Transforming Lives

Dr. Darren Iselin has over 3 decades of leadership experience in education across Australian and international contexts and has served in a wide range of principal and executive roles across both the K-12 and higher education sectors. His doctoral work on developing sustainable Christian school cultures in second- and next-generation contexts was awarded the Grassie-Basset Prize for Best Thesis in Educational Administration from The University of Queensland and also won the Research in Educational Leadership and Management Award from the Australian Council of Educational Leaders. (ACEL). 

Darren is currently Director of Research and Innovation at Christian Schools Australia, w...

Dr. Kevin Cline is a Christ-centered educational leader with nearly 20 years of experience guiding school systems toward academic excellence, spiritual formation, and long-term sustainability. He currently serves as the Superintendent of Lakeway Christian Schools in East Tennessee, providing executive leadership for a multi-campus, PreK–12 community.

Throughout his career as a superintendent, administrator, teacher, and adjunct professor, Dr. Cline has focused on building schools that shape both minds and hearts around a Biblical worldview. His expertise includes curriculum unification, campus development, donor partnerships, and board governance. Beyond his local role, he serves in leadership with the Association of Ch...

Siebert J. "Seppie" Myburgh is an international educator and leader currently serving as the Director of the International Christian School of Vienna (ICSV).

Originally from South Africa, Siebert completed his graduate studies at the University of Stellenbosch before embarking on a global career in educational leadership. He spent 14 years at Morrison Academy in Taiwan as a campus principal, sharpening his expertise in accreditation, staff development, and capital campaigns. While there, he earned an international school leadership certificate from the Principal Training Center in London and published a critique of John Hattie's educational meta-analysis with the University of...

John and Agnieszka Crozier have been working in education in Poland for 20 years. Agnieszka came to faith as a student in Poland and has a degree in management of human resources. She is on the board of EurECa (European Educators Christian Association) and the European Alliance for Christian Education. 

John is an American and has lived in Poland for 30 years. He graduated with a theological degree from Lincoln Christian University and has an MA in teaching English as a second language. 

They began working in education as an outreach connected with a new local church Pr...

We're so grateful for your listenership and hope that the Transforming Lives Podcast is an encouragement to you each week. Please enjoy this special edition on rest. We look forward to connecting with you again in August 2026.

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Rich and Cherry Smith are graduates of Dayton Christian School and Cedarville University. Before entering full-time ministry, Rich spent 30 years as a business and finance executive, while Cherry worked for many years in Christian education. Their daughters, Bailey and Bradee, were raised in Christian schools and graduated from Grace College, a foundation the Smiths credit with preparing their family spiritually and emotionally for their current mission.

In 2017, the Smiths moved to Antigua, Guatemala, to serve with Global Action, where Rich currently serves as CFO. Their work focuses on training national pastors and leaders through a Biblical Foundations...

Kent Austell lives in Memphis, Tennessee, with his wife, Jenni, and their three daughters. A former collegiate track and field athlete, Kent holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Biomechanics, a master’s in Business Administration, a master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration, and is currently a PhD candidate at Columbia International University. After 16 years in education—including serving as Head of School at Bingham Academy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—Kent recently transitioned to Harvest Church in Memphis, where he serves as Director of Adult Ministries. He is also a resilience researcher and coach, helping individuals and organi...

Billy Hutchinson (M.Div., Christian Apologetics) is the Director of Colson Educators at the Colson Center. Before joining the Colson Center, he spent over a decade in Christian education as both a classroom teacher and an administrator, focusing
on academic excellence, digital education, and the worldview formation of
teachers and students. He is passionate about equipping others to engage and
shape today’s culture for Christ. To learn more about Colson Educators, visit https://colsoneducators.org/TL.

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Chad Dirkse is in his third year as Head of School at Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS) in Severn, Maryland. Before joining AACS, he served for 14 years as President of Chattanooga Christian School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and for five years as Superintendent of Westminster Christian School in Illinois.

