ECLC25 Speakers

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List of 8 items.

Dr. Linda A. Livingstone

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., has served as the president of Baylor University since 2017. Baylor University has thrived under her leadership, achieving the designation of Research 1 university in 2021. Dr. Livingstone has focused on raising the level of academic excellence at Baylor along with cultivating a welcoming and nurturing culture. During Dr. Livingstone’s tenure as president, Baylor has consistently been named one of the top two schools in the Big 12 Conference and one of the top five in Texas in U.S. News & World Report’s annual college rankings. A strong voice for the role of faith-based institutions in American higher education, Dr. Livingstone has established herself as a scholar in organizational behavior, leadership, and creativity. She has been extensively published and cited in academic and professional outlets. As Baylor’s president, she has applied her faith commitment to all aspects of her leadership, drawing inspiration from the message of Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” As a former Division I athlete, Dr. Livingstone has also become a nationally recognized leader in college athletics, including chairing the NCAA Board of Governors.
Mrs. Julie Ambler

Julie H. Ambler has been the Head of School at The Woodlands Christian Academy since 2006. She has successfully led the school to become a leading institution in Christ-centered college preparatory education. Apart from her association with the school, Mrs. Ambler is also serving as the Chairman of the board for Summit Ministries and Chairman of the board for the Council of Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA). She is a board member of the Texas Private School Association (TPSA). Mrs. Ambler has been a member and past board member of the Rotary Club of The Woodlands, where she has been named a Paul Harris Fellow twice. She has also served as the President of the Executive Women’s Alliance (EWA). She has also served as the Past Chairman of the board for The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Montgomery County (LMC). Mrs. Ambler completed her education from The University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a B.A. and an M.B.A.
Mrs. Mindy Dickerson

Mindy Dickerson currently serves as the Director of The George & Barbara Bush Center for Scholars & Leaders housed at Houston Christian High School. Dickerson previously served for 18 years as a Campus Principal in the Elementary, Middle School, and High School levels in public school. In her career, she opened campuses as an Assistant Principal and Principal, served on various Strategic Planning Committee as well as the Katy ISD Education Foundation Board of Directors and was named Katy ISD District Secondary Principal of the Year in 2017-18. Dickerson has worked in education for more than 28 years and began her career as an English Teacher. Dickerson earned her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston and a B.S. in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
Dr. Jay Ferguson

Jay Ferguson, J.D., Ph.D. has been the Head of School at Grace Community School in Tyler, Texas, for over fifteen years. Under his leadership, the school achieved Blue Ribbon Exemplary status in 2015 and 2017. Jay is also an adjunct professor at several colleges, including Covenant College, Gordon College, and Dallas Baptist University, and recently served on the adjunct faculties of the Van Lunen Center at Calvin College and at Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University. He holds leadership positions in the education sector; currently, he serves as Chair-Elect of the executive board of the Association of Christian Schools International. Previous leadership positions include President of the Board of the Texas Private School Association and former Chair of the Board of the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability.
Dr. Brian Guenther

Dr. Brian N Guenther is the current President of San Marcos Academy. In May 2018, he was named Interim Academic Dean of the Academy after serving three years as Associate Academic Dean for the SMA Lower and Middle schools. Prior to joining the Academy staff, he spent eight years as Head of School and three years as music teacher and chaplain at the Master’s School of San Marcos. Additionally, he served as a teaching pastor for River Stone Community Church in San Marcos from 2004 to 2011 and as a youth and worship pastor at First Baptist Church in Kingsland, Texas for five years. Dr. Guenther is a certified superintendent, principal, and teacher. He received his Ed.D. Degree in Education, Educational Leadership, and Administration from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB). He also holds a Master of Arts in Christian Higher Education Administration from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from UMHB. Currently, he serves as President of the Accreditation Commission of the Texas Association of Baptist Schools.
Dr. Darren Price

Dr. Darren Price has been the principal at Houston Christian High School in Houston, TX, since 2015. He is the former Head of School for Contra Costa Christian Schools in Walnut Creek, CA, and held various administrative roles during his 10-year tenure in Christian international schools in South Korea. He has written articles or made presentations regarding leadership, technology, professional development, and furthering Christian education around the world. He believes strongly in the future of Christian education and its importance to impact the next generation.
Mr. Stephen Novotny

Stephen Novotny is a Special Advisor and Senior Consultant with Graybeal and Associates. In this role, he leverages his expertise to assist Christian schools and nonprofit organizations across the country in areas such as operational best practices, safeguarding religious freedom, strategic planning, crisis management, and policy governance training. Stephen also previously served as Vice President of Public Policy and General Counsel for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), one of the largest Christian school associations in the world, which actively promotes the interests of Christian education both in the United States and globally. In Texas, particularly in the greater Houston area, Stephen is best known for his decade of leadership at Cypress Christian School, where he served as Head of School from 2009 to 2019. During his tenure, the school experienced significant growth in academic quality, enrollment, operational strength, and fulfillment of its Christian mission. His positive influence and example continue to be appreciated by the school and its leadership today. Stephen holds a Juris Doctorate from Baylor University and has completed postgraduate work in Theology and Biblical Studies. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University, where he was recognized as the institution’s Distinguished Military Graduate. After
college, Stephen served on active duty for three years as a platoon leader in a U.S. Army mechanized infantry/armor division, earning an Army Commendation Medal for leadership. He is currently licensed to practice law and is an active member of both the Texas and Washington State Bars. Before his career in Christian ministry and education, Stephen served as legal counsel for ExxonMobil and other private businesses and nonprofit organizations. Stephen and his wife, Rachel, have two sons, Calvin and Clayton, both of whom recently served in the U.S. Army as Airborne Rangers. Calvin, now a Houston police officer, lives in the Hockley area with his wife, Heather, and their children, Everett and Erik. Clayton resides in Colorado, where he is a student at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs and works in health club management. Stephen has recently been announced as the next Head of School for Fort Bend Christian Academy in Sugar Land. Over the next several months, Stephen will begin working with FBCA’s Board of Trustees, Interim Head of School, and school leadership while he transitions from his current commitments. Stephen and Rachel plan to relocate to the Fort Bend area during the upcoming spring semester. He will assume full duties as Head of School no later than July 1, 2025, though it may be sooner, depending on their relocation timeline.
Dr. Matt Thomas

Dr. Matt Thomas currently serves as the Head of School for Trinity Christian School in Fairfax County, Virginia. Thomas previously served as the Executive Director of the Center for School Leadership at Baylor University. In this role, he oversaw the operations of the Center, leading the development, strategy, planning, and coordination of programs serving more than 900 schools. Thomas has worked in education for more than 25 years. Serving in Christian K-12 schools, higher education and seminaries, the Christian nonprofit sector, and pastoral ministry, Thomas has devoted his career to serving and strengthening Christian educational institutions for the flourishing of students, faculty, and staff. Thomas earned his EdD from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, his MA in Christian Education from Azusa Pacific University, and a Bachelor of Theology from Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College.