Speakers Bureau

Gary Arnold is the President of the Little Rock Christian Academy Foundation and a partner of NextEd, an educational services platform equipped ""to empower schools to achieve their next."" From 2007 to 2023, Gary served as the Head of School of Little Rock Christian Academy. Prior to Little Rock, Gary served as a school head in Illinois and Massachusetts and as a lobbyist for the Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent schools. Gary directs the head of school certification program for the Council for Educational Standards and Accountability. He also serves on the board of the Council for American Private Education.

Contact: gary.arnold@littlerockchristian.com

Constructs of Expertise:

• Culture of Improvement
• Leadership Interdependence
  
• Outcomes Focus
• Partnership
• Questioning
• Resilience
• Systems Thinking

Dennis Eastman has dedicated over 15 years to the field of education, serving in various capacities such as a Social Studies teacher, coach, Athletic Director, and Director of Faculty Induction. His journey led him to become the principal of Nova Academy Early College High School in Santa Ana, California, where under his leadership, the school received a Bronze Medal ranking from U.S. News and World Report for being one of the most improved schools in California.

Currently, Eastman serves as the Director of Secondary Education at Biola University, where he integrates his faith, expertise, and passion for teaching and coaching to prepare the next generation of educators. Throughout his 13-year tenure, Eastman has traveled extensively internationally, collaborating with administrators and faculty in local schools to develop inclusive, active, and effective learning strategies for all students.

As an educational architect, Eastman's research agenda is actively focused on equipping teachers in student motivation, program design, creating an environment of attempt for all learners, and preparing teachers in both domestic and international settings.

Contact: dennis.eastman@biola.edu

Constructs of Expertise:

• Behaviors for Learning
• Best Practice Orientation
• Christ-like Teachers
• Data-driven Improvement
• Engaged Learning
• Feedback
• Holistic Teaching
• Qualified Staff
• Responsiveness to Special Needs
• Supportive Leadership

Dr. Mitch Evans has over 20 years of teaching experience in Kingdom Education schools. He currently teaches Christian Apologetics at North Raleigh Christian Academy and serves as an instructor in Liberty University's School of Education Doctoral Program. He holds a degree in Microbiology and Cell Science from The University of Florida and earned his Doctor of Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he studied the relationship between biblical worldview and Christian education. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Evans and his wife of 19 years, Dawn, are raising 3 children in Wake Forest, NC. He loves cheering for his Florida Gators, especially in the sports of baseball and football. He enjoys reading and is currently working through some of the great classics of literature and current works in Christian philosophy and worldview. In addition, he loves all things guitar related and the occasional game of golf. Good coffee will never be far away, as well.  

Contact: mitchevansedd@gmail.com

Constructs of Expertise:

• Christlike Teachers
• God's Story
  
• Holistic Teaching
  
• Integrated Worldview
• Mentoring Students
• Spiritual Formation

Tia Gaines is a consultant, writer, and conference speaker who devotes herself to advocating for diversity, unity, and belonging within Christian education as well as innovation and technology. She has served in education for over 20 years, including time teaching internationally, and in both suburban and urban contexts, including her most recent role as Associate Director of Social Equity and Community and the University of Pennsylvania. Tia has created curriculum and resource material on the topic of cultural humility, as well as intercultural competency, dialogue, and reflection with a specific love and passion for urban education, community engagement, and school partnerships. Her work with school partnerships includes her role as Director of Culture and Community Engagement, a shared position between Delaware County Christian School and The City School, Philadelphia. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and served as a Flourishing Schools Institute faculty member. Tia and her husband Joel reside in Philadelphia and have four children: Josiah, Hosanna, Eliana and Adoniah.

Contact: tiagaines@centerforunity.com

Constructs of Expertise:

• Community Engagement
  
• Insular Culture
• Partnership
• Professional Development
  

Matt Kwiatkowski, Head of Schools at Delmarva Christian Schools (ELC-12) in Georgetown and Milton, DE, has spent 29 years in both public and private education teaching and leading in elementary, middle, and high schools in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Matt is passionate about the learning process and professional development initiatives for both the child and adult learner. 

Contact: mkwiatkowski@delmarvachristian.com

Constructs of Expertise:

• Engaged Learning
• Individualized Instruction
• Mentoring Students
• Outcomes Focus
• Professional Development
• Questioning
  

Schuyler Lehman created Mission Advancement with the objective of helping nonprofit organizations develop the capacity for relationship-based major and principal gifts. Throughout his career spanning nearly four decades, his unwavering focus on serving the passions, interests, and needs of the donor has helped to redefine institutional fundraising. Schuyler has authored three books outlining his unique philosophy and approach, and he is also a frequent speaker and presenter at regional, national, and international conferences.

Schuyler has helped raise more than $6 billion for a wide variety of nonprofit organizations (educational, social service, youth, community, etc. - most of which have a Christian faith focus). He has provided consultation and advice to more than 1,000 nonprofits throughout the U.S. and Canada for major capital and endowment campaigns, annual funds, and general development activities.

Residing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1992, he lives with his wife Jennifer in McKinney, Texas.

