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Sessions & Descriptions
One Step at a Time – A Map to a Successful Advancement Program
In this session, Matt Davidson will provide some basic and highly practical guidance to help your school in its advancement efforts. Join him in this “kick-off” session and walk together through the steps of a successful advancement program – all aligned with the mission of the Christian school movement.
Presenter: Matt Davidson
Application of What’s Being Discussed | Q&A
Session 2 is designed for the group to workshop real situations, apply what has been discussed, ask questions, and shape the rest of the discussion. Participants will be asked to share how their own experiences relate to the information presented. This session will be highly interactive, informal, and energizing.
Presenters: Matt Davidson
Tour of Wheaton Academy with members of the administration, advancement team, and head architect (with Q&A time)
Wheaton Academy will have just completed Phase 1 of a $30MM capital campaign – For Generations to Come. Tour the new space and learn from Peter Baldwin, President of AMDG Architects about the collaborative process that guided the development of Wheaton Academy’s Master Plan and from Wheaton Academy’s administrative and advancement team about the connection of the new space to its Strategic Plan
Tour of Timothy Christian Schools with members of the administration and advancement team (with Q&A time)
Timothy Christian has had many successful advancement campaigns including new construction and significant renovations – all totaling over $60MM over the last decade. Come see and learn about Timothy’s Master Planning and connection to its strategic planning.
Master Planning – paving your path to success | Peter Baldwin (AMDG) and Matt Davidson
Space matters. Designed well, physical environment can amplify learning and instruction. It can enhance your community and can significantly alter the trajectory of how you’re able to deliver your mission. Peter Baldwin, Owner and Principal of AMDG Architects, will share the ways a well-designed facility and campus can reflect your mission and have a transformational impact on your community.
The Science and Sophistication of Advancement
Fundraising complexities overwhelm many Christian school leaders. Raising extraordinary funds for your school requires significant planning and vision. Learn how to develop a well-conceived growth strategy for fundraising that enables you to raise exceptional amounts while protecting – even growing – your annual giving. Join Angel De Leon from Mission Advancement, a professional consulting firm, to learn more about strategies that can accelerate your school’s advancement efforts.
Presenter: Angel De Leon, Mission Advancement
Building and Engaging Your Alumni Base, Caring for Constituents
Unlike the colleges and universities of America, the K-12 movement has struggled to keep in touch and stay relevant with their alumni. Yet our alumni are critical to achieving our mission – as future leaders in our community, parents in our schools, and donors to our cause. In this session, you will learn some of the “do’s and don’t” of alumni relations and how to care for constituents.
Presenter: Dawn Earl, Director of Alumni Relations, Wheaton Academy
Next Steps – Let’s Build a Plan (while the iron is hot)
How many times have you left a conference with plenty of good ideas and intentions, but then within a few weeks (or less) the passion is already weakened or gone altogether? In this session, let’s build a plan for the 2024-2025 school year and beyond while the ideas are still top-of-mind.
Presenters: Matt Davidson & Angel De Leon
Matt Davidson has been at the helm of Timothy Christian Schools (PreK – 12) for fourteen years. During that time, Davidson and his team have raised over $60MM for capital improvements, real estate acquisitions, existing programs, and new initiatives. During the same time frame, the school has also earned a National Blue Ribbon of Excellence from the US Department of Education and increased enrollment to record numbers and capacity. He has been at the helm of six major capital campaign projects. All along, Davidson has completed each campaign on schedule, under budget, and without debt. He frequently offers his consulting expertise on a variety of topics with other private schools, and in particular enjoys helping schools of all sizes maximize their fundraising and advancement efforts – thus advancing their mission.
Just finishing his 31st year, Davidson has been involved in Christian education for his entire professional career. Davidson started his career in 1993 as a teacher and coach. His experiences in the classroom and the locker room have provided him with a well-rounded perspective of Christian schools. Eventually Davidson moved into administration as a Dean of Students and then a Principal before assuming his first head of school position at age 36 in the largest private school in Arizona. For the last 14 years, Davidson has served at the helm of Timothy Christian Schools in the western suburbs of Chicago – founded in 1911 and the largest Christian school in Illinois. He has successfully ushered in energizing change while maintaining a worthy respect of the school’s history and foundation.
