Doctor of Philosophy, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2003
Master of Theology, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2003
Master of Religious Education, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1986
Bachelor of Science in Sociology/Social Work, University of Southern Mississippi, 1983
Teaching Experience
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2011- present
Leavell College, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary 1997-2011
University of New Orleans, Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction 1997-2000
Teaching Specializations
Christian Education
Early Childhood Education
Childhood Education
Leadership
Administration
Ministry Experience
Childhood Ministry Consultant, 1990 - present
30+ years of experience leading Sunday School, Missions, Choir, VBS, Day Camp, Residential Camp, and numerous other children's ministry programs and events
Interim Director, Parkview Baptist Early Learning Center, Metairie, LA, Aug-Nov 2012
Day Camp Director, First Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA, Summer-1999
Day Camp Director, First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC, Summer-1997, 1998
Child Development Center Director, Briarlake Baptist Church, Decatur, GA 1989-1996
Interim Preschool Minister, Briarlake Baptist Church
Buckhead Baptist Church, Director of Weekday Education, 1986-1989
Publications
Dissertation
An Investigation into the Influences of Self-Image Upon Images of Jesus in Selected Children Ages Nine through Twelve, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2003
Books and Magazines
Reducing the Risk of Bullying: What Is a Christian Parent to Do? Kontagious Magazine, January-March, 2001, 9.
MORE Devotional Magazine, August 2013, LifeWay Christian Resources
"Essential #10: Develop Skills for Securing, Developing, Motivating, and Ministering to a Core of Caring Leaders and Teachers" in Preschool Christian Education: 12 Essentials for Effective Church Ministry to Preschoolers, Families, and Volunteer Teachers, ed. Bernie Spooner. Dallas Baptist Uniersity, 2015.
"Essential #10: Develop Skills for Securing, Developing, Motivating, and Ministering to a Core of Caring Leaders and Teachers" in Children's Christian Education: 12 Essentials for Effective Church Ministry to Children, Families, and Volunteer Teachers, ed. Bernie Spooner. Dallas Baptist Uniersity, 2015.
Professional Associations
Baptist Association of Chrisitan Educators
North American Professors of Christian Education
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Louisiana Association for the Education of Young Children
Certifications
Louisiana Pathways Child Care Career Development System Certified Trainer - Level III
Teaching in the 21st Century - NOBTS
Teaching Strategies GOLD: Objectives for Development and Learning - Agenda for Children and Louisiana Department of Education
Honors and Awards
Cambridge Who's Who 2006-2007
Lenaz Faculty Grant for Research, NOBTS 2012 - "A Survey of Family Engagement in Selected Spiritual Disciplines"
Elite American Educators 2013
Curriculum Development
2013 - Explore the BIble Think Tank, LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville, TN
February 7, 2014 - Reviewer/Think Tank, "Biblical Levels of Learning," LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville, TN
October 9, 2014: Ideator. Bible Studies for Life, LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville, TN
Undergraduate Courses Taught
Administrative Issues in Children's Ministry
Children and Worship
Church Leadership and Administration
Church Weekday Education
Community Ministries
Contemporary Issues in Preschool and Children's Ministry
Creative Community Ministries
Designing Preschool and Children's Space
Educational Psychology
Foundational Issues in Christian Education
Human Development
Integrating Academics and Ministry
Introduction to Adult Education
Introduction to Christian Education
Introduction to Preschool and Children's Ministry
Legal Issues: Security, Safety, and Screening
Lifespan Christian Education
Personal Leadership Skills
Planning Special Events for Preschoolers and Children
Preschool and Children's Ministry Project
Preschool and children's Ministry Field Training
Principles of Teaching and Learning
The Theology of Preschoolers and Children
Supervised Reading in Children's Ministry
Graduate Courses Taught
Advanced Childhood Education
Childhood Education
Children and the Christian Faith
Children's Ministry in Theory and Practice
Early Childhood Practicum
Foundations of Early Childhood Education
Interpersonal Relationship Skills
Leading and Administering Children's Ministry
Lifespan Development
Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education
Ministering to Children in Crisis
Orphonology
