This month’s podcast features Joel Gaines, High School Principal at The City School of Philadelphia, and Jenny Brady, Director of Diversity at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas. I talk with Joel and Jenny about their national work spearheading efforts to create diverse and inclusive communities in Christian schools, as well as the philosophy, programs, and practices they use in their own school settings.
Additional Resources:
- Read Joel Gaines’ blog post, Unity within Diversity in Our Christian Schools, for three action steps your school can take now.
- Read Jenny Brady’s blog posts, Should Diversity Affect Christian Schooling? on the importance of diversity for schools’ financial sustainability, student learning, and spiritual formation, as well as her work with the Christian School Diversity Symposium; and Christian Schools need G.R.A.C.E. for Diversity, which outlines PCA’s philosophy and approach to diversity.
For resources related to inclusive Christian education, check out a podcast with Elizabeth Dombrowski, Executive Director of the CLC Network, on creating inclusive communities in Christian schools, as well as blog posts on Belonging and Disability in the Christian School and Inclusive Education: One Christian School’s Journey.
About the Host
Dr. Lynn Swaner is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at ACSI, where she leads initiatives and develops strategies to address compelling questions and challenges facing Christian education. Prior to joining ACSI she served as a Christian school administrator and a graduate professor of education. A published scholar and conference speaker, she is the lead editor of the book PIVOT: New Directions for Christian Education, co-author of Bring It to Life: Christian Education and the Transformative Power of Service-Learning, and editor of the ACSI blog. She received her EdD from Teachers College, Columbia University, in New York City. She can be reached via email at lynn_swaner@acsi.org.
About the Guests
Joel R. Gaines serves as the high school principal at The City School in Philadelphia. He graduated from Philadelphia Biblical University (Cairn University) with a BS in education and biblical studies, and earned his MEd in education from Cabrini University. Joel has served in multiple roles over the past 10 years in both Christian and public education, and in both urban and suburban settings. He can be reached via email at jgaines@cityschool.org.
Jenny Brady serves as the Director of Diversity at Prestonwood Christian Academy (PCA), a position created for the passion and personal experiences she brings to the diversity discussion. Jenny grew up on the mission field in Honduras and returned to the US for college graduating with a BA in Spanish from Stephen F. Austin State University. She is completing her Masters in Sociology in December 2018, while working at PCA as a teacher and administrator. Jenny has a passion for missions and mentoring – taking the gospel to the ends of the earth while training up the next generation of godly young men and women. She can be reached at jbrady@prestonwoodchristian.org.