Head of High School Search

List of 3 items.

• April 12, 2024: Head of High School Search Update

  Dear King's Ridge Christian School Families,

   

  I hope everyone had a restful Easter and spring break and is ready to finish the school year strong.

   

  As a follow-up to our email two weeks ago, I wanted to provide everyone with an update on the Head of High School search process.

   

  The team is in place, and the process is underway to find the next high school leader God has chosen for King's Ridge Christian School. In addition to the Board and interview committee announced late last month, the search process will also include members of the KRCS leadership team, high school department chairs, and the Christian education department. While the final hiring decision will be made by the Board of Trustees, the goal is a robust interview and selection process that involves broad participation from the school community.  

   

  Here are a few updates since our last communication:

   

  • Upon reviewing the survey results in which many of you participated, it is clear KRCS is seeking a strong Jesus follower who upholds Christian principles, promotes academic rigor, fosters a positive school culture, provides steadfast leadership for the school's future, and supports all aspects of school life including academics, arts, and sports.
  • From a timeline perspective, the goal is to identify a new Head of High School by late May/early June and ensure the selected leader aligns with the mission, vision, and passion that define KRCS.
  • The selection process will be thorough and include multiple stages—from application review and candidate selection to in-depth interviews and onsite campus tours—ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of each potential leader.
  • CarterBaldwin, our search firm, has already received numerous applications and continues to actively recruit prospective candidates. They have reported a promising pool of candidates, reflecting the attractive nature of this leadership opportunity.

  As you know, the Head of High School search is running parallel to but ahead of the search for a new Head of School. On a regular basis, Ben Ackerman, the chair of the Board of Trustees, will provide future email updates on both searches to ensure you are well-informed and know how best to pray for the process and progress. This and future email updates can also be found on the KRCS website, linked here.

   

  In this time of transition, I know those involved in the search process will lean on your prayers and support. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." This truth, fortified by faith, will not only sustain but propel KRCS to new heights of excellence and community unity.

   

  May God bless you, your family, and King's Ridge Christian School!

   

  Edward J. Spurka, Ed.D.

  Head of School

• March 28, 2024: Head of High School Search Update

  Dear King's Ridge Christian School Community,

   

  Before our community breaks to celebrate Easter and the upcoming spring break holiday, we want to provide an update on the Head of High School search process.

   

  Thank you to everyone in our community who submitted potential candidates for the interview committee. The Head of High School search will be led by our Chief of Staff, Melanie Ellis, in conjunction with our Board of Trustees committee, headed by Jackie Littlefield, and supported by a committee of parents, faculty, and students, as well as our search firm, CarterBaldwin. Mr. Chris Hornsby, who oversees their highly experienced faith-based K-12 search division, leads the seven-member team from CarterBaldwin in assisting KRCS with our search process.

   

  We are excited to share that the interview committee for the next Head of High School search includes the following:

   

  • Caroline Barden, a KRCS High School Biology Teacher, Assistant Coach Varsity Girls Soccer, and Alumna. She joined KRCS in 2022 and has served on multiple Interim Week trips with our high school students and faculty.
  • Jennifer Barrett, a KRCS High School Art Teacher and Parent. She and her husband Marc, who teaches Christian Education at the Lower School, both joined KRCS in 2019. Their three children attend KRCS: Corinne (9th grade), Caleb (8th grade), and Benjamin (6th grade).
  • David Boaz, a KRCS High School Social Studies Teacher. He joined KRCS in 2020. Before pursuing a lengthy career in education, David worked as a broadcasting professional and held various management positions within Paramount Stations Group.
  • Dr. Christopher French, a KRCS parent and CEO of SKF Consulting and Investment Enterprises. He and his wife, Dr. Anita French, have two children at KRCS: Sophia (10th grade) and Karina (8th grade).
  • Mike Glogorski, a KRCS parent and Pastor at Buckhead Church (part of North Point Ministries). He and his wife, Jennifer, have a son, Chip, who is in the 10th grade.
  • Tara Greiner, a KRCS parent. Tara and her husband, Michael, have two children attending KRCS: Kate (8th grade) and Matthew (4th grade).
  • Ginger Lightburn, a KRCS parent and Realtor at Village Realty. Ginger and her husband, David, have three children at KRCS: Tyson (11th grade), Leyton (8th grade), and Ryder (5th grade).
  • Lauren McSwain, a KRCS parent and People Executive at House Rx. She and her husband, Ryan, have a daughter, Madison, who is in the 9th grade.
  • Zach Zanone, the KRCS Assistant Athletic Director/Admissions and Head Coach Varsity Boys Lacrosse. Joining KRCS in 2022, Zach has also served as an Academic Support Teacher in the high school.