Contact: slehman@missionadvancement.com

Constructs of Expertise:

• Community Engagement
• Resources
• Resource Constraints
• Resource Planning
• Supportive Leadership

Mia Mbroh's warm, yet no-nonsense style of speaking creates truthful conversations for participants seeking to navigate the twists and turns of life. Her grace and empathy serve as guiding points with individuals and groups of all sizes looking for reflection and mediation in relationships and reconciliation. Mia is gifted in working with youth, adults, parents, places of faith, schools , organizations, and corporations seeking an open ear for life's conversations that are sometimes the most difficult. "A force of love and compassion who seeks to nudge that same force of love and compassion from others ..."

Mia's dedication to helping others has built her career through countless conversations dealing with social and emotional health. In each encounter, she seeks to help individuals establish their own narrative in order to move toward their full potential. By creating a safe space for dialogue, Mia helps each individual feel comfortable by showing her own transparency while displaying her ability to listen and facilitate conversation from others. A licensed professional counselor for over 25 years, Mia is a certified parent educator and a trained facilitator for the Anti-Defamation League. Mia facilitates healthy conversations in regard to the topics of relational health, mental and emotional wellness, diversity, faith, awareness, and self-improvement. Mia holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Family Psychology with a minor in Education and Communication. She is also a published author and has recently written "A Sticky Story" - a children's book about navigating emotions

Contact: mia@miambroh.com

Constructs of Expertise:

• Caring Environment
• Christlike Teachers
• Family Relationships
• Professional Development
• Resilience
• Spiritual Formation
  
• Stress

Joy Roberts is on a mission to teach God's design for Friendship to the next generation of leaders. Hailing from a small town of just 200, Joy's entrepreneurial spirit led her to Co-found Friendzy, a Non-profit serving schools internationally since 2014 with Scripturally based social, emotional and character development programming. Joy has served as an organizational visionary, curriculum designer, author, teacher, mental well-being advocate and platform speaker as Friendzy has grown to serve well over 250,000 students. Joy has an extensive career in business marketing and development and holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Management, Masters in Biblical Theology, and is in the process of completing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Marymount University. All of these experiences have undoubtedly prepared her for the role of Friendzy co-founder. Joy will tell you the courage and tenacity needed to propel the vision of Friendzy and the learned skills of resilience after hardship all came through God's grace. Outside of Friendzy, Joy spends time with her husband of thirty years, two adult sons, friends, and the most recent family additions of two Golden Doodles, Jelly and Bean.

Contact: joy@friendzy.co

Constructs of Expertise:

• Behaviors for Learning
• Best Practice Orientation
• Caring Environment
• Engaged Learning
• Family Relationships
• Holistic Teaching
• Prosocial Orientation
• Resilience
• Spiritual Formation
• Stress
  

Over the past thirty-eight years, Scott Rodin has helped hundreds of organizations improve their effectiveness in leadership, fund development, strategic planning, and board development. His work has impacted individuals, ministries, and churches in the U.S., Canada, the Middle East, Great Britain, China, the Philippines, and Australia. 

Dr. Rodin is Senior Consultant/Chief Strategy Officer for The Focus Group and is the Founder/Content Expert for the Center for Steward Leader Studies. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow of the Association of Biblical Higher Education and as board chair for ChinaSource. In addition, Dr. Rodin is past president of Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Christian Stewardship Association, and Rodin Consulting, Inc., and he owns and operates Kingdom Life Publishing. He is a trainer and coach for the Board Training programs at Youth for Christ and the Gianforte Family Foundation.

Dr. Rodin holds Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Systematic Theology from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.  He's written seventeen books including The Third Conversion, The Steward Leader, and The Four Gifts of the King. He speaks regularly at conferences, retreats, and professional development events. 

Contact: scott@rodinconsultinginc.com

Constructs of Expertise:

• Leadership Interdependence
  
• Outcomes Focus
• Professional Development
• Resources
• Systems Thinking

With a background in teaching in Christian education, Stefan is committed to equipping educators to shape the worldview of their students and peers. He holds a Masters in biblical communication from Phoenix Seminary and is a PhD candidate at Midwestern Seminary. Stefan's research in holistic belief formation has equipped him to speak practically into the formation of worldview, as well as provide coaching and support to Christian schools nationwide. 

Contact: swilson@harvestbiblechurch.com

Constructs of Expertise: 

• Christlike Teachers
• God's Story
• Holistic Teaching
• Insular Culture
• Integrated Worldview
• Outcomes Focus
• Professional Development
• Qualified Staff
• Questioning
• Responsibility
• Spiritual Formation
  

Julie Widman has learned that fueled by prayer, coffee and energizing music, anything is possible. She leads with her heart and passionately teaches, equips, and writes about the power of Scripturally-based social emotional character development. Julie's heartbeat is to help others foster authentic, genuine relationships. She co-founded Friendzy, a comprehensive social emotional character development program for schools PreK-12th grade. She thrives when working in partnership with schools to provide direct support in fostering a positive campus climate and culture through Friendzy. Julie believes that teaching the biblical pillars of friendship will give students tools that will benefit them for a lifetime. Julie holds a Masters in Science, is certified in SECD Leadership, and is currently working on her Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Outside of leading Friendzy, Julie is an enthusiastic mother of two children, Shelby and Dan, wife to Travis, keeper of a mini zoo of two energetic dogs, and an avid leader and volunteer of her local National Charity League chapter.  

Contact: julie@friendzy.co

Constructs of Expertise:

• Behaviors for Learning
• Best Practice Orientation
• Caring Environment
• Engaged Learning
• Family Relationships
• Professional Development
• Resilience
• Spiritual Formation
• Stress
• Supportive Leadership