Across more than three decades in Christian education, Chad has served in a wide range of leadership and instructional roles, including middle and high school teacher, principal, athletic director, and high school basketball and soccer coach. He is also a Senior Fellow with the Center for the Advancement of...

Dr. Lynn E. Swaner is the President, US, for Cardus. A public scholar and organizational strategist, Lynn joined Cardus after two decades of executive leadership in non-profits and educational institutions. Lynn holds a doctorate in organizational leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a diploma in strategy and innovation from the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School.

Lynn’s professional experience spans several sectors and encompasses roles in academia, sponsored research, associations, and independent schools. As a result, she is passionate about building bridges within and across fields. Lynn’s work brings thinkers, researchers, funders, and doe...

Becky Hansard serves as the head of school at Silverdale Baptist Academy, a PreK-12 school in Chattanooga, TN. She has been in this role for over 25 years and has been instrumental in the school's leadership for nearly its entire 26-year history, guiding the institution from its early years to its current status with approximately 1,300 students. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for her undergraduate and Trevecca University for her Master’s Degree.

Since 1999, Silverdale has partnered with families to help their children impact the world. Becky’s son is a 2015 graduate of Silv...

Dr. S. L. (“Doc”) Sherrill founded North Raleigh Christian Academy in 1996, serving as its only Superintendent for 22 years and assisting Dr. Kevin Mathes for 2 years. He stepped down in 2018, honored as Superintendent Emeritus. Under his leadership, NRCA grew to 1478 students, over 1400 for 12 years, and now nearly 1600 under Dr. Mathes.

Doc’s 55-year Christian education career began in 1971 as Youth and Bus Pastor at Neuse Baptist Church. He served as youth pastor, teacher, camp director, and principal at various churches and schools, including Greenwood Baptist, Twin City Christian Academy, Lima Baptist Temple, and Central Fellowship Baptist Church, where he gre...

Stephanie Shafer is the CEO and Head of School at NorthStar Academy, a global online Christian school serving students in grades 4 through 12 in over 80 countries. She is passionate about helping students be known, supported, and launched with purpose, integrating faith, learning, and real-world impact.

Stephanie has been part of the NorthStar community for over 16 years and now leads the school through a season of growth, innovation, and renewed mission clarity. With a background in business and an MBA, she brings a practical and mission-focused perspective to her work, helping shape systems and opportunities that serve students and...

Paul Matthews is a third-generation educator on a mission to bless others through education. He serves as the Head of History and Christian Studies at Calvin Christian School in Tasmania, Australia, and is also a Fellow at Baylor University. Paul works with schools and organisations across Australia and North America, helping leaders and teachers navigate AI wisely through training, speaking, and practical support. He’s written several books, including A Time to Lead and Artificial Intelligence, Real Literacy, and in 2024 he had the opportunity to speak at TEDx Hobart. Paul and his wife, Elbie, are blessed to have three so...

Dr. Kevin Brown began serving as Asbury University’s 18th president on July 1, 2019, bringing to the role a deep commitment to Christ-centered higher education, academic excellence, and faithful institutional stewardship. His leadership reflects both a long-standing connection to the Asbury community and a clear vision for guiding the University in a rapidly changing cultural and educational environment. 

Before he was appointed president, Dr. Brown served from 2013 to 2019 as a professor and associate dean in Asbury’s Dayton School of Business. A highly regarded educator, he was consistently recognized by students for his engaging teaching and mentorship, and in 20...

Maggie Novak is a 2004 alumna of Covenant Christian High School and a 2008 graduate of Gordon College (Wenham, MA). She later also pursued both associate’s and bachelor's degrees in nursing.

Maggie began her career as a fellow in the office of then-Governor Mitch Daniels, where she developed a passion for delivering health and social supports. For the past decade, she has been working as a public-sector consultant with states across the US. Maggie lives in Indianapolis with her husband, seven-year-old daughter, a dog, and a cat, and for the past 12 years has been part of a volunteer te...

