Teaching Writing in the Age of AI: Opportunities, Pitfalls, and Christian Discernment | Steve Di Iorio
Description: As AI tools become increasingly common, teachers face unique challenges in preserving authentic writing, critical thinking, and academic integrity. This session explores how Christian educators can responsibly integrate AI into the writing process while guarding against plagiarism, intellectual laziness, and worldview bias. Learn practical strategies for using AI to enhance instruction without sacrificing the deeper purpose of education: forming thoughtful, truthful, and wise students. (Middle/High School)

Improving School Safety | Renee Hodge
Description: With the help of Answers in Genesis Department of Public Safety, we have implemented many safety features in Answers Academy that we would like to share with you as we consider options in making our schools the safest for our students! (Admin)

Feedback That Actually Works (and Doesn’t Just Sit There) | Carl Hooker
Description: Let’s be honest. A lot of feedback gets written, handed back, and then completely ignored. This session is about fixing that. We will look at what effective feedback actually is, why it matters for real learning, and how it impacts retention and engagement in a noticeable way. You will walk away with practical strategies you can use right away to help students grow, not just glance at a grade and move on. Bonus: Less wasted time writing comments no one reads. (General)

Fostering a Culture of Mentorship | Jason Harding
Description: We are called as Christians to make disciples of all nations, but what does that look like in the classroom? As we aim to disciple our students, where does mentoring fit? What is mentorship? How can mentoring impact teacher and student outcomes? To be able to reach the head knowledge, students need to know you care by reaching their hearts. In this session, we will discuss the nuts and bolts of mentorship and explore some practical implications of mentoring students from an upper elementary and middle school perspective. (Grades 4–12)

Teaching from a Biblical Foundation | Dana Sneed
Description: While it is important to set aside time to study the Bible, we must not compartmentalize biblical instruction. The Bible is our only perfect source of truth and knowledge, and it explains the reality we live in. To build a truly biblical worldview, the Bible must be foundational to every academic subject. We will explore the importance of cross-curricular biblical instruction and discuss practical examples for teaching every subject from a truly biblical foundation. (General)

From Reading to Understanding: Developing Critical Thinkers | Christy Murnahan
Description: This workshop will explore practical strategies for helping students move beyond simply reading words to truly understanding, analyzing, and engaging with text. Participants will learn how to strengthen comprehension, encourage critical thinking, and equip students to make meaningful connections while reading across content areas. (Elementary)

Desecularizing Math: Coming to Grips with Biblical Integration in Math | Jason Harding
Description: Have you ever been led to believe as a math teacher that biblical integration is not as important for you? That maybe it was not relevant or possible or just could not be accomplished as deeply as other content areas? In this session, we will explore the truth of math being created by God, not discovered by man, for the purpose of glorifying him! We will also take some time to compare and contrast the basis for solid biblical integration in your math classroom. (5–12)

The Administrator’s Most Powerful Tool | Steven Stembridge
Description: The job of a Christian school administrator is . . . well, complicated. With so many hats to wear, so many decisions to make, and so much accountability to shoulder, keeping a clear and consistent focus is vitally important. Is there a tool that can guide the process of accomplishing both routine responsibilities as well as future plans and goals with excellence? Can the same tool motivate the faculty, staff, and school families to become the Christian school leader’s greatest allies in building an excellent school? Let’s talk about it! (Admin)

Reviewing Without the Hassle | Brittany Hurd
Description: Do you feel that review days are nothing more than a time filler? Do you get frustrated or overwhelmed coming up with ideas to make sure your students are understanding content while having fun and not losing control of the class? In this session, we will discuss the importance of daily review and how this can help when you come to much larger review days. We will also discuss many review games and strategies you can begin implementing in your classroom immediately! Attendees will walk away with a list of ideas ready to make reviews meaningful this coming school year! (General)

Finessing Parent Partnership | Renee Hodge
Description: Parent partnership is more than a buzzword. Come and gain some practical tips on how to form a successful partnership that is beneficial to the student while reducing parent conflict. We will share with you what parent partnership looks like at Answers Academy in light of scriptural teachings. (General)

Teaching Critical Thinking | Dana Sneed
Description: How do we raise discerning students who think for themselves and make wise decisions? We must teach them to think critically. We will discuss the biblical basis for critical thinking, as well as practical strategies to excite, equip, and enable our students to be critical thinkers. (General)

Preparing Christian Students to Thrive at College | Patricia Engler
Description: What top practical tips can help Christian students keep a strong biblical worldview in college—and beyond? From building spiritual foundations, to honing critical thinking skills, to finding godly mentors, learn how to live out a thriving faith during secular (or Christian!) higher education. (High School)

