Several years ago, I visited for the first time the Lifesong School in Garnerton, Zambia. Above the Administration building was the motto: Discipling the future leaders of Zambia through Biblical Truth and Excellent Education (Mitzi McBride). At the core of my belief is the thought that we change the lives of children in these two ways. The first and by far the most important is to introduce them to a relationship with the LORD God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Second to that is to provide the best education possible.

As I see it, there are NO schools that have arrived at the perfect education. There is a continuum of quality that goes from Basic to Excellent. The difference makers within the school are the teachers and administrators. With a commitment to improve, children will benefit from an increase of quality in education. Teachers and School leaders can work on skills and broaden their experience resulting in this gain towards excellence.

Over the years, I have identified elements of quality education. It is not a complete list, but a set of foundational practices and principles that seem to lead to an increase of quality. They include: A Connected Curriculum; Lesson Design, Lesson Planning and Production; Educational Environment; and Education Structures (like Discipline and Classroom Management, Policies and Procedures, Grading System). As teachers and school leaders work on these foundations quality WILL improve.

Likewise, we can be intentional in our growth in developing the Spiritual lives of the children we serve. We can be intentional in working on the areas of: Scripture Memory; telling our story of faith and the good news of Jesus Christ to children; Teaching the Bible; Teaching Using the Bible; and Living our Faith before others. As with the foundations of Quality Education, the foundations of Excellent Education in the name of Jesus Christ should be purposefully nurtured.

My goal is to help teachers and school leaders move towards the Excellent side of the Education in the name of Jesus Christ. With years of experience in educational leadership, a heart to help others, and a deepening relationship with the LORD God, I have developed a way to help teachers and school leaders. The process looks like this:

• Visit the school and observe classrooms
• Identify the things that a school is doing well
• Determine the areas of improvement
• Provide Professional Development in these areas of improvement
• Work together on a plan for the year
• Return and repeat the process

This is a fluid and individualized journey that takes place over several visits. It begins with building relationships with teachers, administrators, students, care givers, and others around a school. Based on the needs and wants of the staff, we will together design a plan that will be implemented over several visits. I don’t come with answers to questions but with encouragement to discovery ways to provide the best education to the children in our care.

My commitment is to help schools that want help and minister to the “least of these”. In order to effect any change, one in the end must want to improve. It is my experience that no improvement happens accidentally, it is always intentional. My focus in this effort is to help schools that are ministering to children that have little or no support beyond the school; children that are orphans or identified as “vulnerable”.

If you are interested in beginning a conversation with me, my contact information is:

Robert “Bobby” Waite, Ed.D.

Email-rwaite124@gmail.com

Phone- (214) 552-2080

Website: TheGoodTeacher.org