Davidson is also involved with nearly a dozen boards and committees, mostly in the nonprofit world. In 2023 he received an award of Meritorious Service from the Illinois State Board of Education, and he was inducted into the Marquis Who’s Who in America for his leadership and contributions in education – earning a spot in the top 5% of the Marquis Class of 2023.. He speaks frequently at conferences locally and nationally. He is a husband of 31 years and a father of 3 children – all married and all graduates of Christian schools. He is also a proud grandfather.
Peter Baldwin is Owner and a Principal of AMDG Architects, a full-service design firm established in 1992 in Grand Rapids, MI. His passion stems from the belief that architecture is for people and has the power to build community and strengthen mission through the transformation of space. He enjoys creating collaborative teams and tailored processes that are focused on client needs and aspirations. AMDG provides expertise in best practice educational planning and design in the faith-based K-12 sector through a team of 30 in-house architects, interior designers, and landscape architects.
AMDG focuses on partnering with private, faith-based school systems across multiple states to deliver a unique approach to educational design. The firm also designs custom residential, recreational and workspace environments that often inform their design work in educational environments. AMDG’s further differentiation comes through deep listening, commitment to designing for the client, and a well-honed process to provide solutions to complex design challenges within a collaborative teaming approach.
In 2013, Angel accepted the challenge of building a fully-functioning advancement office at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, TX. During his 9 years there as Sr. Director of Advancement, Angel was instrumental in leading the school in a successful $20 million capital campaign. In addition, he and his team were responsible for helping grow the school’s annual fund to a total of $3 million per year (operations and tuition assistance) and an additional $3 million per year on average for endowment, corporate sponsorships, planned giving and auxiliary groups.
In his current role as Vice President at Mission Advancement, Angel has the privilege of helping to align the needs of the schools he engages with the best solutions Mission Advancement has to offer. Ultimately, it’s about empowering the schools he works with to more effectively fulfill the mission for which they exist.
Angel and his wife have been married for 38 years and reside in Frisco, TX. They have a son, a beautiful daughter-in-law and two wonderful young grandsons. Angel enjoys serving on the board of a missions organization that does work in Africa, India, Romania, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Sri Lanka. A native of Miami, FL Angel enjoys anything associated with the ocean.
Dawn Earl stepped into the director of alumni relations role at Wheaton Academy in August 2006. She brought a wealth of experience from her 16 years as a public school teacher, curriculum supervisor, and administrator and four years as an elected school board member for District 200 Wheaton-Warrenville. Dawn has a BA in elementary education and a master’s in curriculum and supervision.
Heeding God’s nudges, Dawn gave up her administrative position to become a stay-at-home mom. This decision subsequently led her to homeschool for seven years. Her two younger children later attended Wheaton Academy for high school.
As the Academy’s director of alumni relations, Dawn has launched a number of initiatives to enhance communication and connection within WA’s alumni community. These projects include implementing an online alumni platform, reorganizing the Alumni Association Board, and expanding the alumni recognition award program. In 2013-14, she authored Celebrating God’s Unfolding Story, 160 Years and Building, documenting the history of the Academy from its founding in 1853 through 2013. This project inspired her to create an Academy archival system with the assistance of archivists from Wheaton College.
In addition to these special projects, Dawn devotes her time to planning and executing the Academy’s annual Homecoming alumni festivities. These events feature reunions for specific classes and special programs tailored for alumni, ensuring that WA alumni feel celebrated and welcome.
Dawn and her husband, Bob, have three adult children—Ashlee, Greg ’05, and Alex ‘07—two wonderful daughters-in-law who are also WA alumni and nine grandchildren. Her family’s deep-rooted connection to Wheaton Academy further strengthens the sense of community and shared experiences among the alumni.
Wheaton Academy Institute leverages the 170 year history of Wheaton Academy's challenges and successes to advance Christian schooling globally for the glory of God.