READ books, research, blogs
Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools
By Lynn E. Swaner and Andy Wolfe (Eerdmans, 2021)
How do students, educators, and schools flourish together—especially in an era of increasing pressure from standardized testing, growing challenges to student mental health and well-being, and frequent educator burnout? An ideal resource for professional development and strategic planning, Flourishing Together answers this question though rigorous research, theological exploration, and practical applications and activities for Christian school leaders and teachers. Read more here.
“Flourishing Together offers timely, practical advice to Christian educators seeking to live and share with students a resilient, grounded, and flourishing way of being in our era of widespread teacher burnout and student disengagement. This is an invitation to greater personal and communal wholeness.” – Dr. Matthew T. Lee, Director of Empirical Research at the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University
MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education
By Lynn E. Swaner, Dan Beerens, and Erik Ellefsen (ACSI, 2019)
Christian education needs a mindshift. Research demonstrates that Christian education has a positive impact on student outcomes like purpose-driven career choices, community-mindedness, and stronger religious affiliation and practice. While Christian education makes a difference, it’s facing significant threats. This book shares insights from over 60 leading educators on how schools can provide a deeper and more authentic Christian education, share stories of love and hope with their neighbors, and catalyze the growth of the church and the Kingdom.
“Swaner et al. offer hopeful, illustrative, realistic pathways for reframing our practices and reviving our schools. More than merely inspire, MindShift gives traction to our hope. If you hunger and thirst for more authenticity, better engagement, and deeper learning in our schools, read this book.” – Dr. Gary B. Arnold, President, Little Rock Christian Academy
Selected Research Publications
- Developing an Ecology of Flourishing in Education (2021, Eton Journal for Innovation and Research in Education)
- Leadership for Flourishing Schools: From Research to Practice (2021, ACSI)
- Christian Schools and COVID-19: 2020-2021 School Year Profile (2020, ACSI)
- Christian Schools and COVID-19: Reopening Plans and Fall 2020 Outlook (2020, ACSI)
- Christian Schools and COVID-19: Responding Nimbly, Facing the Future (2020, ACSI)
- Flourishing Schools: Research on Christian School Culture and Community (2019, ACSI)
- Professional Development for Christian School Educators and Leaders (2016, ACSI)
- Five High Impact Practices: Research on Learning Outcomes, Completion, and Quality (2010, AAC&U)
- The Scope of Bringing Theory to Practice Research: Design and Findings from the Demonstration Project (2007, Peer Review, AAC&U)
- Educating for Personal and Social Responsibility: A Review of the Literature (2005, AAC&U)
ACSI Leading Insights
This monograph series, edited by Lynn Swaner, launched in fall 2021 and features experts, researchers, and voices from the field. Issues include Artificial Intelligence, Mental Health & Well-Being, Special Education and Inclusion, and Biblical Worldview & Spiritual Formation.
Women Leaders in Christian Education (WLCE) Blog Posts
- No Mentor, No Problem: How Sponsors Can Fill in the Gaps for Women Leaders (2021) When women leaders lack mentors (which happens often), sponsors can step in.
- How Do You Do It All? (2021) Women leaders get asked this question all the time. Lynn Swaner shares key strategies for maximizing our work and potential.
- “The Power of Two”: Hiring for Diversity in Christian Schools (2021) Current hiring practices can be improved by employing a strategy called “the power of two.”
- Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021: A Leadership Development Perspective (2021) Do you have a leadership development plan for the coming year? If not, here are 3 reasons you should.
- Women’s Leadership: Taking the Road Less Traveled (2020) This post explores reasons to celebrate women’s often non-traditional paths to leadership in Christian schools.
- Women Leaders for Christian Education: By the Numbers (2020) This post examines the gap between the number of men and women leaders at Christian schools.
Lynn Swaner 