Spring 2024 IMPACT – Transforming America’s Schools

Transforming America’s Schools

YOUR GENEROSITY IS CHANGING LIVES

“ COMBATING THE TRAUMA OF WAR

Your financial help has opened a door for me to assist and serve others in the future.

Laura Taveras BS Psychology (CAS ’25)

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How

your generosity helped bring trauma relief to the frontlines in Israel

In the aftermath of unprecedented terror attacks in Israel, your support enabled Regent University’s Ukraine Institute of Education in Psychology and Counseling to swiftly respond, offering crucial trauma training to teams serving on the front lines.

Regent Psy.D. student Steve Beatty (SPC ’25), in collaboration with his professor Dr. Olya Zaporozhets, played a pivotal role in facilitating Immediate Stabilization Procedure (ISP®) training to Operation Blessing teams as part of their relief efforts in the Holy Land. Via video conference, he shared the trauma-counseling techniques that empowered responders to provide rapid psychological stabilization in the aftermath of crisis.

Dr. Zaporozhets, the director of Regent’s Ukraine Institute, says: “Due to our experience, research, and on-going trauma work in Ukraine, more than 140 psychotherapists in Israel were able to receive the training and begin administering assistance within two weeks of the initial attacks.”

Reflecting on his involvement and the role of Regent donors, Beatty insists, “I would not have been able to do this without their support. I really feel like I have people in my corner who I don’t even know, who are hoping I’m going to make a difference as a Christian leader to change the world. To me, that’s an eternal investment.”

Steve Beatty, (SPC ’25)

Your partnership with Regent University is pivotal to equipping compassionate and skilled servant-leaders to address the pressing needs of our world with wisdom, grace, and from a Christian perspective. As we navigate turbulent times, your continued support is crucial to preparing students like Steve to be catalysts for change, and bring hope and healing to communities around the world.

Fighting for Education Reform

Your support empowers Regent alumni in the fight to save America’s schools.

Dr. Keri Ingraham (SOE ’12 & ’16) has spent nearly two decades as a Christian leader, serving on the frontlines in the battle to save America’s schools. An innovative thought leader, researcher, and committed advocate for education reform, she’s passionate about preparing elementary, middle, and high school students to live, work, and thrive in tomorrow’s world.

“K-12 public education is a massive, government-run monopoly,” Dr. Ingraham says. “The lack of competition has resulted in an enormously expensive, one-size-fits-all system, failing to effectively educate most students.”

Dr. Ingraham is the director of the Discovery Institute's American Center for Transforming Education, and she also serves as a senior fellow at the Institute and at the Independent Women's Forum. Her work as an author, national consultant, sought-after conference speaker, and former teacher and administrator has led to numerous guest appearances on FOX News. She has also published articles in many of the most respected and widely read media outlets in America.

Generous support from Regent donors prepared Dr. Ingraham to lead in the fight for parental rights, school choice, and education freedom. America and the world need more leaders, who, like her, are willing to take a stand for education reform.

Your continued donations help ensure even more Christian leaders are equipped as teachers and school administrators who can change our nation and the world for God’s glory.

“God has provided the education, equipping, and every opportunity,” Dr. Ingraham shares. “My goal is to faithfully steward all that He has entrusted to me for His purpose and His glory. I am grateful for the national reach God has provided.”

Dr. Ingraham earned her master’s degree from Regent University’s School of Education in 2012 and began her doctorate there in 2013, as a recipient of the George W. Selig Doctoral Fellowship. A year later, she received the “World Changer in the Field of Education” award. Your faithful support pays tremendous dividends in the growth and learning of Regent students and alumni like Dr. Ingraham.

“Thank you for your generous investment,” she says. “Your contribution is not only providing high-quality learning and spiritual formation for students, but is also setting the trajectory of their lives. My educational equipping at Regent University prepared me for my work influencing the future direction of K-12 education in our nation.”

TRANSFORMING AMERICA’S SCHOOLS

Regent partners equip Christian leaders to impact student learning and success in the classroom.

