Timothy Team Share Best Practices for Academic Excellence

At Timothy Christian Schools, we believe the very best—and most eternal—investment you can make in your child is an education that combines academic excellence that is rooted in a Biblical worldview. Timothy has been nationally recognized for its Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), where co-teaching, differentiated instruction, and small-group learning are making measurable and lasting impacts. Student test scores continue to rise, and they are thriving! 

But our mission to combine academic excellence that is Biblically-based extends far beyond our own students. This fall, Laura Groenewold, Director of Educational Support; Kevin Hackert, Director of Technology; and Kris Wise, Director of Teaching and Learning, presented at the 2025 Inspir(ED) Conference in Iowa City—a gathering for Iowa’s Christian, urban, and missional schools. By sharing Timothy’s best practices and practical classroom strategies, they helped equip other schools to strengthen their programs and, in doing so, further the Kingdom of Christ.

A major part of Inspir(ED)’s work includes encouraging the launch of new Christian schools, supporting existing ones, and expanding school-choice awareness in Iowa. The conference drew educators from schools founded within the last two decades, including Faith Academy, Joshua Christian, Royal Legacy, and Dream Academy—all committed to equipping students academically and spiritually for God’s calling.

For Kevin Hackert, the event was both professional and personal. “I was thrilled to go back to my home state to speak at the Inspir(ED) Conference,” he said. Kevin led two sessions on the role of artificial intelligence in education. 

“The first session explored how Christians are called to apply Biblical wisdom in their view of, and use of, AI—and how we can teach our students to do the same,” he explained. “We discussed the differences between God’s creation and our creation, between Imago Dei and algorithms, and how easy it is to confuse AI’s imitation with God’s incarnation. Our goal was to find redemptive ways to use AI to help our schools while honoring God and His purpose for us.”

His second session focused on practical strategies for teachers to responsibly integrate AI into their classrooms. “We created AI chatbots to give students immediate feedback on their work and tried numerous AI tools designed to help generate engaging ways to interact with existing curriculum,” Kevin said. “It was a privilege to lead such an innovative conversation with fellow educators who care deeply about their students and their curriculum.”

Meanwhile, Kris Wise and Laura Groenewold co-led sessions on classroom engagement, differentiation, and behavior. “It reminded me of the importance of always learning and always growing in our expertise—and the powerful benefits of collaboration,” Kris said.

Laura added, “Presenting at the Inspir(ED) Conference was an excellent opportunity to give back to schools and educators in Iowa. All of the schools that were in attendance were founded in the last 16 years and are in the process of growing their enrollment and staff. The enthusiasm for Christian education was palpable! This conference made me reflect on how God has blessed Timothy throughout the years. God has given us much, and it is our responsibility to give back to further the Kingdom of Christ. These schools are making a positive impact in Christian education and spreading the message of Christianity to all they meet. To have a small part in equipping their educators for that mission was a true privilege.”