This is Mike’s 13th year working at Covenant Christian High School and eighth year as department head. He grew up in Northern Kentucky and went to undergrad at Cincinnati Christian University. Then he went on to do a dual Master's at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA. He has been married to his wife, Kim, for 17 years, and they have two kids, Leo and Remy, who are 12 and 11. Those three people are his achievements in life! 

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David Pfeifer A Hendricks County native, David returned to his roots after a successful collegiate career. A graduate of Tri-West ('09), where he played both soccer and basketball, David went on to play and coach soccer at Taylor University while earning his degree in Exercise Science. It was during his time at Taylor that he first connected with the academic advising team at CCHS, a providential meeting that eventually led to his current role.

David’s leadership has been a cornerstone of the CCHS athletic program; he coached the boys' soccer team to back-to-back State ap...

Mike Allen is an organizational leader who is passionate about culture, communication, and connection. Having worked in education for over 20 years and in educational administration for over a decade, Mike's ultimate vision for his leadership is to help other leaders move their people and organizations forward...positively. He currently serves as the Superintendent of Evansville Christian School, a multi-campus school system providing a Christ-centered education to 1,100+ students, PS-12, where he has served since 2013. 

This summer, Mike will transition to his new role as Senior Director for the Central Division of ACSI where he looks forward to advancing C...

Mark and Betsy met at Covenant Christian High School, where they began dating during their sophomore year and graduated in 2012. From the very beginning, their relationship has been grounded in a shared love for Christ and a desire to follow Him faithfully. 

Following their time at Covenant, Betsy attended Olivet Nazarene University, where she completed nursing school and was a three-time All-American soccer player. Mark attended Purdue University before attending dental school in Indianapolis, where he also completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency.

Mark and Betsy were married in 2017 and are now parents of t...

Keith Ogorek, president of the Author Learning Center, brings a unique perspective to communications, having worked simultaneously in ministry and the marketplace for virtually his whole career. Using his experience as a marketing and communications professional for banks, as an ad agency creative director, and at the world’s leading self-publishing company, he has worked with several ministries to vastly improve their communication and development efforts by crafting a message that is compelling, differentiating, and true. 

Keith has cultivated unique opportunities for independent authors to have their work pitched to Hollywood. He has authored four books. Along wit...

Naomi Oliver is the Director of Academics at the Wheaton Group of Schools and one of the Directors at Changing Destiny. She holds a master’s degree in literature, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and an MBA, and is currently undertaking the Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services qualification in the UK.

With over 13 years of experience in education across India and the United Kingdom, Naomi has led curriculum development, teacher training, and school leadership initiatives in both traditional and online learning environments. She has worked extensively with children rescue...

Kelly M. Kapic holds the Honorary Chair of Theology and Culture at Covenant College, where he has taught since 2001. With a PhD in Systematic and Historical Theology from King’s College, University of London, Kapic has authored or edited over fifteen books. His newest book, "You Were Never Meant to Do It All: A 40-Day Devotional on the Goodness of Being Human" (Brazos 2025), was based on his earlier work, "You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News," published in 2022. That book received several awards, including Christianity Today’s Book of the Year i...

Mallory (Huff) Puckett is a 2013 Covenant Christian High School alumna. She attended Purdue University to study industrial engineering but now finds herself in a full-time technology sales role. While at Purdue, she met her husband, Ethan, and they have been married for eight years. In that short time, they became adoptive and biological parents to four children, ages thirteen to two. She claims that she is too young to be keeping eight living things alive, if you also count their two dogs, cat, and lizard, but God had plans beyond her imagination when he knit their family together. Mallory...

Amanda graduated from Covenant in 2009. She then attended Franklin College, where she double majored in Psychology and Spanish. Finally, she earned her MA from Indiana Wesleyan University, with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy. 

