In Alamo City, Christian school leaders urged to remember their calling

Tourists view The Alamo on a recent night in San Antonio. (Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.)

Blogging from San Antonio
Remember the Alamo?
Scott Harsh, senior high principal of Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, Ga., had a different message for the crowd gathered inside the Alamo building last Wednesday night.
“Tonight, I say to you, ‘Remember our calling,'” Harsh told National Christian School Association annual conference attendees.
As leaders of K-12 schools associated with Churches of Christ convened in San Antonio, Harsh reflected on the spiritual lessons he learned during a faith-building bout with cancer.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge” from Proverbs 1:7 served as the theme of the NCSA conference, which drew about 200 leaders from 45 Christian schools in a dozen states.
Topics addressed during the three-day conference ranged from creating a digital learning environment to handling internal conflict to inviting students to participate in the creative activity of God.
National awards were presented:

Kay Robbins of Abilene Christian Schools in Texas receives the Educator of the Year Award from Philip Patterson, president of the National Christian School Association. (Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.)

• Educator of the Year: Kay Robbins of Abilene Christian Schools in Texas. (Read an Abilene Reporter-News story on Robbins’ win.)
• Teacher of the Year: Steve Hawley of Westbury Christian School in Houston. (I interviewed Hawley during a recent visit to Westbury. Look for an upcoming feature in The Christian Chronicle on Hawley and Westbury.)
• Coach of the Year: Tim Taylor of David Lipscomb High School in Nashville, Tenn. Taylor has served as Lipscomb High’s head track and field coach for more than 20 years.
• Administrator of the Year: Mark Niehls of Coventry Christian Schools in Pottstown, Pa. (Read a 2007 Chronicle feature on Niehls and Coventry.)
Philip Patterson, president of the Oklahoma City-based NCSA, said each of the award winners represented hundreds of dedicated Christian school teachers, coaches and administrators.
“Each and every one of you has award-winning people in your school,” Patterson told attendees.
Eight Christian schools were recognized for receiving first-time or renewed NCSA accreditation:

Leaders of Christian Heritage Schools in San Antonio receive a plaque recognizing the school’s accreditation by the National Christian School Association. (Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.)

• Christian Academy of Greater St. Louis
• Christian Heritage Schools of San Antonio
• East Texas Christian Academy of Tyler, Texas
• Harding Academy of Searcy, Ark.
• Harding Academy of Memphis, Tenn.
• Jackson Christian School of Tennessee
• North Texas Christian Academy of McKinney
• San Angelo Christian Academy of Texas
While focused on K-12 education, the conference drew support from Christian universities.
Reception and meal sponsors included Abilene Christian University, Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala., Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tenn., Harding University in Searcy, Ark., Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., and Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma Christian President Mike O’Neal welcomed attendees to the opening-night worship. Abilene Christian President Phil Schubert and ACU board chairman Barry Packer spoke on ACU’s recent presidential search process. Earl Lavender, executive director of Lipscomb’s Institute for Christian Spirituality, gave the awards banquet keynote speech. And Steve Eckman, president of York College in Nebraska, came to show his support.
See more coverage in the next print edition of the Chronicle.
Read a June 2010 story on economic challenges faced by Christian schools.