7 Questions with Christian school leaders

Name: Paul Arundell

Current title: Director of Education

Current organisation: Brindabella Christian College

I have spent my 36 year working life in Christian Education and have at varying times been a teacher, parent, board member, chairman, principal and executive principal. I have been blessed to be married to Helen for 33 years and to have 3 adult children and one grandchild who are all walking with God and were each positively impacted and shaped by the gift of Christian education.

Name: Mitchell Salerno

Current title: Head of School

Current organisation: Monte Vista Christian School

I am the Head of School at Monte Vista Christian School in Watsonville, CA. MVC is a 95-year old day and boarding school serving approximately 750 students in grades 6-12. Throughout my career, I have enjoyed transformational leadership and have been an innovative thought leader. Most importantly, I am a husband and father.

Name: Anne Schaefer-Salinas

Current title: Associate Head of School

Current organisation: TMI Episcopal

I have been in education for over 20 years but this was not my first career. I actually graduated with my BS in Business Administration and worked in the hospitality field for a number of years. It didn't take too many years for me to realize that this was not how I wanted to spend the rest of my years earning a paycheck. So, I began working as a Confirmation Catechist and Youth Minister while in Grad School pursuing my MA in History-and also tutored on the side. While doing that "as a temporary gig", I discovered that I actually enjoyed working with teenagers (much to my mother's chagrin and disbelief). I took a job as a long-term sub at one of our local high schools, in Spanish of all things, pursued my teaching credential and have been enjoying my work ever since.

I spent over 17 years at an all-girls Catholic High School in the San Francisco Bay Area teaching every history course we offered, with one exception: AP Government. A few years ago I transitioned into Administration and served as the Associate Principal for Curriculum and Instruction for 6 years before moving to my current position in San Antonio, TX. Here I serve as the Associate Head of School for a co-ed 6-12 Episcopal school

I am a wife, mom, and avid SF Giants fan. I love to experiment in the kitchen, read, and learn and model new ways of using technology in the classroom.

Name: Yass Leheta

Current title: French immersion teacher gr 7/8

Current organisation: Ncdsb

I have been a Catholic teacher for the past 16 years. Active within the community and church.

Name: Matt Lambro, Ph.D.

Current title: Director of Student Development

Current organisation: Trinity Christian Academy

Dr. Lambro earned his Ph.D. in Global Leadership & Change from Pepperdine University, where his dissertation focused on division head successions. Since 2016, Dr. Lambro has served as the Director of Student Development across all three divisions at Trinity Christian Academy. He leads a wide array of areas, including diversity and inclusion, leadership development, life readiness programming, spiritual life, student clubs and organizations, and student well-being. Dr. Lambro is married to his college sweetheart Jana, and they have two adorable daughters both under the age of three.

Name: Trandy Birch

Current title: Superintendent

Current organisation: Lincoln Christian School

31 year educator, 16 in public schools and 14 in Christian School. Athletics and activities have played a large role in my formation as an educator.

Name: Joe Greco

Current title: Assistant Principal

Current organisation: Omaha Catholic Schools

Dr. Greco graduated from Hastings College in 2004 with a B.A. in Psychology, and went on to earn his M.A. in teaching and Ed.D in Educational Leadership from College of St. Mary in 2015. He spent two years as Principal at St. Bernard, and the seven years prior teaching Social Studies and coaching multiple sports at Millard South High School. He and his wife, Melissa, have been married since 2009, and have three children. He is a Disney World fanatic, and loves playing hockey in his free time.

Name: Keturah Jones

Current title: Deputy Principal

Current organisation: Brindabella Christian College

I’m the Deputy Principal at Brindabella Christian College in Canberra, Australia. I trained as a Secondary English and Visual Arts teacher and have had a long career teaching in Christian schools. Before moving into my current position, I was the Coordinator of Pastoral Care at Nowra Anglican College. I recently completed a Master of Applied Leadership in Positive Education. I love seeing young lives transformed through quality Christian education, and my greatest joy is seeing students flourishing in all aspects of their lives. My husband is also a teacher and my daughters, aged 20 and 14, are both studying. My family and I go to Fusion City Church.