Initially, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do after college. Her first job was with Indiana First Steps, a company that provides developmental therapy for young children. There, she worked with Spanish-speaking families and helped get them started with the program. She wanted to improve her Spanish by fully immersing herself in the community. She lived in Costa Rica for thr...

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Jacob and Mia McCall are missionaries at Freedom International Ministries in the Dominican Republic (itisforfreedom.com). Freedom's primary ministry is a Christian school just outside of one of the largest sugar cane plantations on the island, providing Christian education to a population of underserved Haitian immigrant students and local Dominican students. The heartbeat of the ministry is to disciple students throughout the time they attend the school, both inside and outside of the classroom. 

Jacob is in charge of the English department and the intern department, continually training local teachers and ESL teachers from the states in h...

Rachel Shaughnessy is enthusiastic about intentional, Christ-centered community through Christ-centered education. She is a witness, along with two of her siblings, to how Covenant prepares students for an excellent Christian college education. Christian education has the opportunity to provide a unique lens to everyday responsibilities: our studies, work, and habits are redeemed through Christ. By learning from Christian teachers, Rachel has experienced firsthand that mentorship of students is key in Christian education. 

Rachel is a 2022 graduate of Covenant Christian High School and a 2025 graduate of Wheaton College with a Bachelor of Arts in History/Social Studies and S...

Abby Andrietsch is CEO at St. Augustine Preparatory Academy (“Aug Prep”), a K4-12 Christian school on Milwaukee’s south side founded in 2017. Serving over 2,350 students today, Aug Prep’s vision is to develop its students to be leaders of tomorrow known by their strength of character, courage, intellect, impactful contributions, and their faith. Aug Prep is launching a second K4-12 campus on Milwaukee’s north side in fall 2026.

Before joining Aug Prep in 2019, Andrietsch served as the cofounder and executive director of Schools That Can Milwaukee (now City Forward Collective) for eight years. She has also serve...

Dr. Cy Smith is the Superintendent of Mansfield Christian School and a national leader in Christian education. He has served in key roles with ACSI and other organizations in Ohio, helping schools and school leaders strengthen their effectiveness in biblical worldview and mission.  As host of the Clearly Christian Podcast, he challenges cultural drift, highlights the importance of Christian education to turn that tide, and argues that the only way we're going to change directions in our country is to increase the number of people who hold a biblical worldview.  Dr. Smith is passionate about expanding the reach and suc...

Born and raised in San Jose, California, Brian Clemons grew up in a strong Christian home and attended Valley Christian Schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Brian combined his passion for science and entrepreneurship by building, owning, and operating a local aquarium shop for 15 years. In 2008, he followed God’s call into education, beginning his teaching career as a junior high science teacher.

In 2012, Brian returned to his alma mater, Valley Christian Schools, as a junior high science teacher and chaplain, where he also founded the hi...

Ben Thomas and his wife, Susie, co-founded B2THEWORLD in 2017. B2THEWORLD helps develop schools in countries recovering from war. Ben and Susie’s experience of serving 10 years in Kigali, Rwanda, and leading the Kigali International Community School (KICS), Ben’s doctoral research in Global Christianity & Development, and seeing God heal Susie of an incurable brain tumor have brought the vision of B2THEWORLD to life. 

Today, B2THEWORLD serves over 10,000 children across 28 schools in Rwanda, Pakistan, South Sudan, and Cameroon and is in the legal process of beginning development in Iraq. Together with a team of globa...

Matt Lundberg is the Director of the DeVries Institute for Global Faculty Development and Professor of Religion at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In his de Vries Institute role, he administers Calvin’s Faith & Learning Fellowship program for newer faculty members and the DeVries Postdoctoral Teaching Fellows program. 

Since 2004, Matt has taught a range of courses at Calvin in theology and Christian ethics. He is the author of Christian Martyrdom and Christian Violence: On Suffering and Bearing the Sword (2021) and co-author of An Introduction to Christian Theology (2nd edition, 2023). He and his wife, Kelly, have three chil...

