Moving Forward Flourishing Series: Questioning

ACSI: Moving Forward with Lynn Swaner

About Today’s Show

Today’s podcast features Justin Smith, Head of the Upper School and Vice President of Little Rock Christian Academy. Justin talks with Lynn Swaner about the Flourishing Schools construct of Questioning, where “students have doubts about their faith, lack time to pray or study the Bible, and feel that most Christians are too judgmental.” Justin share how questions can actually be harnessed in the classroom as tools for both spiritual formation and academic learning.

To go further in learning about this construct, check out these resources:

• An article in the LRCA Warrior Magazine, The Harkness Approach Brings Student-Centered, Discussion-Based Learning to LRCA
• The books Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools and MindShift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education both feature LRCA and the instructional team’s work there as a case study.

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. Justin A. Smith currently serves as Head of Upper School and Vice President at Little Rock Christian Academy. A graduate of the University of San Diego, Dr. Smith earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State. He has led well in administration, teaching, and coaching. With a number of published articles and peer-reviewed presentations on record, he also received such honors as the Excellence in Superintendency Program Award from Sam Houston State University and recognition as The Woodlands Preparatory School's Most Inspirational Educator. Additionally, Justin serves on the board of an independent boarding school outside of Philadelphia. Prior to leading at Little Rock Christian Academy, he served as Head of Middle School at Second Baptist School in Houston, Texas.

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.