M-m-m-music?? In M-m-m-my Classroom?? | Steven Stembridge
Description: “Getting kids involved in music really improves their classroom performance!” We hear this so often. But what does it mean, and more importantly, how do we put it into practice? This session will explore the concept of implementing music to enhance learning. For music teachers, attention will be given to keeping time spent in the music classroom relevant to supporting regular classroom instruction. For grade-level teachers and “non-musicians,” quick and simple techniques will be presented to create confidence that you can have your students making music in your classroom! (General)

Faithful Without Fading: Biblical Renewal for the Weary Christian Educator | Ann Rill
Description: Are you serving faithfully but running on empty? This workshop addresses teacher burnout in the Christian school through a biblical lens, exploring God’s design for rest, purpose, community, and renewal. Discover practical strategies to establish boundaries, seek strength in Christ, and sustain joyful, long-term ministry without sacrificing your health or calling. (General, Admin)

Fostering a Culture of Mentorship | Jason Harding
Description: We are called as Christians to make disciples of all nations, but what does that look like in the classroom? As we aim to disciple our students, where does mentoring fit? What is mentorship? How can mentoring impact teacher and student outcomes? To be able to reach the head knowledge, students need to know you care by reaching their hearts. In this session, we will discuss the nuts and bolts of mentorship and explore some practical implications of mentoring students from an upper elementary and middle school perspective. (Grades 4–12)

Guarding the Heart: A Biblical Response to Social Emotional Learning | Carl Hooker/Renee Hodge
Description: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is becoming more prominent in education, but not all approaches align with a biblical worldview. This session examines the growing influence of SEL in schools, churches, and homes and contrasts it with what Scripture teaches about the heart, emotions, and truth. We will address key concerns, clarify common misconceptions, and provide a framework for guiding students biblically to help them understand their emotions without being led by them. This is not about ignoring emotions but about placing them under the authority of God’s Word. (General)

Scripture Sleuths | Dana Sneed
Description: Our perceptions of biblical events are often heavily influenced by modern depictions and artistic representations. Inspire your students to study God’s Word deeply, train them to investigate Scripture, analyze clues, and piece together a truly biblical understanding of familiar accounts. (Grades 4–12)

The Power of an Active Classroom | Kendra Muir
Description: This talk explores the science behind the brain-body connection and how movement positively impacts learning and brain function. It provides practical strategies for integrating purposeful movement into the classroom without sacrificing academic rigor, showing how movement can actually enhance and become part of the learning process. Framed within a biblical worldview, the session also highlights God as a creative and playful Creator and encourages educators to reflect his design by fostering a healthy balance of work and play in the classroom. (Elementary)

Big Kids Are Still Kids: Tips for Having an Engaging Classroom | Brittany Hurd
Description: Middle and high school students love to have fun, maybe even more so than elementary kids! In this session, we will explore tips and key components to having an engaging middle and high school classroom. You will leave this session with ideas you can implement in your own classroom as soon as you start school this fall! (Middle/High School)

Using Standardized Test Data to Improve the Learning Environment | Christy Murnahan/Jason Harding
Description: As standardized tests come and go, do we even know what they mean or how to use them as classroom teachers? In this session, we will discuss the nuts and bolts of standardized testing data and explore some practical applications for use in the classroom to improve student responsibility in learning and the learning environment. (General, Admin)

Learning by the Book | Steven Stembridge
Description: We have all heard that dreaded question—“When will I ever need this in real life?” It may seem nothing more than antagonistic, but it does deserve an honest answer. As educators, we should know why we teach what we teach so that we can give that answer. As Christian educators, our answer should be based on the foundation of biblical truth. In this session, we will examine five core subjects and why they matter pedagogically and biblically for “real life.” (General, Admin)

Many Members, One Classroom: Reaching Every Personality for Christ | Ann Rill
Description: God designed students with distinct personalities and purposes. This interactive session helps educators identify core personality patterns, understand student motivations, and apply relational strategies that foster connection and growth in diverse classrooms. (General)

How to Make Science Fun for All Ages | Jennifer Rivera
Description: Did you know that a child develops their interest in science by age seven and their worldview by age thirteen? Join Dr. Jennifer Rivera and learn ways to make the study of science exciting, engaging, and biblically focused to nurture fascination in God’s creation from the earliest grade levels. (General)

Teaching Students to Be Pro-Life Thinkers | Patricia Engler
Description: When does human life begin? How do preborn babies develop? And how can we answer common arguments about abortion? In this sensitively crafted, family-friendly presentation, learn practical ways to live out the Bible’s truth about the value of every human life. (General)

Dinosaurs and the Bible | Avery Foley
Description: Kids are fascinated by dinosaurs, but they usually hear about them through the lens of evolution and millions of years. Helping kids understand the true history of dinosaurs, starting with God’s Word, not only gives them a proper perspective on these extinct reptiles but provides a biblical framework of history they can apply to other subjects. (Elementary)

