Developing the Next Generation of Christian Education Leaders

By Ron and Tonya Gordon

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a phenomenal surge in Christian schools, homeschool co-ops, and micro-schools popping up across the United States. The Christian parent response to alarming cultural trends, increasing support for school choice, and the potential dismantling of the Department of Education will only further fuel this shift in the educational landscape. As we enjoy this unprecedented growth in Christian education, we must also be cognizant of the key success factors to ensure long-term sustainability.

Robust leadership will certainly be paramount. Unfortunately, a brief review of the statistics does not indicate we’ve excelled in this area. Studies suggest the average tenure for the Head of School at a Christian school ranges between three and five years, with nearly a third reporting that they’ve been fired from their positions.¹ Based on our work launching and renewing Christian schools across the United States, we are observing a wide range of contributing factors. Meager salary offerings combined with often under-resourced organizations result in a limited pool of qualified candidates applying for these positions. All too often, willing and well-meaning volunteers with minimal education background or lead teachers with no practical leadership experience are thrust into headmaster roles without an effective professional development plan.

Without solid leadership continuity, the future of our Christian education programs is at risk. To combat this situation, church leaders and Christian school boards stewarding Christian education programs must be intentional in developing their current leadership teams and emerging leaders. While no one individual can be an expert in every competency area,² increasing one’s capability in each of these areas will have a marked impact on current results and future sustainability.

Christian education leaders must have a broad understanding of several key areas.

• Spiritual Development and Character Formation

• Biblical Worldview Pedagogy

• Financial Statement Analysis and Budgeting

• Building and Developing an Effective Teaching Team

• Operations and Strategic Planning

• Donor Development

• Stakeholder Engagement

• Effective Communications with Boards, Teachers, Parents, and Students

• Board Governance

Over the past decade, RenewaNation has provided general coaching support for Christian education leaders through our Christian School Renewal program. We are doubling down on these efforts with a more directed approach to meet this growing need for leadership development. Through a series of small group training sessions, selected readings, individualized assessments, and project work connected to your Christian education program, leaders will be challenged and equipped to take their leadership capabilities to the next level.

RenewaNation’s Biblical Education Leadership Training (BELT) initiative launches in 2025. New groups are forming now for Spring 2026. Find out more at reap.renewanation.org/cultivation.

ENDNOTES

1. “Christian School Leadership: 2019 ACSI Profile,” Association of Christian Schools International, February 4, 2020, https://www.acsi.org/detail/blog-post/blog/2020/02/04/christian-school-leadership-2019-acsi-profile.

2. Ron Klein, Journey to Excellence: What Boards and Heads of Christian Schools Need to Know to Get There (Wheaton Academy Institute and Association of Christian Schools International, 2017), 29.