Christian Principals Podcast | Christian School Leaders and Administrators

Summary:Matt George and Mark Zockoll respond to a question from Rebecca, an academic director involved in teacher interviews: How can a school assess whether a Christian teacher is genuine, teachable and a good fit? They share ways to make interviews more thorough and evaluate candidates beyond polished answers.In This Episode:Start with the school’s beliefs: Know the school’s statement of faith and ask candidates to explain how they understand and would apply its core beliefs.Give candidates room to respond: Take the time for follow-up questions. Matt and Mark suggest that specific, open-ended prompts can reveal more than prepared answers.Use a team and multiple stages: Have several people interview candidates, compare observations and consider a follow-up conversation or a teaching demonstration.Check references: Contact references and ask about a candidate’s character, work habits, flexibility and ability to learn—not just their teaching experience.Explore growth and self-awareness: Ask candidates to describe a challenge or failure, what they learned, and who has helped them grow.Look beyond the interview: Consider how candidates teach, collaborate and respond in real situations. Align the process with the school’s mission and the role.Christian Administrator Spotlight:Allison McMickell of Westside Christian AcademyFollow Us:YouTube: Christian Principals Podcast Instagram: @cprincipalspod Email: [email protected] Website: www.christianprincipalspodcast.com X: @CPrincipalsPod LinkedIn: Christian Principals PodcastExplore the Herzog Foundation's offerings for Christian schools at www.herzogfoundation.com. Book us for your next event to bring engaging and practical conversations to your community! And be sure to level up your school experience with our partner, Gradelink Student Information Systems, at ⁠⁠cpp.gradelink.com ⁠⁠today!Thank you for listening and for leading with integrity in your school!

Summary:Matt George and Mark Zockoll discuss how Christian school leaders can evaluate a new program or educational trend before making a major change. Using a proposed life-skills-focused school model as an example, they consider what it offers, what it might displace, and whether it fits a school’s mission.In This Episode:Start with your mission: Decide what you want graduates to know and be able to do before choosing a program or outside partner.Ask what’s genuinely new: The hosts discuss how some life skills—such as budgeting, cooking, shop skills and public speaking—may already fit into a traditional curriculum or existing electives.Weigh the trade-offs: Would the new approach take time away from reading, math, biblical knowledge or other priorities? What evidence shows it will help students?Try before you scale: Matt suggests researching a promising idea for another year, then testing it on a small scale before adopting it school-wide.Protect your school’s identity: Consider whether outsourcing part of the school day supports your mission—or risks making it an add-on that doesn’t fit the rest of the school.Practical Takeaway:Be open to improvement, but take time to research, check the evidence and consider the cost—in money, time and alignment with your school’s mission.Christian Administrator Spotlight:Matt McDaniel, administrator of New Manna Christian School, with a closing prayer for him and his team. Thank you for listening and for leading with integrity in your school!Follow Us:YouTube: Christian Principals Podcast Instagram: @cprincipalspod Email: [email protected] Website: www.christianprincipalspodcast.com X: @CPrincipalsPod LinkedIn: Christian Principals PodcastExplore the Herzog Foundation's offerings for Christian schools at www.herzogfoundation.com. Book us for your next event to bring engaging and practical conversations to your community! And be sure to level up your school experience with our partner, Gradelink Student Information Systems, at ⁠⁠cpp.gradelink.com ⁠⁠today!

Summary:Matt George and Mark Zockoll test how a Christian school should handle admissions. Matt argues for applying policy consistently. Mark argues for leaving room for the administrator's judgment. They work through four tough scenarios and ask whether you could defend your admissions policy "as though you were a lawyer in court." The topic matters for schools weighing the federal tax credit scholarship and facility expansion.In This Episode:The format: Matt takes the "consistent policy" side and Mark takes the "administrator's wisdom" side, a format they say they may try again.The struggling student: A fifth grader is well below grade level, but the parents share the school's mission and will pay for tutoring. Matt says the answer depends on the school's mission and what its policy says. Mark asks whether teachers who are already stretched have room for the student.The challenging parents: A student has excellent grades, but the parents say they expect the administration to fix any disagreement with a teacher. Matt asks why a family would enroll if it already expects problems. Mark says the answer might depend on the teacher, and that he sometimes accepts families for the child's sake.The pastor's son: A supportive local pastor's child has been suspended elsewhere for disrespect and defiance, not fighting. Matt suggests a probationary period with clear expectations. Mark says he'd want to know what happened and when, and that safety isn't up for negotiation.The donor question: Can a donor influence an admissions decision? Matt says a donor should never change your policy or mission. Mark has seen it happen. The hosts discuss "no respecter of persons" and the difference between making room and skipping the line.Policy vs. judgment: If standards can't change, what are you paying an administrator for? They agree the question is whether you trust the person or committee applying the policy.Follow Us:YouTube: Christian Principals Podcast Instagram: @cprincipalspod Email: [email protected] Website: www.christianprincipalspodcast.com X: @CPrincipalsPod LinkedIn: Christian Principals PodcastExplore the Herzog Foundation's offerings for Christian schools at www.herzogfoundation.com. Book us for your next event to bring engaging and practical conversations to your community! And be sure to level up your school experience with our partner, Gradelink Student Information Systems, at ⁠⁠cpp.gradelink.com ⁠⁠today!Thank you for listening and for leading with integrity in your school!

