Today’s podcast features Darren Iselin, Director of Research and Innovation with Christian Schools Australia (CSA). Darren talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Qualified Staff, where “new teacher hires are credentialed (educationally and licensed/certified) and have classroom experience,” and which emerged as a strength for CSA schools through the Australia pilot of the Flourishing School Culture Instrument (FSCI). Darren unpacks a number of reasons for this, including partnerships with higher education institutions and in-school training opportunities for pre-service teachers, and concludes with encouragement for Christian schools to invest in the professional qualifications of teachers.
To learn more about Flourishing Schools Research:
Check out the Flourishing Together book by Lynn Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans 2021) and this video overview of the research. You can also find out about the related institute for leaders and instrument for schools here.
About the Guest
Dr. Darren Iselin is the Director of Research and Innovation with Christian Schools Australia (CSA). Darren has over 25 years of leadership experience within Christian education, in Australian and international contexts, and has served in a diverse range of CEO, principal, and executive leadership roles and responsibilities in both K–12 schooling, and higher education sectors. He has completed extensive formal study including doctoral work through the University of Queensland. Darren’s award-winning research explored the sustainability of Christian school cultures in an era of change.
About the Host
Dr. Lynn E. 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. Dr. Swaner serves as a Cardus Senior Fellow and is the co-author or editor of multiple books on Christian education, including Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools and MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education. Prior to joining ACSI, she served as a professor of education and a Christian school administrator in New York.