One of the benefits of serving schools all across the country is that our team get a bird’s eye view of what’s going on in Christian education. That bird’s eye view allows us to see patterns…lots and lots of patterns.
I wrote about one of those patterns in my last article “The Most Common Denominator of Thriving Schools,” and I’m excited to share another pattern we’re seeing today: schools we serve consistently fall into one of three categories. See if you can categorize your school as you read this article.
Category One: Struggling or Declining
Schools in this category are typically experiencing enrollment decline and shaky finances. They may be struggling to retain students and/or faculty members. Additionally, they may be experiencing a loss of support, volunteers, or buy-in from their congregations. Stress and emotions may be running high.
Team members at these schools are asking questions like:
Why is our enrollment declining? Will marketing help? Would a different program or service help?
Do we need a different financial model?
Are there opportunities to build something new?
Is this a time to invest more or put our investment into other types of ministry?
Category Two: Stable or Stagnant
Schools in this category are typically experiencing the same year over and over again. Team members find satisfaction at serving their students and families, but have a gnawing feeling that things could be better, different, or both.
Additionally, in stagnant schools, there can be forms of dysfunction that have become normal to the ministry team. Instead of addressing issues, they may be swept under the rug or ignored. Without dealing with root causes, the school struggles to make forward progress.
Team members at these schools are asking questions like:
Is this just the way it is…or is there something more we could be doing?
Might we be able to move out of reactive mode into proactive mode?
What is our next step, our vision? What are we working toward?
What are our opportunities to grow and thrive as a school? And how do we get there?
Category Three: Growing and Changing
Schools in this category are experiencing steady enrollment growth. While finances may be healthier than ever, the team struggles with a whole new set of issues: growth issues.
Families worry that the school might be losing its small, family feel. Team members enjoy having more teammates, but also feel disconnected from purpose or may feel like “a cog in the machine.” Leaders struggle with expanding responsibilities and trying to get everyone to row in the same direction.
Everyone is worried about changing anything that might disrupt their growth, but many wonder if the systems and processes that got the school here are what they need to keep thriving.
Team members at these schools are asking questions like:
How do we navigate new challenges while preserving what makes our school special?
Who are we anymore?
How do we get everyone to work together…and stay connected?
What systems and processes need to change as we grow?
Now that we’re here, how can we steward these opportunities wisely?
How do we preserve and build culture?
Each school, no matter its category, has its own set of responsibilities, opportunities, challenges, blessings, and obstacles. So…now what?
The first step is definitely acknowledging what category your school falls into. The next step?
Act like a buffalo and not a cow. Permit me to explain…it’s one of my favorite illustrations.
When a storm rises on the prairie, these two animals respond differently. In this popular analogy, the cow sees the storm approaching and runs away, hoping that the storm will never reach it. However, the cow only ends up being in the storm longer, prolonging its misery.
But the buffalo…and this is why the buffalo is my favorite animal…the buffalo turns TOWARD the storm. Rather than running away, it faces what’s coming and moves through it.
So dear school leader, don’t be a cow. Be a buffalo.
Once you understand what category you’re in, face your particular storm. Get some good information (research and data), start the difficult conversations, and make some decisions. The fastest way through the storm is to turn and start running toward it.
What’s Your Next Step?
Category One Schools: You need information about where you are, what your opportunities are, and what your options are. Once you have information, you can have productive conversations and make informed decisions.
Category Two Schools: You need to determine what's keeping you from moving forward. Are there underlying issues that need to be addressed? Do you have a shared understanding of who you are and what you're working toward?
Category Three Schools: You need to consider what growth and change mean for your ministry. Who are you now? What needs to stay the same? What needs to change? How can you steward your growth and opportunities wisely?
Whatever category your school falls into, the important thing is to start. Face what you need to face in order to move forward together. If you'd like someone to walk alongside you in that process, we'd love to help. After all, buffalo are meant to face storms together. :)
