Mission matters

by Holly Chapman, WCS Head of School

I wouldn't trade the ten years I spent in public education. God called me to be a teacher, and he is the one who sustained me, providing numerous opportunities to live out my faith in the context of public schools. More times than I can count, I caught a new glimpse of God's goodness in the face of a child, the words of a parent, or the actions of a co-worker.

Leaving that world to help start a private Christian school wasn't an easy choice, but it was the right one for my family and me. Many factors led to the decision, three of which are especially relevant as our launch team prayerfully engages in the work of building Wise Christian School from the ground up: mission, faith-learning integration, and time. This first post addresses the importance of mission.

An organization's mission and vision express its reason for existence. When a mission is clearly and consistently articulated, it becomes a road map as well as the fuel that powers forward movement. The mission provides each person who connects to it--students, teachers, staff and parents--with a powerful reason to overcome obstacles and experience growth. Mission matters because it's why who do what we do. If a mission is superficial, inconsistent, or disconnected from the practical concerns of stakeholders, people either leave or dig deep enough to find a personal "why" that may or may not carry the school in the direction of its goals.

Like thousands of others who continue in the classroom despite the mounting challenges that Texas educators face, I was often propelled by a personal mission. I wanted to create an environment within my classroom where students could thrive in every way--certainly academically but also emotionally, physically, relationally and even spiritually. Working at four different rural public schools, I was incredibly blessed to have many co-workers and administrators who largely wanted the same thing.

However, personal and local missions are easily 'hijacked'. Since Texas public schools are subject to mandatory standardized testing and state accountability ratings, their missions and overall operations must necessarily reflect this reality. The result is a tug-of-war between what those in the trenches believe is right for students and the mandates that are handed down from the state and federal governments. It's a battle worth fighting, with the welfare of millions of students at stake. All are created in God's image--worthy of the opportunity to learn and grow. Many lack choices when it comes to their education. The public educators who carry on in this work are courageous. They deserve our gratitude.

For the last decade, I have done my best to walk out my faith in a secular system, navigating the friction between state mandates and a personal mission that arose from my God-given vocation as a teacher. Being a Christian in public education is a noble calling--one I would continue pursuing indefinitely if God asked it of me. Having said that, I can hardly contain my excitement at the opportunity to run full throttle after a mission that is authentically grounded in my faith. The mission of Wise Christian school is to:

Exceed academic expectations for the sake of Christian transformation and gospel proclamation

When it comes to exceeding academic expectations, nothing has changed. As in the past, I will work with others to cultivate an environment that fosters academic growth, pushing students to set and achieve increasingly higher goals. The difference now is the "why" behind our pursuit of academic excellence. The point is not acing a campus report card, improving college acceptance rates, or helping students find successful careers (although each of these are positive side effects that we can expect to experience as we commit to taking academics seriously). We engage in academic study for the sake of Christlikeness and spreading the gospel. Our ultimate purpose is to know God and bring him glory, and we will strive all the more to provide quality academic opportunities as we fix our eyes on what will matter for eternity.

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