Name: Dean Ridder

Current title: Head of School

Current organisation: Isaac Newton Christian Academy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Dean Ridder serves as the Head of School of Isaac Newton Christian Academy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Dean began his career in Christian education as a middle school teacher in suburban Chicago. Following ten years of teaching, he left the classroom to serve as a Christian school administrator. He served as an assistant principal in suburban Chicago, and as a principal in central Illinois before accepting his current position in Iowa. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL and a Master’s degree in Education Leadership from Purdue University. Dean also serves on several boards related to Christian education, including ACSI's Commission for Accreditation and the Iowa Association of Christian Schools. He also serves as the Iowa District Representative on ACSI's Divisional Council. Dean has been married to his wife, Jolene, for 27 years, and has three children, all of whom attended Christian schools.

Name: Tom DAmico

Current title: Director of Education

Current organisation: Ottawa Catholic School Board

Tom D’Amico is the Director of Education with the Ottawa Catholic School Board. He has over 30 years of experience in education and has had many roles including as a teacher, school administrator and as Superintendent of Human Resources and Superintendent of Learning Technologies and as the Associate Director of Education. An award-winning educator he has been recognized with the Prime Minister’s Award for teaching excellence and with Canada’s Outstanding Principal award. As a Superintendent he received the EXL award to recognize excellence among members of the superintendency. He has presented across Canada on the topics of educational technology and leadership in the 21st Century. Tom is the Canadian co-lead for New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL), a global partnership of over 1500 schools across 10 countries focused on practices to develop deep learning and the development of global competencies.

In addition to his educational qualifications, he holds an Osgoode certificate in education law; a workplace mental health leadership certificate, and an executive certificate in conflict management with a focus on alternative dispute resolution.

Tom is an off-ice official with the NHL and prior to his career in education was the general manager of Ottawa’s professional soccer team, The Ottawa Intrepid.

Tom is active in his parish, St. John the Evangelist, as a lector and a lay eucharistic minister.

Tom and his wife Michelle have two daughters, Laura and Christina, both graduates of the Ottawa Catholic School Board.

“I believe in the empowerment of youth and their ability to make our world a better place, especially through the use of social learning and technology in a connected global society”.

Name: Alex Wharton

Current title: Head of Middle School

Current organisation: Carinya Christian School, Gunnedah NSW (Australia)

Alex Wharton is establishing a secondary high school in rural NSW, Australia. He is described by colleagues as “infectiously enthusiastic and a visionary Christian educator and leader”. Alex strives to visibly make Christ known in and out of the classroom. Drawing on his extensive teaching experience as an English literature teacher and school Chaplain, Alex is passionate about sharing gospel stories with students and staff alike. He holds a Masters of Educational Leadership (Macquarie University) and a Preliminary Theological Certificate from Moore College (Sydney). Alex is married to Jenny, and together they have one daughter, Evelyn.

Name: Mark Fruitt

Current title: Principal of the Elementary Division

Current organisation: Presbyterian Day School in Memphis.

Mark Fruitt serves as Elementary Principal of Presbyterian Day School (PDS), an independent school serving boys in grades PK-6 in Memphis.

Born and raised in Memphis, Fruitt earned his undergraduate and master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Memphis. Before coming to PDS in 2004, he served as a teacher, head varsity boys basketball coach, assistant varsity football coach and Dean of Students at First Assembly Christian School. Also during this time, he served as director of the family life center at First Assembly of God Church.

Over the years Mark’s professional development has included Project Zero at Harvard, Leading Today’s Changing Middle School, the National Association of Independent School Conference, and many others. He has also attended numerous coaching clinics, including: Alabama, Penn State, Nebraska, and Indiana to name a few.

Mark was awarded the Most Valuable Teacher Award while teaching at First Assembly and earned coach of the year honors in 2000. Mark enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and reading. Mark is married to Amy and they have one daughter. They are members of Grace Community Church.