Practicum in Early Childhood Education
Special Needs Ministry
Weekday Early Education
Ph.D. Seminars
Child Development
Childhood Education
Ministry Context and Practice- Children and Youth (Reading Colloquium)
Teaching Methods and Learning Theory
Teaching in Higher Education
D.Ed.Min. Seminars
Ministering to Children in Crisis
Special Event in Children's Ministry (Conference)
Spiritual Formation in Childhood
Strategies and Models for Contemporary Family Ministry
2009 Professional Presentations
April 17: Speaker. "Understanding Your Child's Temperament." Parent Education Seminar - First Baptist Church, Pell City, AL
July 27/29: Conference Leader. "Facilitating Spiritual Development in Children." Childhood Education Workshop - NOBTS, New Orleans, LA
July 31/August 1: Conference Leader. "How Children Worship," "Pedagogical Needs of Children," and "Pedagogical Needs of Preschoolers." Church Music Worship Leadership Conference, Oklahoma Baptist Convention, Southern Hill Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, OK
April 22: Keynote Speaker - "Treasure the Gift of Personality."; Conference Leader - "Finding Your Pot at the End of the Rainbow." Texas Baptist Church Weekday Education Association, First Baptist Church, Plano, TX
September 28/30: Speaker - "Understanding Your Child's Temperament." Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)-First Baptist New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
October 12/13 Presenter. "Help, My Team is Crazy!" and "Discovering the Secrets of Servant Leadership from the Life of Christ." LifeWay Kids Conference, Arlington, TX
2010 Professional Presentations
February 1/5: Trainer. "Taming the Zoo." Management Training - Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, New Orleans, LA
February 18: Keynote Speaker. "Christian Education and Family Ministry" - Baptist Association of Christian Educators Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA
March 11: Trainer. "Classroom Management" - Grace Baptist Church Early Learning Center, Slidell, LA
March 12: Trainer."Preventing Teacher Burnout," and "Dealing with Difficult Parents" - First Baptist Slidell Child Development Center, Slidell, LA
March 15/19: Trainer. "Taming the Zoo." Employee Training - Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, New Orleans, LA
April 12: Trainer. "Understanding Yourself and Others." Management Training - Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, New Orleans, LA
April 16/17: Conference Leader. "Christian Education and Family Ministry," "Help, My Team is Crazy!" "What Do Parents Really Want from Me?" - Heart of the Child Convention, Tulsa, OK
May 23: Trainer. "Sharing the Plan of Salvation with Children." Children's Leadership Training - Grace Baptist Church, Slidell, LA
July 26/27: Conference Leader. "Brain Development" and "Sharing Spaces at Church" - Childhood Education Workshop, New Orleans, LA
September 3: Speaker. "Legal Issues for Teachers" - New Orleans Area Lutheran Teachers' Conference, New Orleans, LA
September 13/15: Speaker. "Understanding Your Child's Temperament" - Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), First Baptist New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
October 9: Speaker. "Wash Your Words." Women's Luncheon - Parkview Baptist Church, Metairie, LA
2011 Professional Presentations
April 2: Trainer. "Personality in the Classroom"- Children and Youth Leadership Training, First Baptist Church, Kenner, LA
Conference Leader. "What Do Parents Really Want from Me?" - National Association of Child Care Professionals Annual Conference, Scottsdale, AZ
May 3: Speaker. "Help, My Team is Crazy!" - East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, Slidell, LA
July 25/28: Keynote Speaker. "Creative by Design: How are You Made?" and Session Leader - "What Do Parents Really Want from Me?" and "Excellent Parent-Teacher Conferences" - Arkansas Baptist Convention Childhood Education Workshop, Fayetteville, AK
August 14/21: Trainer. "Parenting in the Pew." Parent Education - First Baptist Church, Kenner, LA
August 24: Speaker. "Created by Design" - Emerging Young Professionals Meeting, East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, Slidell, LA
October 1: Keynote Speaker. Texas Baptist Weekday Early Education Association, Ft. Worth, TX
October 10: Conference Leader. LifeWay Kids Conference, Nashville, TN
2012 - Professional Presentations
January 30: Trainer. "Understanding Others/Conflict Management" and "Working as an Effective Team." Faculty In-Service - Charity School of Nursing, New Orleans, LA
February 4: Conference Leader. "Strike or Strike Back: A Response to Bullying" Kaleidoscope, WMU, Pineville, LA
March 3: Keynote Speaker, Texas Baptist Church Weekday Education Association, Wayland Baptist University, Plano, TX
