Baylor’s Center for Christian Education poised for expansion

It makes sense that the School of Education at Baylor — the world’s largest Baptist university — would be among the leaders in developing teachers and administrators for Christian schools.

Since 1985, the Baylor School of Ed’s Center for Christian Education (CCE) has worked to identify and promote successful values-based approaches to education that are backed up by evidence. A $2.5 million gift last fall from Baylor alumni and parents Lynda (BSED ’79) and Robert (BBA ’80, MPA ’81) Copple will allow the CCE to expand by launching a series of professional development “academies” designed to help cultivate leader effectiveness. While specifics are still being worked out, these academies could focus on training transformative leaders, Christian school heads, and/or Christian school board leaders.

“Our vision is to provide an avenue to assist educators in realizing their full potential,” says Lynda Copple. “Our experience has shown us that there is a great need for more training and professional development to be made available to Christian educators, especially those in private schools. We want to change that, and we believe Baylor is the answer. We hope our gift, when combined with the gifts of others, will create a number of opportunities for Baylor, with interdisciplinary initiatives helping to break barriers so that Christian leadership is fostered across the academy and then throughout the nation and the world.”

The Copples’ gift has already allowed the Center to welcome a new executive director in Dr. Matt Thomas, who joined the School of Education in August 1. Thomas brings more than 20 years of experience in Christian education and training Christian leaders to the role.

Sic ’em, Baylor School of Education!