Head Of School Transition Updates

Dear Denver Christian School Community,

In keeping with our desire to make sure you are informed as to the progress regarding our search for a new Head of School, the Denver Christian Board of Trustees would like to provide an update on recent developments as well as the next steps we will take in the search process.

After much prayer, consultation and discussions, the Board has moved forward with an important decision related to the Head of School search. After interviewing multiple executive search firms, the Board has selected JobfitMatters, an executive search firm with expertise in Christian leader searches, to conduct a nationwide search for our next Head of School. Led by Laura Coverstone and Ed Poff, the JobfitMatters client list includes a wide variety of NGOs, nonprofits, and some very notable Christian schools, both K-12 and higher education. This organization has also served well-known Christ-centered ministries such as World Vision and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. With the Lord’s guidance, we are focused on identifying the best possible leader for Denver Christian, and we believe the team at JobfitMatters will do an outstanding job in helping us to reach this goal.

JobfitMatters has an impressive record of placing key executives in many Christian organizations and educational institutions, including over 50 Head of School searches for Christian schools, and a high longevity rate for candidates they have placed in their roles. Their methodology and expansive network, in addition to their experience in finding administrators for many Christian schools, were all determining factors in our selection.

We expect a robust and thorough search that will begin this spring. JobfitMatters will be visiting our campus to gain a deeper appreciation for Denver Christian’s culture and its mission. They will work with the Board and Leadership Team to develop marketing materials, a school profile and a comprehensive understanding of our desires for our next leader. During the summer months the Board and JobfitMatters will review applications, have discussions with targeted candidates and conduct initial interviews. In the fall, final candidates will be brought to campus for extensive interviews with various stakeholders. Our goal is to identify a finalist and enter into an employment agreement by the end of the calendar year with a start date of July 1, 2025. As we have learned, this is the typical timing for a Head of School search, and allows the candidate to give notice to their current school and make preparations to join Denver Christian as our next Head of School.

We remain committed to keeping our school community updated on developments in the search process throughout the coming months. Please join us in praying over this effort and for our current leadership, who are doing a tremendous job leading Denver Christian through this transition and, as previously announced, will provide leadership during the 2024/2025 school year. We believe we will identify the person whom God has already selected to be our next Head of School, and we humbly acknowledge our dependence on Him for His help, wisdom, and guidance.

We are grateful to be able to serve you and thank you for your continued prayers and support in this search process. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at dcs.board@denverchristian.org.

In Christ,

Denver Christian Board of Trustees

Dear Denver Christian School Community,

The Denver Christian Board of Trustees and Leadership Team have met multiple times to work through a search plan for our new Head of School. We have come a long way as a Denver Christian family in the past 100+ years, with many seasons of change. This is yet another one of those opportunities and as a Board we care deeply about Denver Christian, recognizing that we have the privilege of leading this great school and community into a bright future.

Denver Christian is in a strong position, with an excellent Leadership Team that has made significant strides in achieving the goals laid out in our strategic plan and growing enrollment numbers. We have complete faith in our current leadership, and they will continue to lead the school until we find an exceptional Head of School.

We will begin the search for our next Head of School this summer, using an executive search firm, which the Board of Trustees is currently vetting to determine the best fit. In addition, we have retained Glenn Vos to serve as a trusted advisor during this important search, as we know his experience, historical perspective and connections are invaluable. Glenn, as some might remember, aided the Board of Trustees five years ago when we went through the process of finding and hiring Matt Covey. He has over 52 years of experience in Christian education and is on the Board of Trustees for Christian Schools International.

The Board will continue to offer oversight in partnership with Glenn to support the Leadership Team during the 2024-2025 school year, in anticipation of a new Head of School starting summer of 2025.

We are very excited for the direction the school is headed and are committed to pursuing and enriching the distinctive and outstanding Christian education that Denver Christian offers to families. We are blessed with being a very strong school, with excellent leadership, and we will execute a thorough and prayerful search trusting that God will deliver the right Head of School at the right time.

We are convinced that God is leading us on a bright path forward and we thank you for your support. If you have additional questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at dcs.board@denverchristian.org.

Sincerely,

Denver Christian Board of Trustees

dcs.board@denverchristian.org

Dear Denver Christian School Community,

We wanted to share an important update regarding our Head of School, Matt Covey. After five years of dedicated service and visionary leadership at Denver Christian, Matt has been presented with a unique opportunity to serve as the Head of School at Chattanooga Christian School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This unexpected offer came as a result of Chattanooga Christian reaching out to Matt, recognizing his exceptional leadership qualities.

After much prayer and thoughtful consideration, the Covey family has decided to embark on this new journey, viewing it as an opportunity for a different kind of Kingdom impact in a Christian school setting. They believe that Matt’s leadership style is well-suited for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead at Chattanooga Christian.  He will finish up his duties at Denver Christian at the end of June 2024 and begin in Chattanooga at the beginning of July.

We want to express our deepest gratitude to Matt for his unwavering commitment to Denver Christian. His visionary guidance has played a pivotal role in shaping our school’s identity, and we are immensely grateful for the thriving and vibrant community we have become under his leadership.

As we bid farewell to the Covey family, we extend our heartfelt congratulations on this exciting new chapter in their lives. We are confident that God’s timing is at work, and we wish them every success and blessing in their new endeavors.

Denver Christian School will continue on with gratitude for the past and confidence in the future.  Because of the diligence of the board of trustees, the leadership team, and the staff, Denver Christian is in a strong position regarding enrollment (75% growth in the past five years), academics (programmatic growth across all levels), co-curricular (exceedingly high levels of participation and success in the arts and athletics) and the faith formation of our students (development of our chapel programming and spiritual formation initiatives within teaching and learning.) We will soon begin the process of searching for a new Head of School who will carry on the vision and values that make our school special.  We will be in communication with you throughout the process as it unfolds.

Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and understanding during this time of transition.

Sincerely,

The DC Board of Trustees and the Leadership Team (On behalf of the Covey family)

*Going forward you will hear more from the Board regarding the process for a new head school, search, but in the meantime please send any questions to dcs.board@denverchristian.org.