From Inspiration to Celebration: A Memorable Day at GSCSA 2025

By Cheryl Crawford, Administrator

On Monday, November 10, eight members of our faculty attended the Granite State Christian Schools Association (GSCSA) Educators Conference at Concord Christian Academy. The event brought together teachers and administrators from Christian schools across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, and Pennsylvania for a full day of professional growth, encouragement, and inspiration. The keynote speaker was Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer and CEO of School Growth, who spoke on “The Key Intelligences of Highly Effective Educators.”

Barron’s opening session, “The Elusive Journey to Excellence,” challenged educators to reflect on what excellence truly means within Christian education. He reminded us that when we put Jesus’ name on our mission, “it might make sense to step up our game.” Excellence, he said, isn’t a destination but a commitment, echoing Jim Rohn’s insight that it means “doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.” Drawing from the parable of the talents, Barron called us to use our God-given gifts faithfully, cultivating habits of consistency, humility, and collaboration.

Throughout the sessions—Personal Leadership (Growing Me), Interpersonal Leadership (Growing Trust), and School Leadership (Growing Us)—Barron encouraged us to focus on the areas we can control: the quality of our educators, our culture, and our curriculum. He reminded us that teachers are the “living curriculum,” shaping students’ lives not just through knowledge, but through wisdom and example. “Our culture,” he said, “is defined by what we tolerate.” Excellence, then, is not accidental—it’s built through habits of trust, accountability, and measurable growth.

After the conference, our team took a brief mental break with a refreshing walk through White Park, reflecting on the day’s insights and how they connect to our own school community. The evening concluded with the annual GSCSA Banquet, where we celebrated fellowship with fellow Christian educators and our guest speaker, Scott Barron, and proudly watched Carter Martens receive the Timothy Award. This award recognizes a Christian educator early in their career who demonstrates faith, leadership, and excellence in advancing Christian schooling. Carter’s dedication is evident in the way he loves his students, brings creativity and purpose to the classroom, and contributes to a Christ-centered learning environment. It was a special joy to share the evening with Carter’s parents as they joined us to celebrate their son’s success alongside our faculty.

The day as a whole was both energizing and grounding—a reminder that Christian education is not just about academic formation, but about cultivating wisdom, faith, and leadership in both students and educators. As Barron noted, excellence begins with people—educators who are passionate about growing and leading together.

We are grateful to the Granite State Christian Schools Association for hosting such a meaningful event and for bringing Scott Barron to share his experience and encouragement with us. Our team left Concord inspired, challenged, and ready to continue pursuing excellence—together.