WayFinder Leadership Training and Development Program

Apr 4, 2022 - Apr 5, 2022WayFinder Leadership Training

Masks, vaccines, open vs. closed enrolment, diversity and inclusion, discussions regarding gender and sexual orientation… the list of potential areas of controversy and conflict are endless for those involved in Christian school leadership. The pandemic has only increased our awareness of how easily communities can fracture and splinter if conflicts are not handled with great care and skill. How do we guide a healthy, robust discussion, but still maintain community? How do we as Christians practice loving God and each other while engaging in difficult and potentially divisive conversations? How do we find our way?

Leaders need tools navigating these conflict laden conversations. Edvance is pleased to invite you to participate in two days of WayFinder Leadership Training on conflict transformation, facilitated through The Colossian Forum. WayFinder offers a way forward that is biblical in foundation and practice, while helping each school develop their own specific strategies that will help their school’s missional flourishing.

Training will take place in Cambridge, Ontario on April 4 and 5, 2022. Registration is for school teams of at least 3 people (principal, vice-principals, others on the leadership team, and board members).

Training Outcomes

Each school team will learn how best to navigate conflicts at the board table, community, and staff table. School teams will walk away with a vision, practices, and systems to cultivate a new culture around conflict at their school. There will also be four 1.5-hour follow-up coaching sessions for participants that will be rolled out from April through November. 

This training is designed to help participants work through any kind of conflict that their school may encounter. It is not focused on a specific type of conflict; however, we expect each school team participating will have a specific problem in mind to work through. The training will allow each school team to directly apply what they learn to their specific situation and begin developing a road map for their own community.

The main outcomes for participants through these two days of training will include:

1. Casting a shared vision of conflict as an opportunity for growth and witness.

2. Developing competence for engaging in conflict in ways that demonstrated love of God and neighbour.

3. Developing systems for identifying, repairing, and preventing mismanaged conflicts.

“I feel like our country and our society and world, and even our school environment, is facing a lot of differences. When I've heard that word ‘united’ before it means everyone's coming together, everyone's on the same side, approaching it from the same perspective. But I think the WayFinder training transforms the way that I see that word. United means that we don't all need to be on that same side of perspective, but it's a united approach into the issue that we're facing together as a team or organization.”

Brianna White Teacher, West Side Christian School

Event Details

The two days of training will be hosted at the beautiful Whistle Bear Golf Club, on 1316 Dickie Settlement Road in Cambridge, Ontario. Continental breakfast, refreshments and lunch will be served each day and is included in the price of registration.

This is an event aimed at teams of three, and single registrations are highly discouraged. It takes a team to cast a vision for strategic change in an organization. Your participating team should include at least one board member.

Registration Pricing

Pricing is in Canadian dollars and does not include HST.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED. For assistance, please contact us at events@edvance.ca.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations received in writing by February 4, 2022 will receive a 50% refund of the registration fee. After February 4, 2022, no refunds will be issued, however, substitutions will be allowed.

We are grateful to Christian Education Benefit Solutions for their generous sponsorship of this training event!

Christian Education Benefit Solutions (CEB Solutions) provides health and pension products and services, designed specifically by and for the Canadian Christian education community.

Find Out More About CEB Solutions

Training
Schedule

DAY #1 - Monday, April 4, 2022
*Time*	*Activity*	*Notes*
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM	Arrival	Park, arrive, and settle-in. We will start promptly at 9 AM.
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM	Session 1	Opening Session: Orientation and Introductions
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM	Break	Snacks and beverages provided
10:15 AM – 11:15 PM	Session 2	The WayFinder Vision: Christian Conflict Transformation
11:15 AM – 11:30 PM	Break	Snacks and beverages provided
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM	Session 3	The Mode of Christian Conflict Transformation: Covenantal Communication
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM	Lunch	Lunch is provided
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM	Applying WayFinder to our Community, Part 1	Examining our Past and Present
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM	Break	Snacks and beverages provided
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM	Session 4	The Posture of Covenantal Communication
3:00 PM –3:15 PM	Break	Snacks and beverages provided
3:15 PM – 4:45 PM	Session 5	The Practices of Covenantal Communication: Go Toward, Go Godward, Get Curious, Go Deep, Get Right
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM	Closing Prayer	Praise / Lament / Hope

(Evening - Dinner on your own with your team)