March 23: Presenter. "Spiritual Grandparenting" Senior Fest, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA
April 20-21: Conference Leader. "What Every Preschooler Wants You to Know" and "What Parents Need From Me From A to Z", Heart of the Child Conference, Broken Arrow, OK
April 28: Keynote Speaker and Session Leader - Regional Parent Summit, Louisiana Baptist Convention, Kenner, LA
July 20/21 and 30/31: Keynote Speaker and Session Leader, Childhood Education Workshop, Louisiana Baptist Convention, Shreveport and New Orleans, LA
September 24: Speaker. "The Ministry of Weekday Early Education" - Senior Adult Luncheon, Parkview Baptist Church, Metairie, LA
October 8-10: Presenter. "Children's Ideas of God" and "Leadership Lessons from Esther" LifeWay Kids Conference, Ridgecrest, NC
2013 - Professional Presentations
January 12: Conference Leader. "Why Do They Act That Way?" - Louisiana Baptist Convention Childhood Education Workshop, First Baptist New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
January 14: Trainer. "A Christian Response to Bullying in the Classroom." Teacher In-Service - First Baptist Slidell Child Development Center, Slidell, LA
February 1: Speaker. "Laying Spiritual Foundations" - Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), First Baptist Church, Covington, LA
February 2: Conference Leader. "Sunday is Coming: Leading Children to Worship." Kaleidoscope - Women's Missions and Ministry Conference. Louisiana Baptist Convention, FBC - Pineville, LA
February 16: Speaker. "Being Light" - Ladie's Tea. Florida Blvd. Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, LA
February 17: Speaker. "Family 101." Parent Seminar, Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City, LA
Febraury 23: Trainer. "Leadership Lessons form Esther," and "Children's Ideas of God." Staff In-Service - Parkview Baptist School, Baton Rouge, LA
February 24: Speaker. "Family 101." Parent Seminar, FBC Kenner, LA
April 12: Presenter. "The Spiritual Influence of Grandparents" - Senior Fest, NOBTS, New Orleans, LA
July 19/20, 21/22: Keynote Speaker and Session Leader. Louisiana Baptist Convention Childhood Education Workshop, Shreveport and New Orleans, LA
August 24: Conference Leader. " Experiencing the Bible Through Learning Centers" and "Creating a Safe and Healthy Ministry Environment" - Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge Total Church Life Conference, Baton Rouge, LA
August 29: Trainer. "Being a Successful Christian Early Childhood Professional" Staff Training, NOBTS PEC, New Orleans, LA
October 7-9: Presenter. "The Spiritual Influence of Grandparents" and "The Practice of Spiritual Disciplines in the Home" - LifeWay Kids Ministry Conference, Nashville, TN
October 25: Speaker. "Sibling Rivalry" - Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), First Baptist Church, Covington, LA
2014 Professional Presentations
January 11: Conference Leader. "Sharing Space" - Louisiana Baptist Convention Winter Childhood Education Workshop, First Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA
January 30: Trainer. "Teaching Preschoolers the Way God Gifted Them" - Staff Training, NOBTS PEC, New Orleans, LA
April 11: Presenter. Senior Fest. NOBTS, New Orleans, LA
July 18/19, 21/22: Conference Leader. "Ten Things Every Child Needs" and "Being an Effective Church Weekday Early Childhood Professional" - Louisiana Baptist Convention Childhood Education Workshop, Shreveport and New Orleans, LA
August 11: Trainer. "Ten Things Every Child Needs" and "Being an Effective Church Weekday Early Childhood Professional." Teacher In-Service - First Baptist Child Development Center, Slidell, LA
August 23: Conference Leader. "Ten Things Every Child Needs" and "What Every Preschooler Wants You to Know" - Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge Total Church LIfe Conference, Baton Rouge, LA
August 24: Trainer. "Having Spiritual Conversations with Children" - Sunday School Leadership Training, First Baptist, Gulfport, MS
September 14/21/28/October 5: Trainer. "Leading Children in Spiritual Practices" - Grace Baptist Church, Slidell, LA
October 6-8: Presenter. "Philosophy: The Key to A Successful Children's Ministry," "The Gift of Temperament," and "Kids MInistry Involves the Family" - LifeWay Kids Ministry Conference, Nashville, TN
October 16: Session Leader. "Leading Children in Spiritual Practice" - Xcelerate Conference, NOBTS, New Orleans, LA
Church Membership and Service
First Baptist New Orleans: 2nd Grade Sunday School Teacher; Chairman - Early Learning Center Committee
Community Service
2009-2014: Judge, Senior Division Behavioral Science, Greater New Orleans Science And Engineering Fair
May 5, 2011: Judge, Life Sciences Division, Atonement Lutheran Church and School Sciences Fair, Kenner, LA
