Making a Difference: 2026 SDACC Educators’ Convention

The 2026 Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC) Educators’ Convention brought together approximately 400 Adventist educators from across Canada in Victoria, British Columbia, from August 17 to 20. The event aimed to inspire, uplift, and recognise the educators for their vital contribution to Adventist education.

The convention opened with a warm welcome from Shad Lehman and Keisha Williams Cummings, SDACC Education Director and Associate Director, respectively. The first evening was devoted to spiritual worship, led by Drs. Orlando and Elizabeth Pule, pastors of College Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church, who shared the key text from Ephesians 3:20-21, emphasising God’s willingness to pour out His blessings upon each of us. They also illustrated the concept of divine blessings using water bottles. The theme song, “Making a Difference,” was sung for the first time. Although it was not a familiar tune, it quickly became the unifying anthem of the convention.

The rest of the convention’s spiritual emphasis was delivered by Dr. Elizabeth Talbot, Speaker/Director of the Jesus 101 Biblical Institute. Drawing on stories from both the New and Old Testaments, she presented Jesus in a relatable and engaging way. Her theme, “Making a Difference Through His Love, Assurance, and Purpose,” offered teachers valuable insights into how to effectively incorporate Jesus’ teachings into their classrooms.

Dr. Carol Macedonia, Senior Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins University, presented the results of the Johns Hopkins University School Culture 360 Survey, which was conducted among Adventist schools across Canada. The survey gathered perspectives from various school constituents, including students, parents, teachers, administrators, and board members, providing a broad picture of how well Adventist schools are living out their mission.

The findings offered encouraging evidence that faith is not simply part of the mission statement but is also part of the lived experience of the school community. Across students, parents, teachers, and administrators, there was a shared perception that Adventist schools are places where faith, worship, Gospel values, and a relationship with Jesus Christ are intentionally woven into the educational experience.

The consistency of these responses across stakeholder groups provides compelling evidence of alignment between the mission Adventist schools proclaim and the experience their communities report. The highest-rated areas were closely connected to the heart of the Adventist mission: developing a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, worshipping and praying together, welcoming students regardless of their faith background, and having adults model the teachings and values of the church.

The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist school system in Canada is to inspire each student to lead a life of faith, wisdom, and service. The primary objective of Adventist schools is to nurture each student’s relationship with Jesus. The Johns Hopkins University School Culture 360 Survey corroborates this finding through an independent assessment of school constituents’ perspectives and experiences.

As the new school year begins, I earnestly pray that each teacher will not only be academically prepared but also spiritually inspired to continue the noble work of presenting Jesus in every subject they teach.

David Forsey
Associate Superintendent of Schools,
Ontario Conference