When I first saw the image below, it took me a bit to realize its significance. When I finally saw it, many connections instantly appeared from both my personal and professional life.

Reviewing my personal history, I could see many decisions that I avoided because I knew they would bring pain and discomfort. The decision would make life harder … hence, my avoidance to make the tough choice. But in most cases, when I did move forward with a tough decision, the difficult times were relatively short. Goodness, growth, and new possibilities often emerged. Not always and not necessarily immediately—but often and eventually.

Are you making your own connections as you study the image and read my reflection?

Initially this image invited me to reflect on past scenarios. But in the time since, this image invites me to look forward. This visual urges me forward now. It literally gives me courage—it encourages. Yes, tough decisions are hard, in both our personal and professional lives. But also true is that following these decisions, situations can get better. Not just better, but better better.

I hope this visual en-courages you too. 

Memphis TfT Conference March 2027:

Call for Presenters

Preparation for our very first TfT conference at Harding Academy in Memphis (March 3-5, 2027) is in full swing. This conference is open to any educators at TfT schools. Recently we emailed out this Call for Presenters for both strands and workshops. If you are interested in sharing at the conference, we encourage you to read through the details and to submit a proposal. Our desire is for this conference to be a place where practitioners lead practitioners. Practitioners like you!

Our conference Storyline is Celebrating in God’s Story, and we are sooooo ready to celebrate your great work. Please direct proposal questions to Amanda Scott, TfT’s Director of Learning.

Learning Targets in the Secondary

TfT Practices Alive and Aligned

in Secondary Science

This photo essay tells the story of learning in Kelly Fish’s secondary biology, earth science, and physics classes at Eastside Academy. All three subject areas are rooted in a shared Storyline (What? So What? Now What?) and Deep Hope (Explore stories of science with a posture of wonder, curiosity, and restoration). Students’ journey through units move from wonder to curiosity to restoration. Through the alignment of multiple TfT practices, their work captures growth over time, culminating in a yearlong, collaborative FLEx that brings together their scientific understanding and invites them to embody what they’ve learned.

TfT Practices Alive and Aligned in Elementary

The Father's House Christian School is in Year 3 of the TfT journey. Doing real work that meets the real need of real people has become a part of the school culture. The grade 2 class recognized an opportunity to beautify their playground when their teacher, Carmen Meinczinger, asked, "How can we reflect the light and love of Jesus to our school community?" What started out as a class idea to paint some rocks became a whole school Beauty Creating FLEx.

In grade 5, Valeria Breitkreuz invited her class to think about ways they could help families affected by Alberta wildfires. Students were able to be Justice Seekers in this FLEx by creating comfort kits, raising awareness, and educating others about the dangers and impacts of wildfires.

2026 TfT Summer Masterclass

Registration Is Open!

Registration is open for our 2026 TfT Summer Masterclasses. This year’s offerings include some returning masterclasses and some new ones! 

TfT Masterclasses are led by school-based practitioners and are designed for educators who have been implementing TfT practices in their classrooms for at least one year. Each session offers a focused, practical learning experience that equips participants with concrete TfT plans for the year ahead, while also fostering meaningful connections across the TfT network to encourage, support, and sustain ongoing work.

Learn more and register below. Please contact Amanda Scott, TfT Director of Learning, if you have further questions. 

FLEx Cards:

Celebrating Grace Community School

At Grace Community School, students learn to apply their faith to daily life and discover meaningful ways to practice community building. In the sixth grade FLEx, students helped prepare for the 35th annual performance of Little Bo Peep by first-grade students. They designed and created new stage scenery for the production, reflecting on their own memories of performing the show when they were in first grade. Remembering the emotions they experienced, the sixth graders wrote prayers of encouragement and taped them to the back of the scenery, surrounding the first graders’ performance in prayer.

Meanwhile, the freshman class explored sacred spaces in their interdisciplinary FLEx. They then designed prayer cards featuring their own written collects and sacred images to be used in the school’s Holy Week observances. Through these experiences, students are learning how their gifts can strengthen the shared life of their school community and help them grow as people who live in God’s story with purpose, creativity, and compassion.

Opening Circles with the Throughlines