What Makes an Effective Christian School Administrator?

David Horner

Reflections of a Former Administrator

Over the last few years, many parents, Christian and non-Christian alike, have become disillusioned with the public school system. During the pandemic, parents saw, through the online teaching, how little in the way of academics their children were receiving and how the agenda of wokeness was dominating what was being taught. As a result, many parents began looking for alternatives, Christian schools among them. Christian schools grew at amazing rates, and new schools began to open. When selecting a Christian school for their children, parents need to consider a number of factors, including curriculum, doctrine, educational philosophy, faculty credentials, and administration format. One of the key factors is the administrator of the school. So, what does an effective administrator look like? What should parents look for in the school administrator when choosing the school for their children? As a former Christian school administrator, I have several suggestions for parents to consider.

SPIRITUAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

First of all, an effective Christian school administrator needs to be a growing, vibrant Christian himself or herself. Howard Hendricks, in his book Teaching to Change Lives, mentions spiritual growth as one of the key principles for being an effective teacher and, by implication, an effective administrator. He notes, “If you stop growing today, you stop teaching tomorrow.” The demands of ministry make it a must for Christian leaders (teachers and administrators) to be growing in their walk with the Lord. They need to be spending time daily in prayer and personal Bible study and walking closely with the Lord. The demands of ministry in a Christian school will challenge any administrator. He or she is fighting a spiritual battle for the welfare of the students and teachers in the school. An administrator who is weak spiritually will not be able to lead the school in the right direction or handle the daily challenges he or she will face.