On October 11, early in the morning, nearly 400 educators from the local community and beyond arrived on Corban University’s campus like the newly falling leaves that had just begun to cover its winding hillside paths.
The second annual Christian Educator Conference had begun. Hosted by the Corban University Department of Education, the event nearly doubled in size from its first iteration, expanding to include educators from places outside the Willamette Valley, like Klamath Falls and Grants Pass—even as far afield as Oklahoma—all gathered to spend a day, surrounded by peers, to refresh, connect, and fill the role of students for a change.
For the University’s education faculty, year two marked a noticeable increase not just in numbers, but in energy and excitement. “I had people coming to my classroom that had been the year before. They were excited to be back and came ready with questions and new ideas,” said Associate Professor of Education, Dr. Jennifer Kleiber. “There was a camaraderie that was really lovely. It was like coming back to a comfortable place where we could talk about serving and teaching ‘Christianly’ in our environments.”
“We even had attendees from the public school system who took a personal day to come to Corban for professional development,” said Dean of the Corban School of Education, Dr. Aaron Imig. He envisions the event expanding to include more opportunities for not only a broader collection of Oregon educators from Christian schools to attend, but for Christian educators working in the public school system to join for the day as well. “This event is not just about ‘Christian education,’” he said. “We are all learning what it means to teach ‘Christianly,’ as our keynote speaker, Dr. Mulder, said, bringing that gospel mindset to your vocation, even if it isn’t overtly expressed. If you want to get better at teaching, be encouraged, be in community with other educators, this is a place for you, and that’s our vision for the future.”
The conference featured a keynote speech by Dordt University’s Dr. Dave Mulder and morning and afternoon breakout sessions and seminars covering a wide range of topics from the role of A.I. in education to helping students with ADHD and dyslexia. But it was perhaps the day’s unique kick-off that resonated most, with attendees gathering in the Psalm Center for a time of worship led by Corban University students. “This morning, as I was looking at the crowd, worshiping together to start the day, it honestly felt more like church,” said Faith Gerber, Principal at Riviera Christian School. “We were starting from a spiritual place, by glorifying God. Knowing that every single person in the room had the same goals in life, considering our focus is Christian education, it amplified our purpose for being here.”
Even though many of these educators come from schools that are often seen as rivals in things like sports, performing arts competitions, and even in the marketplace, the theme of camaraderie and collaboration carried throughout the day. For Dr. Imig, among all the speeches and seminars, tips and talking points, it was observing these collaborative connections during lunch break that resonated most. “Teachers never get an hour-long lunch to sit and talk with their people, to relax, share, and be in community,” he said. “We wanted to give them that space throughout the day, and for this event to be about community. It was the highlight of my day to see those connections coming to life all across campus.”
In afternoon seminars, led by Corban professors and local education professionals, attendees were able to embrace the role of student rather than leading from the front of the classroom. They asked questions, shared tips and tricks, and bonded over all the joys and struggles that come with being a teacher. “I attended a seminar on ADHD and one on dyslexia,” said Michelle Saffeels, a third-grade teacher at Crosshill Christian. “I have students who are walking that currently, and I want to know more. Both seminars provided tangible ways for me to help my students with some practical adaptations that I can put into place on Monday.”
In the afternoon, Assistant Professor of Education Rebecca Alburn fielded two full sessions of attendees who were either in their first year of teaching or very new to the profession. “Both sessions were packed,” she said. “It was exciting to see the future of the craft in front of me and feel their enthusiasm and eagerness to grow. These educators were hungry for advice and encouragement, and it was a chance for them to share their struggles and realize so many of them are in the same boat.”
When 3:00 p.m. rolled around, marking the scheduled end of the conference, teachers continued to linger on campus, chatting, collaborating, and building connections, which is exactly what Corban’s education department had envisioned when they first started dreaming of the event. “Our mission is to go out, not to stay comfortable,” Kleiber said. “We first envisioned this conference as a place where we could support, encourage, and help our Christian educators connect. And we can’t be in a bubble to do that. I want everyone in Oregon to know that Corban is a place of support, connection, and care for Christian educators.”
Among the many attendees were dozens of graduates of the Corban education department, representing multiple disciplines, grade levels, and generations of Christian educators in the community and across the State of Oregon. “I love that, for Corban, education doesn’t just stop with the students that they are graduating,” Saffeels said, herself an alumna of the University. “There are a number of teachers here at the conference who were students here, but also many who weren’t, and Corban is not just investing in current students, or alumni, but in Christian educators throughout Oregon, and I love that that investment continues beyond graduation and beyond Corban.”
With another year in the books, Dr. Imig and the education department, in typical teacher fashion, already have their sights set on planning for next year’s event. They are channeling the energy and enthusiasm experienced this October into tweaks and plans to see the conference continue to improve and expand its reach— a reach that is only magnified by the impact of its attendees and the pivotal roles they play in the lives of so many students. “I want Corban to be the leader in Christian education in the region, and in the state,” Imig said. “I want this event to become a destination where schools say, ‘we can’t afford to miss this.’ And I don’t mean that in a way that seeks to elevate us. We want to be a resource to elevate our teachers. It aligns with our mission, is an extension of our profession, and it’s not about us, but about how God uses this day to impact the teachers who are exponentially impacting our students and communities.”
For more exciting news from Corban’s education department, visit our news page and read about alumna Mandy Vance’s selection as Oregon Teacher of the Year: https://www.corban.edu/corban-alum-mandy-vance-named-oregon-teacher-of-the-year/