American public education is in crisis. National test scores in math and reading continue to fall, while across the country, schools are facing criticism for controversial curriculums and practices that many feel are inhibiting learning in core skills.

Compounding these issues is a critical shortage of teachers and administrators — an indication this crisis will not end anytime soon. But thanks to friends like you, hope for transforming America’s schools can be found at Regent University’s School of Education (SOE).

“Our mission is deeply rooted in a commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service, framed within a biblically based, Christian perspective,” says Dr. Kurt Kreassig, dean of SOE.

Kreassig adds that, by instilling values of integrity, compassion, and purpose, SOE trains graduates who are capable of transformative, ethical leadership and have a heart for educational service.

Together, with your support, Regent University can equip the next generation of Christian educational leaders to change the world—one classroom and one school at a time.

In one local school system, SOE alumni are having a tremendous impact. Regent’s Office of Alumni Relations found that 66% of Chesapeake (VA) schools are led by a Regent graduate in the role of principal or assistant principal. Two SOE alumna serve students together with excellence at Butts Road Primary.

As principal and assistant principal, Dr. Kathy Galford (SOE ’18) and Dr. Karen Sweeney (SOE ’23), work to “empower growth” at their school while modeling Christian values to develop caring relationships with students and their families.

“My job is to empower teachers with the best tools, including collaboration, caring, and empathy, that can be used to serve our students and families in the best way possible,” Galford shares.

“What distinguishes Butts Road Primary,” Sweeney explains, “is its unique blend of genuine care for our students’ well-being, sense of community, and commitment to student academic success. It is exciting to be part of a school culture that values relationships among all stakeholders and embraces a growth mindset.”

Galford adds, “It is amazing to work closely with another Regent graduate who shares my values. We have a special relationship and trust. We regularly pray together for our school, students, staff, and families.”

Dr. Glenn Koonce, an associate professor at SOE and Director of Educational Leadership, K-12 School Leadership, and Advanced Educational Leadership Programs, insists the faith-based leadership of SOE alumni, like Drs. Galford and Sweeney, positively impacts student learning and success every day.

“We see these two alums as a reflection of all our graduates who become school leaders,” says Koonce. “Through seeking wisdom and knowledge to serve and edify others, both alumna focus on providing quality instruction, building a productive school climate, promoting collaboration, and supporting professional development among teachers and the entire Butts Road Primary School community.”

Thanks to the support of friends like you, current and future SOE students can access resources they need to pursue their education goals, while reducing long-term debt.

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“It is amazing to work closely with another Regent graduate who shares my values. We have a special relationship and trust. We regularly pray together for our school, students, staff, and families.”

Dr. Kathy Galford (SOE ’18)

“For years, my own school principals had pushed me to look into expanding my career into administration,” Galford says. “Without the generous donations that made my scholarship possible, I never would have had these amazing opportunities to make a positive difference.”

Your generosity makes a difference in the lives of students struggling against increasing costs and rising inflation. With your continued support, we can help end America’s education crisis by equipping even more Christian leaders to change the world for God’s glory.

“I know the power of scholarship and the weight it can lift off of the shoulders of those pursuing their education,” Sweeney insists. “Scholarships and financial aid enable them to follow their passions, reach their full potential, build opportunities for future generations, and change the world for the better.”

Champion Your Child’s Learning

To address the growing concerns around the direction of public education, we turned to Dr. Keri Ingraham (SOE ’12 & ’16) for a few thoughts on helping parents navigate their child’s educational journey.

G Be proactive: You are your child’s first educator, so embrace that role and take action to protect your parental rights.

G Get informed of classroom content: Request curriculum guides and learn what steps you can take to opt your child out of unacceptable subject matter and activities.

G Ask questions: Take time to cultivate relationships with teachers, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns.

G Volunteer: Get involved at your child’s school. This is a great way to gain further insight into their learning environment.

G Connect with other parents: Take time to talk with other parents. Share what you see and hear.

G Advocate for your child: Speak up, take a stand, and change schools when needed. (Don’t wait!)

G Research educational options: A growing number of states offer school choice options beyond your assigned district public school. Get familiar with your choices and make changes if needed.

