Cultivating a Thriving Christian School Series:
Addressing major components for institutional health in Christian schools
Stakeholder
Engagement
By Jessica Robb and Ron Gordon
S
TAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT is critical for any
private or homeschool organization. I have often
reached out to parents, board members, teachers, and
pastors to help come up with solutions to problems, share
testimonies, or encourage each other.
A school I recently led had a beautiful facility with two
floors but no elevator. One student, a severe hemophiliac,
was unable to go up and down the stairs. Our teachers
rallied around this student and drove him around the
building from the first floor to the second floor and vice
versa. This was a great short-term solution but not the
best in the long run. I realized that not having an elevator
is a huge problem for any students or parents that have
mobility deficits. I began talking with students, parents,
board members, and teachers, and we collectively arrived
upon a walk-a-thon fundraising event for the elevator. It
was amazing to see the school community come together
to achieve a common goal.
Effectively engaging all stakeholders in the mission of
a Christian school can be a challenging effort; however,
developing a successful, biblically enriched education-
al system depends on strong engagement at every level.
42
Teachers, administrators, staff, board members, pastors,
church members (if a church leads the school), parents,
grandparents, volunteers, donors, and local community
members each play an integral part in making the school
run the way God intends. When you think about it, this
sounds like a dream team, or as God calls it, “the body
of Christ.”
Most Christian schools struggle in effectively connect-
ing one or more of these stakeholder groups. For a school
to have success both academically and spiritually, stake-
holders must be involved and feel a part of the school
culture and family. A trusting and inviting environment
is foundational in establishing active engagement. School
leadership must engage different stakeholder groups in
unique ways to include them in the continued growth
and development of the school. Often, stakeholders have
a minimal understanding or may even have a skewed
perspective of the inner workings of a school. To clarify
these misconceptions and project a more authentic and
transparent image of the school, the following actions
will significantly improve the engagement of your vari-
ous stakeholders.