1. What have you found most challenging as a Christian school leader?

Rewarding underpaid educators in a cost-sensitive economy. Showing genuine appreciation when not able to compensate professionals adequately.

2. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Up early for devotions and prayer. Keep a priority schedule during most mornings. Accessible most afternoons. Numerous evening activities, events.

3. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?

Authentic transparency is not always valued in a leader, yet tends to create genuine respect where it matters.

4. What's one book apart from the Bible that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

“Let Your Life Speak,” Parker Palmer. Consistently centers me in reality and returns me to wise, Godly perspective.

5. How do you find and keep great Christian teachers?

They find us. We are not always able to keep them. Despite a sense of true calling — great Christian teachers, together with their spouses and families, face the same economic challenges as we all do.

6. What's most important as a Christian school leader for developing a culture of wellbeing in your staff and students?

God first, in reality not words. Work / Life balance that does not reward burnout and overwork as virtues. Making healthy personal choices.

Choosing to be intentionally positive.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a Christian school leader so far?

We have parents that actively recruit other parents to choose our school. Their belief in us is rooted in their own family and their own experiences here. The power of a personal endorsement exceeds hype, marketing and jargon. Satisfied parents are priceless.