Atlanta, GA

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We are excited to announce the inaugural CESA New Principals Institute hosted by Mount Paran Christian School in Atlanta, Georgia on June 25-28, 2023! The Institute is designed with an emphasis on practical support for the development of core competencies of principal leadership to equip leaders to thrive and will be attended by leaders from outstanding CESA schools from around the country that are new to their positions within the past two years. Among the greatest benefits of attending the institute will be the creation of a nationwide network of excellent leaders for ongoing professional support and collaboration in the years to follow.

A comprehensive leadership development curriculum will include 6 sessions over the course of three and a half days.

Core Elements of Divisional Leadership

This session will assist new principals in developing a tool kit for mastering the foundational skills that are universally necessary for leaders to succeed. In this session, principals will develop these competencies:

Practical Competencies of an effective Principal
Inspiring, Leading, and Managing Subordinates
Leading from the Middle

Academic Leadership

New principals must have a solid understanding of leading teachers toward continuous improvement and inspire the accomplishment of the academic and spiritual mission of the school. In this session, principals will develop these competencies:

Leading and Coordinating Effective Professional Development
Effective Implementation of Christian Worldview
Curriculum Analysis and Review Process

Cultivating Healthy School Culture

Preeminent voices in leadership development say the most important thing leaders do is create and manage culture. Principals can be so busy trying to manage day-to-day operations, they don’t have time to think about building culture. In this session, principals will learn how to:

Set the Tone for School-Wide Behavioral Expectations
Institutionalize Culture in Practice
Hold all Constituents Accountable to Culture

Managing Parent and Student Relations

From a practical standpoint, managing parent and student relations can be one of the trickiest and most stressful parts of a principal’s job. Principals need to know how to support both their teachers and parents, manage expectations, and keep parents on their team. Session skill building will include:

Practical Strategies for Winning with Parents
Establishing Healthy Relational Boundaries
Process Management for Student Discipline

Spiritual Life and Formation

In Christian education, principals are not only academic leaders, they are spiritual guides who set the tone for the achievement of the spiritual mission of the school. This session will explore:

Philosophy and Practice of Relational Ministry
Pastoral care of staff and students
Establishing Routines for Daily Encounters with Christ

Self-Care - Managing a Balanced Life for Sustained Thriving

Burnout is a troubling trend in the field of education, and with the demands and pressures of the leadership position, principals need to have a plan to guard their personal well-being. This session will foster the development of:

Foundational Habits for Maintaining Life Balance
Networks for Support
Personal/Professional Boundary Magna Carta

In addition to rich content and skill-building, participants will experience fun activities throughout the event, including an Atlanta Braves game, hiking, and a variety of other adventures that will build lasting memories with new friends and colleagues.

The Institute will begin on Sunday, June 25th at 6:00 pm and conclude on Wednesday, June 28th at 12:00 pm. For questions, please contact Event Director Chris Rutz at [email protected].

Register here!

Speakers

Brian Bell
Head of Schools, Redlands Christian Schools
Redlands, CA

Brian is in his 11th year at Redlands Christian Schools and 4th year as Head of Schools after serving as Upper School Principal. Redlands Christian educates 1,400 students in grades PS-12 on its 25-acre Southern California campus. Prior to this opportunity Brian served for four years as Head of School at Portsmouth Christian Academy at Dover (NH), New England’s largest Christian school. Brian has earned a master’s degree from the University at Albany (Public Policy with a focus on education policy) and completed the coursework towards a Ph.D. from Regent University. Brian has earned Head of School Certification through CESA, the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability.

Chris Cleveland
Head of School, Wesleyan School
Peachtree, GA

Chris Cleveland has served as Head of School at Wesleyan School of Peachtree, Georgia since 2014. He began his time at Wesleyan in 2002 as middle school principal before transitioning to high school high school principal in 2004. In 2010 he assumed the role of assistant headmaster for advancement. Chris earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Auburn University and a Master’s in Administration and Supervision from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, has served as president of the Atlanta Christian School Association, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Georgia GOAL, INC. and Georgia Community Foundation, Inc. He also serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Council for Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA).

Colin Creel
Headmaster, Cornerstone Christian Academy
Peachtree Corners, GA

Mr. Colin Creel has served as Headmaster at Cornerstone Christian Academy in Peachtree Corners, GA since 2011. Originally from St. Louis, Colin graduated from John Burroughs School then attended Wake Forest University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with a minor in Theater. After graduation, Colin worked as the Assistant Director of Admissions for Wake Forest while pursuing a Master’s degree in Communications. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Colin worked at Wesleyan School as a teacher, coach and administrator. During his career, Colin has been selected for summer fellowship opportunities through Columbia University (Klingenstein) and Vanderbilt University (Peabody School) and published two books, Perspectives: A Spiritual Life Guide for Twentysomethings and Crossroads: Navigating Your Calling and Career.

Tawanna Rusk
Associate Head of School (Upper and Middle), Mount Paran Christian School
Kennesaw, GA

Mrs. Tawanna Rusk has served at Mount Paran Christian School since 2011 in three different roles including Lower, Middle, and Upper School Head. She is currently serving as the Associate Head of School and Upper School Head. She is originally from Warner Robins, GA, where she was raised on the Air Force Base. Tawanna earned a B.S Degree in Special Education from Georgia College and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Kennesaw State University. Tawanna worked as a special education teacher and public school administrator for twenty years before joining the Mount Paran Christian School community.

Christopher Rutz
President, Rutz Educational Consulting

Mr. Christopher Rutz served as Head of School at Providence School in Santa Barbara, California and Capistrano Valley Christian School in San Juan Capistrano, California from 2012-2022. Chris began his career as a history, government, and global studies teacher in Oregon before transitioning to school leadership in California where he served for seven years as Assistant Head of School at Calvary Christian School in Pacific Palisades, California. Chris earned a B.A. in History from the University of Minnesota, a B.A. in Secondary Education from Western Oregon University, and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon. He completed his teacher credentialing program at Western Oregon and his administrative credentialing program at the University of Oregon. He is a founding board member of the DeepRoots Bible Curriculum, a dynamic K-8 curriculum designed to instill a love for God’s word and teach apologetics and Christian worldview through a comprehensive Old and New Testament scope and sequence. In 2022, Chris founded Rutz Educational Consulting, a firm dedicated to supporting school leaders to achieve greatness through increasing levels of professional competence and confidence.