Opportunity Profile

Head of School

Consultant: Thilini Perera
512.851.8558| Thilini@shepherd.group

What you need to know most about this position:

The next Head of School at CrossLife Christian Academy will be more than an administrator—they will be a seasoned and experienced leader in Christian education who champions mission, culture, learning, and growth. With a strong executive presence and equal spiritual depth, this leader will steward a new/growing academy and masterfully interweave its systems, culture, and mission into one cohesive story - anchored in Christ and advancing with purpose. With the courage to reform, the humility to listen, and the foresight to build systems that endure, this Head of School will not only lead CrossLife Christian Academy, but they will shape its spiritual, academic, and institutional future. This is a calling for a leader to hold vision and structure in the same hand, who leads with conviction and calm, and whose faith is not merely professed but lived in every decision.

The Head of School will be exceptional at leading with both strength and strategy. Their understanding of K-12 academic proficiency, instructional competence, and operational integrity will be paramount. This person will champion pedagogical excellence while empowering teachers to flourish as both educators and ministers, modeling a faith that is rooted, wise, and applied. They will inspire trust, elevate others, and translate the heart of the church into the rhythm of the school. They will hold themselves accountable first to Christ and then to the School Board, unifying teams, parents, and stakeholders under a shared vision. Standing at the intersection of vision and execution, they will ensure that every child’s education is both intellectually robust and spiritually formative, and that the school continues to grow in reputation, culture, and impact.

About CrossLife Christian Academy

CrossLife Christian Academy is a young, faith-driven K–5 institution deeply rooted in the life and mission of CrossLife Church in Oviedo, Florida. Established to cultivate both the mind and the spirit, CCA exists to deliver an education that is academically excellent, biblically grounded, and relationally rich. As a ministry-based school, its culture is defined by warmth, authenticity, and discipleship - where learning and faith intersect daily in the lives of students and teachers alike. The Academy stands at a pivotal juncture: growing enrollment, expanding vision, and a church partnership eager to see the school flourish as a beacon of Christ-centered formation in its community.

Position Information:

Job Description

CrossLife Christian Academy seeks a seasoned and experienced leader with executive-pastoral acumen to guide and to grow its new K–5 academy. The Head of School will steward both mission and operations, uniting staff, students, parents, and the board around a shared gospel-centered vision. This role blends executive leadership, spiritual authority, and educational expertise to ensure the Academy thrives academically, relationally, and spiritually.

Key Responsibilities:

Build and strengthen institutional systems, culture, and governance. Ensure organizational health through spiritual coherence, structural clarity, and trust-driven leadership.
Translate vision into sustainable structures and measurable outcomes. Guide curriculum development, grade-level expansion, and operational scaling while preserving Christ-centered distinctiveness.
Foster relationally healthy, mission-aligned school culture. Model emotional intelligence, spiritual maturity, and collaborative leadership. Strengthen staff morale, resolve conflicts, and unite the community under a shared vision.
Develop and mentor teachers as ministers and professionals. Promote high standards, collaboration, and instructional excellence, ensuring students receive academically rigorous and spiritually formative education.
Lead from a foundation of Scripture and prayerful discernment. Integrate theology into organizational and instructional decision-making, modeling Christlike integrity and moral authority.

Qualifications:

Proven experience and success in educational leadership in Christian education (K-12 strongly preferred).
Gifted in building, developing, and growing organizations.
Strong executive, strategic, and operational skills.
Demonstrated ability to build culture, unify teams, and empower staff.
Deep spiritual, relational, and emotional maturity and commitment to the gospel.
Excellent communication and organizational abilities.
Passion for building, reforming, and developing organizations.

Ideal Candidate Description

A catalyst of transformational organizational growth
A strategic architect of academic & institutional excellence
A cultivator of healthy culture & relational trust
An empowerer of educators & instructional proficiency
A spiritual authority anchored in theological conviction

Position History

CrossLife Christian Academy was established as a ministry extension of CrossLife Church with a vision to integrate faith and learning within a Christ-centered educational environment. Since its founding, the school has experienced steady enrollment growth and strong community engagement. However, its leadership structure has developed more organically than by formal design.

The departure of the Founding Principal created a gap in executive leadership, resulting in redistributed responsibilities and some overlapping roles among administrative staff. During this interim period, the Interim Principal has effectively maintained school culture and day-to-day operations under the board’s direction.

This transition now marks a pivotal moment, an opportunity to establish enduring systems, clarify lines of authority, and appoint a leader equipped to guide CCA into its next phase of organizational maturity.

Shepherd Staff Observations:

Shepherd Staff spent time onsite at CrossLife Christian Academy interviewing leaders, staff, and critical church members to gain valuable insights about the church, the position, and the community. Here are our unbiased observations.

About the Organization

CrossLife Christian Academy is a mission-driven, relationally warm, and spiritually sincere community that has grown faster than its internal systems. Yet the foundation remains strong: a committed staff, a supportive board, and a parent community that believes deeply in the mission. In this early developmental phase, CCA has demonstrated remarkable promise alongside predictable growing pains that come with newness. In its youth, the institution has produced structural drift and the need to tighten processes to achieve excellence. The relational culture is strong but stretched; teachers desire clarity, consistency, and leadership alignment to match their heart for ministry. CCA is poised for its next season - one of structural maturity, cultural unity, and renewed vision under a leader who can hold mission and management, heart and strategy, in equal measure.

