Over 20 schools attended the first of three seminars held on January 29 at the NID Office on the topic of school sustainability and the future of schools. It was held to give insight and directions to consider moving forward in planning for the future.
Lois Stewart, Mission Facilitator for Schools in the NID, welcomed guests, and Rev. Kris Whitby, Assistant to the President–Mission and Ministry, opened the day with a devotion.
Dr. Kevin Brockberg, Executive Counselor for Christian Education in the Indiana District, facilitated the seminar. The main goal of this first of three seminars was to help school leaders think about the present state and future trajectory of their schools. 
The 48 school representatives, including pastors and principals, divided into groups to read academic research articles about four concepts that would help them gauge the health and vitality of their schools. These dimensions were commitment, discourse, efficacy, and coherence. The group members discussed among themselves in order to build their understanding of each concept.
The bulk of the workshop was spent collaboratively evaluating schools’ mission and vision statements. Participants took time looking over mission and vision statements, providing feedback and constructive criticism, comparing strengths and weaknesses. They also shared how they saw the four concepts that they had learned about were embodied in their schools.
Below are some of the participants’ impressions about the School Sustainability Seminar:
Dr. Brockberg’s passion for Lutheran schools to be high performing leaders in education was very motivating. I pray that our work together will lead to all of our schools being a place of community. A place where God’s children will know His love for them and that they belong to a large family.”
-Nicholas Muench, Principal, Immanuel, Freeport
The first portion of the School Sustainability Seminar was engaging, interactive, and well-presented. It was also highly motivational as our school board and faculty have already begun discussions and work on several aspects of what was discussed at the session. I am looking forward to the last two sessions of the seminar.”
-Valerie Winston, Principal, Immanuel Christian Academy, Hillside
“Attending the seminar was energizing and empowering. This seminar brought together the people who can address these exciting challenges head-on and can look at the big picture of their school’s sustainability then focus on what needs to be done. Gathering pastors and principals together is unifying, as it shows that churches and schools are not an either/or proposition, but a both/and! Both the LCMS churches and schools can be sustainable and can continue to evangelize.”
-Julia Heinz, Principal, St. Paul, Mount Prospect
“We are very interested in looking into the Genesis Project for professional development. The collaboration portion of the seminar gave us the opportunity to discuss and share ideas.”
-Erin Dunwell, Interim Principal, Bethany, Naperville
Before the next two workshops, which will be held at Walther Christian Academy on June 10 and 11, school leadership will collect surveys from their staff. These surveys are intended to gather a wider swath of data on the four dimensions that seminar participants learned about. Dr. Brockberg will use the surveys to provide the schools with insights into their school culture, to the end that our Lutheran schools may be enabled to serve and share the Gospel long into the future.