From providing teacher trainings and leadership development to facilitating school accreditations and providing targeted financial support, we aim to advance four priorities — continuing collaboration, focused support, growing empowerment, and responsive accountability.
“He appointed some to be ... teachers ... to prepare all God’s people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11–12, GNT), and for the Lake Union education team, this divine attribution is a high and humbling commission.
From providing teacher trainings and leadership development to facilitating school accreditations and providing targeted financial support, we aim to advance four priorities — continuing collaboration, focused support, growing empowerment, and responsive accountability. With enrollment of just over 2,900 students in 78 schools and education centers, the Lake Union Conference (LUC) education team gratefully embraces educational service through partnerships.
The current school year ushered in the department’s support for and participation in the Believe the Promise International Camporee. Administering an unexpected worthy academy student scholarship gifted for the 2024–25 school year and benefiting from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), leadership training, special education and other grant supports, reminded us, that our earth truly is the Lord’s, and too, its fullness.
Annual Small Schools’ week-long intensive for newly hired educators, a one-day Registrars and Administrative Assistants’ conference, Science Teachers Professional Learning Community (PLC) forum, AU-LUC STEM Day for K–12 educators, AU-LUC Teachers Professional Day held for AU pre-service teachers, annual LUC Secondary Leadership Conference for academy student leaders combined for a robust and inspiring 2024 summer-fall season.
Our Early Childhood and Curriculum Advisories led by associate directors, Sue Tidwell and Nicole Mattson, provide direction and guide the framework, planning and cohesiveness for administering support in early childhood education (ECE) and EC-12 curriculum. Christ-centered, age and developmentally appropriate NAD curricula and resources are reviewed and made available for centers, daycare programs and preschools. From standards-based learning and training resources and social emotional support to the “Science of Reading,” the focus and curricula implementation direction are more clearly defined.
We take to heart that in our schools, educators serve in loco parentis, and to the best of their abilities, shield the vulnerable in their care. Two fall 2024 trainings on child sex abuse prevention, “Darkness to Light,” provided for the LUC Early Childhood Advisory members as well as K–12 education leaders, highlight added avenues of field support. ... All for equipping students, staff, teachers and educational leaders; for building up the body of Christ; and for the glory of our Savior.
This school year, newly hired special education coordinator and instructional coach, Wadzanai Bepe, PhD, is engaged in attending to the needs of exceptional learners, as invited to do so, through her work with our conferences, schools and educators.
In your hand is the April issue which highlights support for learners with exceptionalities. Journey with me along this newly routed, bustling, inclusively hope-inspired pathway in LUC education — Special Education.
Ruth Horton, EdD, is director of education for the Lake Union Conference.