About the Position

The Head of School role at CrossLife Christian Academy will need to be strategically equipped with a pastoral-administrative nature. The position requires the ability to lead a growing school through organizational refinement and cultural stabilization. The position carries significant scope: operational governance, academic oversight, and spiritual leadership all converge in this seat. Because the school is still developing its internal systems, this leader must bring both executive discipline and relational discernment, able to translate vision into structure while sustaining a culture of grace and trust. The role calls for a leader who can balance the demands of institutional building with the heart of ministry - one who can lead up to the board, across to staff, and outward to parents and church partners. Above all, this position represents an opportunity to shape a young, faith-centered academy into a model of Christ-centered excellence and organizational clarity. The next Head of School will inherit an organization with clear spiritual DNA, dedicated teachers who desire leadership stability and clarity, and a vibrant opportunity to bring alignment, coherence, and sustainable systems to a school rich with potential.

About the Leadership

During this interim season, CCA’s leadership has demonstrated sincere commitment amid natural tension points associated with transition. The Interim Principal has carried significant operational and pedagogical responsibility, providing managerial leadership in a time of uncertainty. The school board, under the leadership of the Lead Pastor, demonstrates strong vision and discernment and offers a values-driven governance structure. Staff describe leadership as prayerful, thoughtful, and invested in both the spiritual and operational health of the school. They are accessible, relational, and committed to empowering staff, providing a foundation of trust and alignment for the next Head of School to build upon. The board’s strategic oversight offers a unique opportunity for a new leader to integrate mission, culture, and operational coherence across the Academy.

About the Community

Oviedo, Florida, is a well-established and rapidly growing community located about 20 minutes northeast of Orlando, offering a balance of suburban comfort, educational excellence, and family-centered living. Recognized as one of the safest and most desirable places to live in Central Florida, Oviedo has earned high marks for its top-rated schools, well-maintained parks, and strong civic infrastructure. Offering easy access to Orlando’s major employment and cultural centers, the city’s thoughtful development includes family-friendly neighborhoods, community sports programs, and modern amenities like the Oviedo on the Park town center - a hub for local events, dining, and recreation.

The city is part of Seminole County, widely respected for its education system, and benefits from proximity to leading institutions such as the University of Central Florida, Seminole State College, and Rollins College, which together foster a culture of learning and innovation. Oviedo is a community that has an exceedingly high value for education and professional enterprise-it is anchored by a mix of sectors led by healthcare and technology. For Christian leaders and educators, Oviedo provides fertile ground for both professional calling and family life.

The area hosts a vibrant network of churches, faith-based schools, and community ministries that emphasize service, discipleship, and partnership. Families appreciate the city’s commitment to safety, its reputation for neighborly engagement, and its convenient access to both Atlantic beaches and Central Florida’s cultural attractions. Altogether, Oviedo represents a compelling environment for a Head of School who seeks to lead with excellence while nurturing a family within a stable, values-driven community.

CrossLife Christian Academy Information:

History of the Organization:

CrossLife Christian Academy is a ministry of CrossLife Church.

CrossLife Church traces its origins back to 1869, when it was founded as First Baptist Church of Oviedo. Over the decades, the church has played a central role in the spiritual and civic development of the Oviedo community. Key historical milestones include its first land purchase in 1913, the construction of its first wooden sanctuary in 1887, and subsequent upgrades, including a brick church in 1926, an education building in 1957, and the current Worship Center, completed in 2009 with a capacity of 2,500.

The church's ministry has expanded over the years to include the founding of two schools: (1) First Years Preschool and (2) CrossLife Christian Academy in 2024-2025. Expansion also includes the launch of a Spanish-speaking congregation, Iglesia Cruz de Vida, in 2004. In 2013, CrossLife planted a new campus in East Orlando, demonstrating its commitment to regional gospel outreach. In 2015, the church adopted the name CrossLife Church, reflecting its renewed focus on Christ-centered living and global evangelism.

Mission:

At CrossLife Christian Academy, our mission is to empower students to discover and live out their God-given purpose.

We will fulfill our calling when we can say that we gave both academic direction and a biblical worldview to help shape our students to be the salt and light in the area in which God places them.

CrossLife Christian Academy Beliefs:

Find alignment with the beliefs of CrossLife Church

CrossLife Christian Academy Team:

John Sorrell - Lead Pastor & Board Chair

Jason Hofacker - School Board

Joanna Conn - Interim Principal

Community Information:

Here are five family-friendly things to do in and around Oviedo, FL:

1.Lukas Nursery & Butterfly Encounter (Oviedo) – A must-visit for families! Walk through a butterfly conservatory, feed butterflies and birds, and explore plants and gardening fun.
2.Oviedo on the Park (Oviedo) – A lively community space with a splash pad, playground, paddle boats, and frequent family events like movie nights and festivals.
3.Black Hammock Adventures (near Oviedo) – Take a thrilling airboat ride on Lake Jesup to spot wild alligators. There’s also a restaurant, a gator exhibit, and free photo ops with parrots.
4.Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens (Sanford – 25 mins away) – A short drive from Oviedo, this zoo offers animal exhibits, a splash playground, and a treetop zipline course for active kids.
5.Big Tree Park (Longwood – 20 mins away) – A great spot for a nature walk with kids. See giant cypress trees, enjoy shaded boardwalks, and learn a bit of local history in a peaceful outdoor setting.

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