Todd R. Marrah, Ph.D., is Superintendent of Tree of Life Christian Schools in Columbus, Ohio, and Executive Pastor at Rock City Church, one of the fastest growing churches in America. Todd also serves as the Executive Director of the United States Christian Education Network. He sits on the board of the Columbus Dream Center and is the recent board chair of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

Dr. Marrah’s experience as a middle and high school teacher, a middle and high school principal, and school superintendent, combined with over 30 years of pastoral ministry as a...

Principal Zac Sawyer and his family have served at Morrison Academy Taipei in Taiwan since 2012, and Zac has been the campus principal for the last five years. Morrison Academy Taipei is a Christian, K-12, college-preparatory international school with about 300 students that is focused on supporting missionary work in Taiwan. A native of Julian, California, Zac’s academic credentials include a B.A. in Management and Organizational Communication, an M.A. in Intercultural Studies, and an M.B.A. Zac leads the school in its mission to provide a quality, biblically-immersive educational environment so that each student may be equipped to...

Alysia-Lara Ayonrinde is the Engagement Lead for the Racial Justice Unit in the Church of England, and Schools Project Lead for Reconciliation at Lambeth Palace. Her distinguished career in education spans over 15 years, encompassing senior leadership roles across the U.K., West Africa, and South America. 

Ayonrinde brings unique, evidence-based perspectives that supportively challenge conventional norms to enable greater interfaith and intercultural understanding in schools, communities, and churches. Alysia-Lara is deeply committed to creating a culture of belonging, evident through her transformative contributions to learning environments globally. She pioneers innovative strategies that empower clergy, leaders, teachers, and s...

In one way or another, Noah Brink has been immersed in Christian education his entire life. He grew up at a Christian school in Memphis, TN, where his father served as a Bible teacher, and he has spent the past twenty-three years serving in a wide range of roles within Christian schools. Currently, Noah serves as Head of School at Franklin Christian Academy in Franklin, TN. 

Noah is also the founding director of Renew Education, a nonprofit organization devoted to advancing Christ’s Kingdom by helping schools align more deeply with the gospel. He is also the aut...

Dr. Jeff Mattner has been in the ministry of Christian school education since 1982. He was a Christian school administrator for 26 of those years in the states of New Jersey, Indiana, and Illinois. Dr. Mattner became Regional Director of ACSI Mid-America in July 2011 and Senior Director of the Central Division of ACSI in 2017. He considers it a privilege to partner with Christian schools, assisting his brothers and sisters working together in this Kingdom work called Christian school education. 

Married to his wonderful wife Wendy since 1982, they have three daughters who are walking with the Lord and using their t...

Steve Blom has served as the Executive Director of Bright Promise in Chicago since July 2019. Bright Promise is committed to Christ-centered education that counters fear and isolation, fostering hospitality and humility. Steve has over two decades in church and nonprofit leadership. In the past decade, he focused on expanding Christian education access for historically excluded families due to socio-economic, religious, or financial reasons. 

Bright Promise, founded in 1989 by community leaders, connects 14 Christian schools across Chicagoland, serving over 2,800 students in underserved communities. Steve also served as Chairman of the Board for Unity Christian Academy (2014-2019) and now sits o...

Dr. Joey Morecraft has been in Christian education since kindergarten. He continued that Christian education through high school and into a Christian liberal arts college: King University in Bristol, TN. Upon graduation, Dr. Morecraft spent the next 15 years in Christian schools in and around metro-Atlanta, accumulating an MA and PhD from Georgia State University in the process. 

Currently, Dr. Morecraft serves as the Chief Academic & Innovation Officer at Fellowship Christian School in Roswell, GA, a flourishing growth-centric community, where he can realize his passion: loving Jesus and getting people to think differently about the things they think a...