Leaders Share Best Practices in Preparing for a New School Year

By: Brittany Steward

We asked leaders to share some of their best practices in preparing for the new school year. Here's what they shared!

Dr. Althea Penn, Director of Early Education at ACSI:


“School leaders can best prepare for a dynamic school year by hiring highly qualified Kingdom educators and assessing and responding appropriately to exceptional learning and behavioral needs. Equipping and empowering educators with the information needed to implement data-informed, individualized instruction is key to spiritual formation and holistic development. Every staff member and student is designed by God to flourish.”

Jo Anne Boles, Head of School at New Life Christian School (Frederick, MD) 
 
“Back to school season is full of opportunities to lean into the Lord for His wisdom, His creativity, and His power. Using these weeks to pray with our teams, connect with parents, and build relationships with students is critical. Being intentional about being in God's presence, through reading His Word and prayer, will lay a firm foundation for this school year. Being sure to also take time to rest, prioritize movement, and find moments of enjoyment are vital to being ready to serve our school communities for the upcoming school year. God has given us EVERYTHING we need for the season we are in!”

Dr. Mike Hayes, Head of School of Worthington Christian School (Worthington, OH):


“As we enter this school year, I’m mindful of the idea of abiding, particularly from John 15. The Wuest Expanded Translation of the New Testament renders the idea of abiding in Christ in v. 4 as ‘maintain a living communion with me.’ This idea of abiding means that we remain in or with others. My focus at the start of this school year is to maintain this ‘living communion’ with Jesus and to cultivate the posture of abiding by remaining with our students, parents, and staff as we journey through this year together.”

Debbie Schindler, Head of School at Pacific Christian Academy (Federal Way, WA)


“Preparing for the new school year is critical!! It has been my practice for many years to take the first weekend (Thursday through Sunday) of August and ‘retreat’ to somewhere quiet, preferably in God's creation, to pray, think, and plan for the new year. I spend time in confession, renewal, and in expressing gratitude to God for His goodness. I dive again into all the surveys taken the previous year, and review the notes I have kept throughout the year,  to get a renewed sense of what we should focus on in the new year and how we can improve in accomplishing our mission. Those thoughts inform my CSIP for the coming year. My goal is to leave that weekend, refreshed and inspired, with a firm sense of direction from God for the coming year.”

Sandra Yager, Superintendent at Cornerstone Christian Academy (Battle Ground, WA):

“At Cornerstone Christian Academy, we enter the new school year with a prayerful mindset as we lift up our prayers for students, families, and staff. We seek wisdom in planning and faithfully follow God's voice, always remembering who we serve and who directs our path. ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,’ - Colossians 3:23.”

Cindy Dodds, Chief of Flourishing Initiatives at ACSI


“One of my favorite things to do as a head of school in preparation for the start of a school year was to do a prayer walk around the perimeter of the school with the faculty, staff, and board – think Jerico. We had three prayer stations where we would gather as we walked.  One where we would ask God to reveal His plans and provide protection for the school in the context of Acts 4:24-31. The second prayer station was based on Acts 2:37-41.  In this case we would pray for the hearts of leaders, teachers, and students – that they would make Christ the center of their life and their work. The third prayer station was based on Psalm 90:17, asking for God’s favor throughout the school year and in all that was accomplished in His name.”

Shirley Hitchcock, Director of Accreditation and Curriculum Coordinator at Valley Christian Schools (San Jose, CA)


“To prepare for a great school year, be prayerful, rested, organized, excited, and confident.”