LEONARD SAX
Session Topics: BOYS ADRIFT and GIRLS ON THE EDGE - How You Can Improve the Odds for Your Son or Daughter
Dr. Sax earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Sax has spoken internationally on issues of child and adolescent development.
Since 2001, he has visited and worked with more than 500 schools, universities, juvenile justice facilities, communities of faith, pre-Ks and nursery schools, corporations, community groups and parent groups. He has appeared on the TODAY Show, CNN, National Public Radio, PBS, Fox News, Fox Business, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, New Zealand Television, and many other national and international media. He is the author of Why Gender Matters, Boys Adrift, Girls on the Edge, and The Collapse of Parenting.
PAUL ANDERSON
Dinner is Discipleship: How Meals Shape Faith, Connection, and the Future of Your Family
Paul Anderson is the Lead Pastor of New Story Church in Phoenixville. Passionate about addressing complex issues with biblical truth, cultural intelligence, and research-based insights, Paul has spoken extensively on topics such as identity, sexuality, purpose, and spiritual formation. For over 20 years, he has worked closely with young men—leading a 20-Somethings ministry, teaching as an adjunct professor, and pastoring a church of young families-giving him a firsthand perspective on the cultural pressures they face. Paul's wife, Jenny, teaches at Coventry and their two children attend.
KellY Conicelli
Developing Rhythms and Habits of Grace in Your Home
Kelly Conicelli has served as Coventry's Preschool Director for over ten years.
She and her husband Danny both work at Coventry with their three young boys, Jonathan, Caleb, and Manny. Their family has been involved with foster care/adoption for the last seven years and have become advocates for Christians in foster care. Kelly is an alumna of Coventry, graduated from Grove City College, spent time overseas with various Christian nonprofits, and then graduated with her Masters from Fuller Seminary. She is passionate about developing traditions in the home, believing there is a great beauty and depth seen over time. She loves reading with a good cup of coffee, hiking and being outdoors, and spending time with her family!
Dr. Michael Dicken
Classical Christian Education, AP STEM
Courses, and College Preparation
Michael is currently the Director of STEM at Coventry Christian Schools, teaching Grade 8 Physical Science, Honors Physics, and AP Calculus AB. He served as K-12 Director of Science Instruction at Veritas School in Richmond, VA from 2011-2024, teaching chemistry and a variety of math classes, from Algebra 1 to Calculus 3. After completion of his Ph.D. in organic chemistry and a postdoctoral fellowship in bio-organic chemistry, Dr. D worked for 18 years in pharmaceutical research. The highlight of his career was his development of NanoCrystal drug delivery technology.
He has nineteen publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and a chapter in an organic chemistry book. He "retired" in June of 2003, fell in love with K-12 Christian classical education, and has been teaching and coaching ever since, now in his 23rd year of teaching. His greatest blessings, outside of his salvation, are his wife, Debbie (married since August of 1981), their son, Scott, their daughter-in-law, Lauren, and their four grandchildren, Lincoln, Levi, Sula Jane, and Luther.
Dave Matchette
Be True To Your God: The Glorious Alternative to Expressive Individualism
Dave Matchette is the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Church of Skippack, having been on staff since 2008. His wife works at Coventry and his four children attend. Dave has taught extensively on cultural apologetics, particularly addressing how the Church can present a compelling alternative to the pervasive ideology of expressive individualism. He is passionate about helping Christians understand that Christ offers the true, the good, and the beautiful as a counter to the cultural confusion and moral uncertainty of our day.
john Mark Niehls
Reclaiming the Cornerstone: A Biblical Vision for Marriage, Family, and Formation.
John Mark Niehls is the head of school of Coventry Christian Schools in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where he has served in that capacity since
2015. He is an SCL Arete Fellow as well as a Colson Fellow. John Mark possesses a BS in Business Administration/Accounting from Kutztown University, an MBA from Harding University, and an Ed.S. in Leadership from Gordon College. John Mark has spoken at several educational conferences including the SCL summer conference and the SCL winter Symposium. He is married to his lovely wife Kristen who also works in classical Christian education, and together they have 5 children who all attend Coventry.
Aimee Stahler
Nurturing a Love for Science in Young Children
Aimee Stahler teaches Lower school STEM to 2nd-4th grade at Coventry. This is her 11th year of teaching with her Elementary Education degree, and Masters in Special Education. She has a passion for sharing her wonder in God's creation, hoping to instill wonder in our Creator, Himself in the process.
Her love for science really sparked from her adventures with her husband and three boys (Grant, Heath, and Cole), whose contagious love for unique creatures, messy experiments, and nature really showcased God's creativity, purpose, and beauty. If you're looking to discuss and share some ideas, please consider this workshop, with hands-on activities that may lead to some messiness, but hope to lead to inspiring curiosity, awe, and worship of our Almighty Creator in our hearts, minds, and
Ben Yost
To Whom Shall We Go? Keeping the Faith Through the College Years
Ben serves at Coventry teaching history and Rhetoric in the upper school. He received his Bachelor'edegree in Cultural Geography and has a Master's in Theological Studies. Ben was raised in a loving Christian family, church and school, but has seen many of his friends abandon the faith over the years. This played a role in inspiring him to pursue a career teaching in Christian School, hoping to play at least some small role in helping students to build a non-fragile faith that may withstand the winds and storms of life.
Each year, Coventry U speakers recommend books to extend your learning beyond the conference evening. This year, we are partnering with Bookish, a Coventry-family-owned bookseller in King of Prussia, to offer preorders for recommended Coventry U books. Preorders can be placed on Bookish's website for pickup at Coventry U on March 6. Click here to see the books recommended by each session speaker.
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