If you want to lead your community through crisis or change, the first step is to ask, “How big is our kingdom vision and what is the strength of our network?” This focused question surfaced for me as I studied change leadership in British Columbia (BC) K-12 Christian schools. My dissertation addresses the following questions: Christian school leaders must wrestle … Read More
Trauma-Informed Christian Education: On Earth as in Heaven
May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.Matthew 6:10 (NLT) In the first post of this series, we considered how student behavior often tells a story. What may appear as defiance, apathy, avoidance, or even academic success may be a student’s learned response to stress, fear, instability, or shame. When we … Read More
The Leadership Gap in Christian Schools
Forming Teachers as Leaders I remember the moment clearly. I was sitting across from one of the strongest teachers on my staff during her annual evaluation. As I shared with her how impactful she was and how there wasn’t much room left for her to grow, I noticed her expression change. Frustration crept across her face. So I paused and … Read More
An Invitation To Imagine: Come With…
Ben’s request Lao Tzu of the 6th Century BC is credited with saying, “The good traveler is not intent on arriving.” This quotation has been a favorite of mine for more than thirty years, not because I live it out well, but because it serves as a reminder for me, someone who has been destination-oriented, that I have often missed … Read More
An Invitation To Imagine: Strategic Excellence for the Sake of Formation
During a new family interview, a father paused before asking a question that carried more weight than he likely intended. “Can you tell me more about the academic program here? Is it better than what I experienced?” He went on to explain that he had attended a Christian school himself but felt unprepared for college and eventually dropped out. “I … Read More
An Invitation to Imagine: Unity, Partnership, and Shared Mission
Imagine a Christian school where the common thread holding the staff, leadership, parents, and students together was a shared understanding of the gospel (the creation-fall-redemption-restoration narrative of God’s work in the world) and the fundamental truths that have historically defined orthodox Christianity. What if that understanding, and that alone, was the litmus test for a school’s mission, academics, culture, and … Read More
An Invitation To Imagine: Christian Education in 2035
Listen in on the conversations of friends who lead Christian schools, dialogues that happen over coffee, during late-night calls, and in ongoing virtual discussions about this uniting mission we call Christian education. What you will find is that these conversations keep circling back to the same questions: Where are we going? What’s in store for our future? We’ve come so … Read More
A Heart of Gratitude: Thanksgiving Reflections from an Interim Principal
As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, I invite you to press “pause” so you can reflect on the abundant blessings God continually pours into our lives. In the spirit of I Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances,” I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve as part-time head of school and principal at a local PK-8 Christian school. … Read More
Schools that Inspire: Do you Belong?
A Short Review of 2024-25 This year’s Schools that Inspire series showcases an extraordinary array of Christian schools around the world, each deeply rooted in its cultural context yet unified by a common mission to nurture students in faith and learning. From Memphis to Ghana, England to Indonesia, and Guatemala to British Columbia, the featured schools exemplify innovative approaches to … Read More
Standing on Shoulders: Honoring the Good Work of Dan Beerens
In the world of distinctly Reformed Christian education, few individuals I know have left as indelible a mark as my good friend Dan Beerens.