Summary:Matt George and Mark Zockoll talk about why a Christian school sets aside time for spiritual emphasis, how Matt's school runs it, and what to plan for if you want to try it.In This Episode:Why do it: Matt wanted to bring some of the energy of a Christian camp into everyday school. A guest speaker can reach students in ways their own teachers and administrators sometimes can't.How it began: After a teachers conference workshop, the school held its first emphasis time last year with a guest evangelist. This year's speaker is Rand Hummel.Why three days: It runs Monday to Wednesday in October. That's busy, but it falls after routines are set. Matt says a shorter, packed stretch is easier to remember than a week of meetings.On campus vs. off campus: Mark compares this with taking students away to a camp. An on-campus format may get more buy-in from families.Church and school together: The school and church split the speaker's costs about 50/50. The church also takes a love offering. Youth group students and sports fans are invited too, so the emphasis reaches beyond the school day.Choosing a speaker: Matt looks for someone students will relate to, who communicates clearly and has a genuine passion for God. Name recognition matters less.Letting go of the schedule: Matt is willing to give up class time so a speaker can have real conversations with students. He says what students gain is worth the lost academics.Listener question: How does your school handle spiritual emphasis time? Does your speaker meet with faculty or small groups of students?Follow Us:YouTube: Christian Principals Podcast Instagram: @cprincipalspod Email: [email protected] Website: www.christianprincipalspodcast.com X: @CPrincipalsPod LinkedIn: Christian Principals PodcastExplore the Herzog Foundation's offerings for Christian schools at www.herzogfoundation.com. Book us for your next event to bring engaging and practical conversations to your community! And be sure to level up your school experience with our partner, Gradelink Student Information Systems, at ⁠⁠cpp.gradelink.com ⁠⁠today!Thank you for listening and for leading with integrity in your school!

Summary:Hosts Matt George and Mark Zockoll check in on their lives and the small blessings in them. Matt shares some hands-on repair wins. Mark announces a new role and an old problem he ran into.In This Episode:Mechanic time: Matt talks about a summer of fixing things himself, with help from YouTube, and about what he picked up from his dad's farm-life example. A broken window mechanism got fixed with help from good pal Mark who had done the same repair before.An HVAC blessing: Matt thought his system was dead and he'd need a costly replacement. A second opinion pointed to a couple replacement parts and about an hour of work.Mark's new role: Mark describes how his work with the Maryland Association of Christian Schools led to a connection with Jeff Trimbath of the Maryland Family Institute. That led to an offer to become executive director of the Maryland Christian Education Association.A LinkedIn reminder: Mark updated his profile after realizing someone had cited it. His advice is to refresh yours even if you're happy where you are.Freedom threatened: Mark recounts an attempt made in Maryland to extend state control of education. A reminder to stay vigilant.Follow Us:YouTube: Christian Principals Podcast Instagram: @cprincipalspod Email: [email protected] Website: www.christianprincipalspodcast.com X: @CPrincipalsPod LinkedIn: Christian Principals PodcastExplore the Herzog Foundation's offerings for Christian schools at www.herzogfoundation.com. Book us for your next event to bring engaging and practical conversations to your community! And be sure to level up your school experience with our partner, Gradelink Student Information Systems, at ⁠⁠cpp.gradelink.com ⁠⁠today!Thank you for listening and for leading with integrity in your school!

