez, Southern Adventist University

“The NAD teacher’s convention was an amazing, memorable, and educational experience that I will never forget! I will take the information presented to me to the classroom. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to experience the convention!” –Abbey Knowles, Southern Adventist University

“It was a blessing to be a part of this experience. I met new people from various conferences all over the country! It felt so surreal to know that everyone in the vicinity had a common interest: the love of education. I learned a lot of information that I plan to take into my future career as a teacher. I was truly inspired to keep God first in all that I do!” –Sydonni Davis, Oakwood University

“One of my favorite parts of the convention was the breakout rooms, especially the New Teacher Panel, and how to support students’ mental health. I am truly grateful and blessed for this opportunity which will help me once I graduate. Also, it was my first time on the west coast which was cool!” –Avelina Cipion, Oakwood University

“After attending this convention, I feel much more confident in my calling to be a teacher, and cannot wait to graduate and see where God leads me in my teaching career. Thank you so much for making this possible!” –Brianna Trott, Southern Adventist University

“Thank you is a simple term, but it is not meant to undermine our gratitude. We appreciate that you would consider and think of us. We extend our gratitude to Mr. Cooper and Mrs. Thrower. It was a pleasure to see your welcoming smiles!” –Noraj Jean-Louis, Oakwood University

“I want to give a big thank you to Mr. Murray Cooper for making my visit to the North American Division’s Educators’ Convention possible. I left the convention feeling very confident that I will be able to use my God-given gifts and talents to serve in our Adventist schools, because my help comes from the Lord!” –Crystal Akama, Oakwood University

“On behalf of the Department of Education at Oakwood University, we thank you for sponsoring both faculty and teacher candidates to the North American Division’s Educators’ Convention. We had a phenomenal time. We are blessed to partner with you!” –Dana Wilchcombe, Ph.D., associate professor for Oakwood University School of Education.

Collaboration with Conferences and Universities

From the NAD’s invitation to gather as a people, to the Southern Union’s collaboration for the success of the convention, we are inspired to move toward something better. Education is committed to devoting all its efforts and resources to support the conferences and universities in our territory. We will lay our plans before God, and we will hold confidently to the formula that Alexander Bryant, D.Min., president for the North American Division, shared at the closing of the convention:

God’s Plan + God’s Favor = Something Better!

Our Office of Education will support our conferences and universities in areas such as:

• Standards-Based Education training.

• Support for teacher certification and school accreditation.

• Recruit and retain teachers.

• Build capacity of new principals.

• Assist in the efforts to meet the Division directive that all Seventh-day Adventist Early Childhood Education (ECE) centers obtain accreditation through Adventist Accreditation Association and National Council for Private School Accreditation by the summer of 2026.

• Support the growing desire of our ECE’s to operate at higher standards.

• Provide necessary help as more teachers add the early childhood endorsement to their certification.

• Support the acquisition of educational resources.

• Facilitate learning opportunities for teachers in the integration of educational resources and technology into lesson planning.

• Assist in building technology infrastructure and develop an educational IT services team to foster greater technology equity and accessibility to support teaching and learning.

Rose Thomas, Ph.D., is the associate elementary education director for the Southern Union Conference.
Southern Union | November 2023