G Know you have what it takes to homeschool: Resources abound to help parents homeschool their children.

Dr. Ingraham urges parents to stand together to protect their parental rights and the hearts and minds of their children. She also recommends involvement in local chapters of organizations like Moms for Liberty, and encourages parents to tap into resources like Parents Defending Education

Finally, Dr. Ingraham encourages parents to remember that God has entrusted your children to you, and you are ultimately responsible for them and their academic success. She insists the investments parents make will pay tremendous dividends in life.

Tips to help parents successfully navigate their child’s educational journey. CHANGING THE WORLD 365 DAYS A YEAR

A Rescue Mission in Education

You prepared an alumnus to provide leadership for a Christ-centered alternative to public education in Northern Virginia.

In 2021, as Loudoun County, Virginia, became a focal point for a nationwide parental-rights movement, Dr. Sam Botta (SOE ’06) emerged as a beacon of hope. As the head of school for Cornerstone Christian Academy (CCA) in nearby Middleburg, Virginia, he’s committed to providing a Christcentered education in an environment where students can thrive academically, socially and spiritually.

Dr. Botta answered the call to lead CCA in 2022, after hearing the vision shared by Pastor Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel. “The Lord put it on Pastor Gary’s heart to start a Christian school,” Botta explains. “He actually called it a ‘rescue mission’ to stop the indoctrination that's happening in public schools.”

Today, the school is thriving with its own 89-acre campus. First-year enrollment “maxed out” at 544 students, but CCA plans to grow by adding a grade every year through high school. Botta shares, “It’s been challenging because so many families want to be part of the school, and we just can't take them all.”

His journey as an educator began decades ago, but it was Botta’s experience at Regent University that equipped him with the knowledge, skills and inspiration to lead with excellence. As a scholarship recipient, he recognizes the pivotal role that your generosity played in shaping his academic journey and preparing him for a lifetime of service.

CCA has experienced overwhelming demand, receiving thousands of applications within hours of announcing plans to open its doors in the fall of 2023. Botta's leadership has been instrumental in guiding the school through a period of rapid growth. He’s ensuring students receive an education that prepares them to navigate the challenges of the world, while remaining rooted in their faith.

Reflecting on his time at Regent, Botta shares, “It was one of those transformational times and watershed moments in my life and for my family. But I wouldn't have come without their generosity.” He understands the profound impact of investing in institutions like Regent: “What the Lord would put on your heart to give to this university is an investment in the Kingdom of God.”

Dr. Sam Botta (SOE ’06)

Planting God’s Word in Children’s Hearts

Words of encouragement from Chancellor Gordon Robertson

The goal of families in ancient Athens was to properly instruct their children so they could become good citizens of the city. It’s interesting to note that the Greek word to describe this process, paideia, is used by Apostle Paul when instructing believers about raising their children.

He writes in Ephesians 6:4, “Bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (NKJV).

The New Living Translation uses the words “discipline” and “instruction.” Paul is saying that Christian families should make sure their children are raised according to the word, so they can become good citizens of God’s Kingdom.

McGuffey Readers was a popular series of textbooks in the mid-1800s and early 1900s, selling millions of copies. It was the standard for education—and a profoundly Christian model for teaching children. But over the years, there has been a gradual erosion of these values.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Matthew 5:14 (NKJV)

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (NKJV). For generations, America’s goal was to be that “city” set apart from other nations. The aim was to be an example, for all people, of what could happen when a country obeys the Bible’s commandments and instructions.

Building good citizens and raising children “in the training and admonition of the Lord” are no longer primary goals of America’s public education system.

Today’s priorities are vastly different from what they once were. That’s why it’s essential to train the next generation of educators to become Christian leaders to change the world for God’s glory. Your generous support for Regent University ensures that alumni from our School of Education will help fulfill the promise found in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

This is your legacy.

You will always be part of the Regent Family. Now it’s time for those in your family to join as a Legacy student. An eligible grandchild, child or sibling of a CBN or Regent University alumnus will receive an award of $2,000 toward their tuition.

Learn More: regent.edu/learnmore