Over the past week, Renewanation was privileged to support two schools in Florida with strategic planning and coaching. Tampa Bay Christian Academy (TBCA), a PreK to 12th grade school located in Tampa’s inner city, serves a beautifully diverse population of students. Since Renewanation’s initial assessment visit this past spring and ongoing coaching support, the school has increased their student population by 20 students for a current enrollment of 283. One key recommendation from the assessment focused on a stronger emphasis of evangelizing their upper school students. As a result, TBCA kicked off the school year with a 3-day retreat at a Christian camp where they were challenged in their faith. The Holy Spirit was at work as 58 students made a decision for Christ and are now being mentored to solidify their faith around a biblical worldview education.
Having already been through the assessment process, the development of a strategic deployment plan was a critical next step in TBCA’s journey to increase their impact in their community and their long-term sustainability. Over the course of two intense days in the planning workshop, Ron Gordon and Dr. Kristin Bird guided the leadership team through the various opportunities and challenges they face to arrive upon a solid path forward. Teams are now being launched with members positioned in their areas of strength and breakthrough targets to achieve. An organized approach to intentionally cover these efforts in prayer was also developed by the team. As TBCA seeks to strengthen their spiritual vitality, expand their community reach, and grow their funding support, the Renewanation team will come alongside their leadership team with both coaching and accountability as their plan is deployed.
Heading southeast to the Avon Park area, the Renewanation team then focused its help on Community Christian Academy (CCA). A ministry of Community Bible Church, CCA re-opened their doors in 2012 after being closed for nearly a decade. While still a small Christian school, the potential for significant growth in the next few years is strong as they have recently been approved to receive tax credit funds from the state of Florida and are also in the process of becoming eligible for state funds to provide free pre-schooling for 4-year-old children. CCA requested Renewanation’s support in proactively preparing for potentially exponential growth.
On this visit, the Renewanation team completed both an assessment of their existing programs as well as the development of a strategic deployment plan. As part of the assessment process, we reviewed all aspects of the school and met with various stakeholders to identify both strengths to build upon as well as opportunities for improvement. Ron and Kristin then facilitated CCA’s leadership team through the strategic deployment planning process. In addition to developing strategies to increase enrollment and strengthening their presence and reputation in the Avon Park region, the team also crafted various plans to increase their ability to educate the current and prospective students in mind, soul, and body.
These visits were a strong encouragement to both schools. As one headmaster stated, “Thanks again for everything! I am so encouraged about what I know God can do through our school. I can’t wait until Monday to start working.”
If you know a Christian school that seeks to strengthen their impact or needs support with strategic planning, please connect with us today.