Summary:This episode of the Christian Principles Podcast is a discussion between Matt George and Mark Zockoll about the documentary Untold Swamp Kings and the leadership lessons they pulled from it. They focus on how very different people can unite around a shared mission, why athletes and staff need different coaching approaches, and how pressure can be handled with more perspective and less panic.Timestamps:00:00 - Why we wanted to talk about Swamp Kings01:27 - What the documentary covers and why it interested us03:31 - Tim Tebow and Brandon Siler as an unlikely pairing06:07 - How shared mission can unite very different people08:14 - Brandon Spikes learns to wait, watch, and earn his chance12:39 - Why school culture can drift into entitlement13:08 - Urban Meyer's coaching style and the fake punt lesson15:09 - Why leaders should not coach everyone the same way16:31 - When peer influence reaches where coaching cannot17:47 - Pressure on the coach before the championship game19:58 - The fake punt that changed the game21:25 - Letting go, enjoying the work, and making better decisions23:51 - Christian Administrator Spotlight for Dusty NealFollow Us:YouTube: Christian Principals Podcast Instagram: @cprincipalspod Email: [email protected] Website: www.christianprincipalspodcast.com X: @CPrincipalsPod LinkedIn: Christian Principals PodcastExplore the Herzog Foundation's offerings for Christian schools at www.herzogfoundation.com. Book us for your next event to bring engaging and practical conversations to your community! And be sure to level up your school experience with our partner, Gradelink Student Information Systems, at ⁠⁠cpp.gradelink.com ⁠⁠today!Thank you for listening and for leading with integrity in your school!

Summary:This episode is a practical challenge to the habit of describing a school as “small” in ways that shrink its mission. Mark Zockoll and Matt George discuss why language matters, how size can become an excuse or a badge of false humility, and how school leaders can frame their work around calling, value, and service instead. They also widen the conversation to include larger schools and associations, arguing that leadership should encourage, not diminish, schools of every size. Examples from Christian camps and administrative gatherings show how small and large organizations can share resources, creativity, and encouragement.Timestamps:00:00 - Opening gripe: traffic, frustration, and the setup for a bigger complaint01:05 - Why “we’re small” is the phrase that sets off the conversation02:04 - Speech habits that annoy leaders and shape culture03:07 - Why small schools should not lead with self-diminishment04:48 - The “woe is me” school mindset and why it’s harmful06:42 - “Small” depends on context, region, and comparison08:11 - Three categories of unhelpful language about size09:09 - How school choice, hybrids, and micro schools changed the landscape10:08 - Why this is a terrible time to hide behind enrollment numbers11:13 - The deeper question: what is the point of saying it that way?12:24 - Why every member school should speak and vote with confidence13:29 - Students own their experience, but leaders shape the environment14:19 - Why every child deserves advocacy, no matter the school size15:24 - Why enrollment numbers may not be the right way to lead the conversation16:12 - Bigger does not automatically mean better, and smaller can be an advantage17:10 - A conversation starter focused on mission instead of size18:27 - How words like “scholars” help form school identity19:13 - Why careless language about size carries real weight20:06 - When it is appropriate to mention size21:04 - A reminder to larger schools: don’t dismiss smaller schools22:43 - Why belittling another school’s work is especially harmful among peers24:07 - A Christian camp gathering where size differences led to resource-sharing25:50 - How larger and smaller camps each contributed something meaningful27:22 - Another example from a Christian schools retreat where every voice mattered28:14 - Christian administrator spotlight: Josh Emery of Heartland Christian SchoolFollow Us:YouTube: Christian Principals Podcast Instagram: @cprincipalspod Email: [email protected] Website: www.christianprincipalspodcast.com X: @CPrincipalsPod LinkedIn: Christian Principals PodcastExplore the Herzog Foundation's offerings for Christian schools at www.herzogfoundation.com. Book us for your next event to bring engaging and practical conversations to your community! And be sure to level up your school experience with our partner, Gradelink Student Information Systems, at ⁠⁠cpp.gradelink.com ⁠⁠today!Thank you for listening and for leading with integrity in your school!

Christian education is worth fighting for because what happens in the classroom shapes families, churches, and the future of a nation. On this 250th episode of the Christian Principals Podcast, Matt George and Mark Zockoll mark America’s 250th year with a candid conversation about legacy, biblical truth, and what schools must never surrender.Rather than treating the anniversary as a simple milestone, Matt and Mark use it to ask bigger questions: What are we preserving? What beliefs are worth defending? And what do our schools need to look like if they are going to outlast trends, pressure, and cultural drift?You’ll hear Mark share why biblical truth must belong in every classroom, why prayer is non-negotiable, and why Christian schools must partner with the home and the church instead of replacing them. Matt makes a case for gospel-centered teachers, student leadership opportunities, and disciplined classrooms where real learning can happen. Together, they challenge the idea that education should be shaped by the loudest student in the room or by a system that treats behavior management as the goal instead of formation.They also reflect on what America’s founders might think of 2026, why constitutional longevity matters, and why the legacy of Christian education should be something future generations can learn from and build on. The episode closes with a heartfelt prayer for Kim Pendleton of Victory Christian Academy in Gastonia, North Carolina.Essential listening for anyone who cares about Christian education, school leadership, and building something that lasts.Follow Us:YouTube: Christian Principals Podcast Instagram: @cprincipalspod Email: [email protected] Website: www.christianprincipalspodcast.com X: @CPrincipalsPod LinkedIn: Christian Principals PodcastExplore the Herzog Foundation's offerings for Christian schools at www.herzogfoundation.com. Book us for your next event to bring engaging and practical conversations to your community! And be sure to level up your school experience with our partner, Gradelink Student Information Systems, at ⁠⁠cpp.gradelink.com ⁠⁠today!Thank you for listening and for leading with integrity in your school!

