Baylor President to Address Central Texas Superintendents and Pastors on the Role of Clergy in Supporting Public Education

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Contact: Tonya B. Lewis,(254) 710-4656
WACO, Texas (Jan. 9, 2015) — Baylor University and President Ken Starr will host a luncheon conversation among Central Texas superintendents and local pastors to explore the ways pastors can support local teachers and schools and advocate for high-quality public education in their communities and across Texas. The event will take place at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary, located at 1100 S. Third Street.
President Starr will comment on the importance of public education, the need for and significance of this kind of conversation and collaboration among leaders of these two community institutions that care for children and support families. Rev. Charles Foster Johnson, executive director of Pastors for Texas Children (PTC), will lead the luncheon dialogue exploring the status of K-12 public education in Texas and ways pastors can support local teachers and schools and high-quality public education for all children in their communities and across Texas.
“This is the first-ever event that brings together practitioners-leaders for education and the faith community to consider how to support families by collaborating to ensure that all children have an opportunity to both flourish and make this world a better place according to God’s plan," said Jon Engelhardt, Ph.D., dean of the Baylor School of Education.
Luncheon participants will discuss the importance of K-12 public education, a topic of great relevance as Texans anticipate the upcoming legislative session, which will address issues related to public education.
"We are extremely excited to participate in this event with the wonderful folks at Baylor," Johnson said. “Baylor is a strong educational institution, and we feel privileged to enter into this conversation with them and other leaders from across the state."

The event is a joint collaboration between the Baylor School of Education, Truett Seminary and PTC.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.

ABOUT BAYLOR SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Founded in 1919, the Baylor School of Education (SOE) prepares leaders through four departments in two broad program areas, Professional/Teacher Education and Health Education. Leadership preparation begins in undergraduate programs, continues through master’s level work, and culminates in both Ed.D. and Ph.D. programs. The SOE impacts the world as students participate in faculty-guided fieldwork, service learning, and community-focused research in local and global contexts. The school shapes the future by mentoring the whole person, developing an understanding of theory and practice, and encouraging responsiveness to one’s calling.

ABOUT PASTORS FOR TEXAS CHILDREN

The Pastors for Texas Children is a Fort Worth, Texas-based independent ministry, advocacy and outreach group comprised of pastors and church leaders from across the state, organizing to support quality, public education opportunities for all Texas Children. PTC provides “wrap-around” care and ministry to local schools, principals, teachers, staff and schoolchildren; advocates for children by supporting free, public education system; promotes social justice for children and advances legislation that enriches Texas children, families and communities.