ACSI is pleased to host a joint webinar with Cardus on Wednesday, October 11th from 3-4:15 p.m. Join us as the authors of Future Ready: Innovative Missions and Models in Christian Education, discuss sustainable financial and structural models for Christian schools. You will hear from Dr. Lynn Swaner, Dr. Jon Eckert, Erik Ellefsen, and Dr. Matthew Lee during both a panel discussion and a live Q&A session. Register today!

A growing number of Christian schools are responding to changing times by innovating new structural, financial, and operational models. Future Ready traces the stories of 11 schools and networks that adopted completely new mindsets to keep their schools sustainable. They have merged schools, started online academies, developed micro-schools, advocated for independent school support programs, formed Christian school districts, shared back-end functions with other schools, engaged in entrepreneurship and facilities leasing, started brand new schools, and provided inclusive education for students of all abilities. Their stories and strategies will inspire leaders to think innovatively, strategically, and above all, missionally about how to reach future generations with thriving Christian schools. Learn More

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Lynn E. Swaner, EdD

Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, ACSI

Lynn E. Swaner, EdD, is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Association of Christian Schools International, where she leads initiatives and develops strategies to address compelling questions and challenges facing Christian education. Dr. Swaner serves as a Cardus senior fellow and is the co-author or editor of numerous books on Christian education, including Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools and MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education.

Jon Eckert, EdD

Copple Professor for Christians in School Leadership, Baylor University
Cardus Senior Fellow

Jon Eckert, EdD, is the Copple Professor for Christians in School Leadership at Baylor University and a Cardus senior fellow. He taught intermediate and middle-school students outside Chicago and Nashville for twelve years. He completed his doctorate at Vanderbilt University and served at the US Department of Education during the Bush and Obama administrations. For ten years, he prepared teachers at Wheaton College. He is the author of The Novice Advantage: Fearless Practice for Every Teacher and Leading Together: Teachers and Administrators Improving Student Outcomes, as well as numerous book chapters and articles.

Erik Ellefsen

Director of Network and Improvement, Baylor University’s Center for School Leadership

Erik Ellefsen is Director of Network and Improvement at Baylor University’s Center for School Leadership. He has served in education for more than two decades as a teacher, coach, consultant, and as dean of academics at Boston Trinity Academy, principal at Chicago Christian High School, and grievance chairman for the American Federation of Teachers. He currently serves as senior fellow for both the Center for the Advancement of Christian Education and Cardus.

Matthew H. Lee, PhD

Senior Fellow, ACSI
Clinical Assistant Professor of Economics, Kennesaw State University
Adjunct Professor of Education Policy, Johns Hopkins University
Non-Resident Scholar, Baylor University’s Center for School Leadership

Matthew H. Lee, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow at the Association of Christian Schools International and Clinical Assistant Professor of Economics at Kennesaw State University. He is an Adjunct Professor of Education Policy at Johns Hopkins University, Non-Resident Scholar at Baylor University’s Center for School Leadership, co-editor of Religious Liberty and Education (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020), co-author of Future Ready (ACSI/Cardus, 2022), and author of numerous peer-reviewed research articles, book chapters, technical reports, and op-eds on faith and education.