  In the meantime, please take a few minutes to complete the KRCS Head of High School survey by April 7. Your participation is vital to this process, and we value your feedback. 

   

  I wish everyone a blessed Easter and an enjoyable spring break. May God bless you, your family, and King's Ridge Christian School!

   

  Edward J. Spurka, Ed.D.

  Head of School

• March 11, 2024: Head of High School Search Update

  Dear King's Ridge Christian School Families,

   

  We hope this letter finds you well and enjoying a wonderful second half of our school year. 

   

  As we look ahead to the 2024-2025 school year, I'm writing today to update you on the search for our Head of High School and alert you to an opportunity for you to be involved in the process.

   

  As you know, we strive for excellence in all we do, and our faculty and staff embody this core tenet of who we are. To identify the best next Head of High School, we have begun organizing an interview committee and will be working with a professional search firm to find qualified candidates who understand and align with our mission.

   

  King's Ridge Christian School has retained the services of Atlanta-based CarterBaldwin Executive Search to conduct an extensive, national search to identify our next Head of High School. A leading firm in faith-based, not-for-profit executive searches, CarterBaldwin has recently successfully placed the Heads of Schools at Fellowship Christian School, Mt. Paran Christian School, and Mt. Pisgah Christian School.
  
  

  While CarterBaldwin is selecting candidates, we will establish an interview committee to assist in the hiring process. The interview committee will be comprised of four parents, four faculty and staff members, and one of our students (the soon-to-be-announced Class of 2025 Head Prefect). This committee will collaborate with the school to build an interview guide for the Head of High School role and will undergo interview training before ultimately holding interviews with prospective candidates. The interview committee, along with leadership at the school, will give extensive feedback on the candidates that the committee feels could be a good fit for King's Ridge Christian School.

   

  Here's How You Can Help:

   

  • We would love for you to nominate individuals!
    • This week, you can submit potential candidates to the interview committee by emailing interviewcommittee@kingsridgecs.org.
    • We will accept nominations through March 18.
    • You will be contacted by March 25 if selected for the interview committee.
    • Interview committee training and meetings will be held after school hours in April.
    • Interviews are anticipated to be held in May.
      
  • Additionally, a link to a brief survey will be available the week of March 18. In it, we will ask you to rank characteristics and qualities you would like to see represented in our next Head of High School. Your participation is vital to this process, and we greatly appreciate your contribution.

   

  Upcoming Communication Dates:

   

  • Week of March 18 - Survey Request
  • March 28 - Interview Committee Announced
  • April 12 - Update on the Search and Feedback from the Survey

   

  In the meantime, until the end of this academic year in May, Dr. Abby May will continue as the acting Head of High School. After that, she has decided to begin a new career journey as the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning for the Pickens County School District. We are so grateful for her time at KRCS, her contributions to the entire school community, and her assistance with the high school this year during its transition.

   

  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Chief of Staff, Melanie Ellis, at mellis@kingsridgecs.org.

   

  May God bless you, your family, and King's Ridge Christian School!
  
  

  Edward Spurka, Ed.D.

  Head of School