Taking the First Step: Unlocking the Writing Process for Every Learner | Ann Rill
Description: For many students, beginning is the hardest part of writing. This session introduces adaptable prewriting strategies that reduce anxiety, honor diverse learning styles, and help students move confidently from blank page to structured expression. (Middle/High School)

The Gift of Dyslexia: Unlocking God’s Creative Design | Susan Ham
Description: The more we learn about the mysterious workings of the brain, the more we see God’s creative handiwork in every individual—including those with dyslexia. What if, instead of viewing dyslexia as a struggle, we saw it as a unique gift? Dyslexic students often possess remarkable creativity, outside-the-box thinking, and problem-solving skills that can make them some of the most fascinating minds in the classroom. (General)

Lesson Planning That Makes Sense (and Saves Your Sanity) | Carl Hooker
Description: Lesson planning can feel like a lot. This session simplifies it. We will walk through a clear structure that brings focus and consistency to your classroom without overcomplicating things. Built on a simple flow of Drill, Review, Teach, and Practice, this approach helps you be intentional and stay organized while helping students learn. If you have ever stared at a blank lesson plan and thought, “Where do I even start?” or do lesson plans to just check a box, this is for you. (General, Admin)

Count on Math: It Never Adds Up to a Dull Moment | Brittany Hurd
Description: When are we ever going to use this? Why do we need to learn this stuff anyway? Why is math so boring? Have you ever heard questions like these come from your students? Math can be such an abstract concept in the minds of our students. That is why it is imperative for teachers of all grade levels to help make math concrete in the minds of our students by making it relatable to their everyday life. Math is anything but dull! Join me as we dive into a variety of hands-on ways to bring your math class to life while making it relatable to students’ everyday life. (General)

Does DNA Confirm the Creator God? | Jennifer Rivera
Description: This workshop will explore the complexity and design of DNA with hands-on activities designed for students of all ages. From edible DNA to DNA models for high schoolers to forensic DNA fingerprinting, Dr. Jennifer Rivera will guide you through this interactive program from a biblical worldview. Each attendee will leave with a packet of resources to use in their classrooms. DNA is one of the greatest confirmations of the Creator God. (General)

Science and the Bible: Conflict or Confirmation? | Georgia Purdom
Description: How do we define science? Is science the only way to know truth and reality (scientism)? Learn how to disentangle science from scientism and how science confirms the truth of God’s Word beginning in Genesis. (Middle/High School)

From Chaos to Control: Biblical Classroom Management That Actually Works | Steve Di Iorio
Description: God is a God of order, and our classrooms should reflect that truth. This engaging session equips teachers with practical, proven strategies to take control of their classroom and keep it. Learn how to set clear expectations, respond to challenging behavior, and avoid common management mistakes that lead to chaos. Featuring real-life scenarios and actionable techniques, this session will help you build a classroom culture where students are focused, respectful, and ready to learn. (Middle/High School)

Show, Don’t Tell: Modeling as the Heart of Teaching | Carl Hooker
Description: Teaching is not just telling. It is modeling. From the way we explain content to the way we handle frustration, students are always watching and learning. This session focuses on how modeling shapes both academic growth and character development. We will look at practical ways to model skills, thinking, and behavior so students do not just hear what to do, they see it in action. Because at the end of the day, students will remember what you did long before they remember what you said. (General)

Finessing Parent Partnership | Renee Hodge
Description: Parent partnership is more than a buzzword. Come and gain some practical tips on how to form a successful partnership that is beneficial to the student while reducing parent conflict. We will share with you what parent partnership looks like at Answers Academy in light of scriptural teachings. (General)

Make It Count: Biblical Formative Assessment That Transforms Learning | Ann Rill
Description: What if assessment felt less like judgment and more like discipleship? Rooted in Scripture and practical strategy, this workshop will help you intentionally use formative assessment—eliciting evidence, giving focused feedback, and guiding next steps so students reflect, adjust, and truly grow in understanding. (General)

Male and Female—He Created Them | Jennifer Rivera
Description: Did you know skeletal differences between males and females reflect intentional design? This workshop explores forensic anthropology through the lens of Genesis 1:27, revealing how God’s purposeful creation of male and female is evident even in our bones. Learn to identify skeletal characteristics that help forensic anthropologists determine sex, age, height, and ancestry—all while solving a real-world case study. Discover how biblical truth and scientific discovery work hand in hand! (General)

Asking the Right Questions | Roger Patterson
Description: With constant input from the world around us, we need to know how to take every thought captive and think from a truly biblical framework. Using the framework of Authority, Starting Points, and Knowledge (ASK), you will learn how to equip yourself and your students to respond to any idea they encounter with biblical fidelity. (General)