Summary:Matt George and Mark Zockoll discuss a book that has been recommended to them at a recent conference: Rethinking Sustainability, a Strategic Financial Model for Christian Schools by Alan Pue. The conversation centers on two ideas that stood out to them as especially practical and timely: shared sacrifice during financial strain and making Christian education accessible without pretending it is cheap.In this episode, they connect the book’s principles to a recent conversation about tightening budgets, staff retention, board responsibility, and the realities of tuition, payroll, and ministry priorities.Timestamps:00:00 - Reading a book on money and why audiobooks sparked a debate01:06 - Introducing Rethinking Sustainability and why the book matters for Christian schools02:02 - How the book came recommended at a Christian school association summit03:01 - Connecting the book to a recent episode about tightening the belt financially04:35 - Recording on the road at the Southeast Christian School Association conference06:23 - Why this book felt easy to read and immediately practical07:25 - Biblical non-negotiables as the starting point for financial leadership08:18 - Why cutting a vital program can signal instability09:54 - Shared sacrifice: boards should not ask staff to do what they will not do themselves12:57 - The problem of board decisions when leaders are not personally invested in the school15:44 - Accessible versus affordable education17:09 - A practical example of helping a family access Christian education18:29 - Why tuition has to support teacher pay, not just lower the barrier for families20:37 - Shout-out and prayer for Scott Clemens of Heartland Christian SchoolFollow Us:YouTube: Christian Principals Podcast Instagram: @cprincipalspod Email: [email protected] Website: www.christianprincipalspodcast.com X: @CPrincipalsPod LinkedIn: Christian Principals PodcastExplore the Herzog Foundation's offerings for Christian schools at www.herzogfoundation.com. Book us for your next event to bring engaging and practical conversations to your community! And be sure to level up your school experience with our partner, Gradelink Student Information Systems, at ⁠⁠cpp.gradelink.com ⁠⁠today!Thank you for listening and for leading with integrity in your school!

September enrollment came in wrong - now what? If your Christian school is staring at a budget gap, a surprise dip in enrollment, or the opposite problem of growing faster than expected, this conversation gives you a clear way forward before panic sets in.Matt George and Mark Zockoll break down the real decisions school leaders face when the numbers do not match the forecast. They compare the pressure on Christian schools with public school districts, point to the broader reality of shrinking student populations and rising costs, and then get practical about what administrators can actually do next.You'll discover:When staffing changes become necessary, and why that is usually the hardest but most immediate place to recover financiallyHow to evaluate programs, field trips, extracurriculars, and events without gutting your missionWhy substitute spending may be hiding a bigger staffing strategy than most schools realizeHow to think about donor development, tuition dependence, and smarter long-term budgetingWays to reframe cuts with transparency and wisdom instead of fearMark and Matt also wrestle with the ministry side of the equation: how to stay faithful, steward resources well, and avoid making broad cuts that punish everyone when one adjustment might solve the problem. They share candid examples from their own school context, including how due diligence and prayer changed the direction of a difficult year.This is essential listening if you lead a Christian school, serve on a board, oversee finance, or have ever had to make hard calls when enrollment does not land where it was supposed to. Practical, honest, and hopeful, this episode helps you respond with clarity instead of chaos.Follow UsYouTube: Christian Principals PodcastInstagram: @cprincipalspodEmail: [email protected]: www.christianprincipalspodcast.comX: @CPrincipalsPodLinkedIn: Christian Principals PodcastExplore the Herzog Foundation's offerings for Christian schools at www.herzogfoundation.com. Book us for your next event to bring engaging and practical conversations to your community! And be sure to level up your school experience with our partner, Gradelink Student Information Systems, at cpp.gradelink.com today!Thank you for listening and for leading with integrity in your school!