Flourishing in the City

Association of Christian Schools International / Spiritual Formation / GRAACE Initiatives / Flourishing in the City

Join Us Online and In-Person

ACSI and Spreading Hope Network are excited to present this series of virtual and in-person gatherings designed for educators serving socio-economically and ethnically diverse student populations.

The aim of our time is fellowship, refreshment, and strategic consultation on issues you are facing. In addition to targeted instruction, our small group sessions will help you gather insight from fellow leaders and teachers on practical or strategic issues you are facing in your school. Our prayer is that each teacher and leader will leave with renewed zeal, deepened insights, and new peers to reach out to in the future.

Event Details

Event Registration

Forming Disciples: The Christian School's Role in the Great Commission

August 7, 2026 | Virtual
1:00–2:30 p.m. CST (2:00–3:30 p.m. EST)

As Christian school leaders prepare for a new academic year, our greatest calling extends beyond academic excellence. We are entrusted with the privilege of partnering with families and the local church to help form students who know Christ, follow Christ, and faithfully live out His mission.

Join us for the first Flourishing in the City gathering of the 2026–2027 school year as we explore what it means for Christian schools to intentionally participate in the Great Commission through the daily work of Christian education.

Grounded in Matthew 28:18–20, this interactive session will challenge school leaders to consider how discipleship can move beyond the classroom and become a defining characteristic of school culture. Together, we will examine practical ways schools can cultivate students who are prepared to serve, lead, and make disciples in their communities and around the world.

Through a facilitated conversation with Christian education leaders, participants will hear stories of schools that are creating meaningful opportunities for students to put their faith into action through service, partnership, and mission experiences. Rather than highlighting programs, this session will focus on the biblical calling shared by every Christian school and the practical ways that calling can be lived out in diverse school communities.

Whether you are a longtime member of the Flourishing in the City community or joining us for the first time, you will leave encouraged, connected with fellow Christian school leaders, and equipped with fresh ideas to begin the new school year with renewed purpose.

As a new school year approaches, take time to invest in your own leadership and reconnect with a community of Christian educators who are committed to helping schools flourish for the glory of God.

We look forward to welcoming you on August 7.

Benefits For Teachers & Leaders

Leaders and teachers are encouraged to attend!

Networking opportunities with likeminded individuals: both in person and online events will offer breakout groups
CEU credits, which can be used towards future ACSI certification
Christ-centered, biblical worldview-focused, high-quality, relevant, research-based content for immediate application in your classrooms

Past Event Recordings

Selected clips from previous gatherings:

From Constraint to Capacity: Resource Planning in ACCESS Schools | April 10, 2026

Christian schools serving diverse student populations often carry both a bold mission and significant financial pressure. This session explores a critical question: How do we move from operating under constant constraint to building sustainable capacity?

During this interactive conversation, we:

Examine what resource planning truly means for mission-driven schools
Discuss the strategic role of the development department in ACCESS schools
Explore practical approaches to building non-tuition revenue
Consider the implications of the Educational Choice for Children Act
Engage in thoughtful dialogue with leaders experienced in school sustainability

This session is designed for Heads of School, board members, development leaders, regional directors, and Christian educators who are committed to expanding access while maintaining excellence and Biblical unity.

Flourishing in the City | February 6, 2026

As Christian educators serving in diverse and dynamic urban communities, we share a common challenge: how can our teaching models, whether Classical, Project-Based, or others, be shaped to help GRAACE students thrive? This Flourishing in the City conversation explores how we can thoughtfully contextualize educational models to meet the needs of all learners, academically, spiritually, and emotionally. Together, we will discuss: How to align instructional frameworks with the realities and opportunities of GRAACE. The importance of Holistic Teaching: educating the heart, soul, and mind, so that spiritual formation is woven into every learning experience. The call for Outcomes-Focused Education: understanding that process and innovation matter most when they produce measurable growth in student achievement and flourishing.

Flourishing in the City | October 24, 2025

Hosted by Justina Jenkins, Director of GRAACE Initiatives at ACSI, this panel will feature educational leader, Karen Gosby, as they unpack how data can be used not only to gauge school effectiveness, but also to guide strategic decisions, improve outcomes, and address persistent challenges. Whether you're a school leader, administrator, or educator, you’ll walk away with actionable ideas on how to:

Use data to evaluate your school’s results and effectiveness
Track progress toward school-wide goals
Address areas of concern using relevant and timely information
Align data practices with your mission to see students flourish.

God's Story: Helping Students See Themselves in God's Bigger Plan | August 8, 2025

Featuring Dr. Vernard T. Gant
Join us for the next Flourishing in the City event on August 8, 2025, featuring Dr. Vernard T. Gant, retired Director of Urban Schools and the ACE Student Success Center. Dr. Gant is a nationally respected voice on educational equity, urban school transformation, and serving students from under-resourced communities through a Biblical lens.

In this powerful session, Dr. Gant will speak on the theme "God’s Story – Students believe they are a part of God’s bigger plan and can be used by Him to make a difference." He will share practical and inspiring strategies for helping students in private Christian schools understand their God-given identity, purpose, and calling.

You’ll gain insights into how to:

Foster a biblical view of purpose and belonging in your school culture
Help students see their story as part of God’s redemptive work in the world
Equip educators to support students in discovering how they can be used by God to make a difference

Effective, Christlike Teachers | April 5, 2024
Dr. Justina Jenkins led this interactive session as we explored the qualities and strategies of effective, Christlike teachers within an urban school context. As we evaluated practices such as exhibiting humility and servanthood, promoting justice and fairness, encouraging kindness and generosity, teaching with integrity and honesty, and practicing forgiveness and grace, we also generated ideas with one another on practical applications in the classroom and for hiring policies and recruitment.