Getting Bigger and Acting Smaller

Lessons for Leaders from The Business of Education

Growth is often seen as a marker of success, yet with growth comes complexity. This is true in business, certainly.  But it’s also true for any well-run organization, including schools. 

In Christian education, leaders face the unique challenge of balancing the scale of large organizations with the intimacy and care of small communities. This tension was at the heart of a recent conversation between Dr. Cy Smith and Darin Long, Superintendent of the Christian Academy of Louisville School System, on The Clearly Christian podcast.

They talk about what it takes to lead well when thousands of students and hundreds of staff are looking to you for guidance.  Just like any business, when the leader fails, so will the organization.

A Business Mindset Meets Ministry

Darin Long’s path to educational leadership began in an unexpected place: the sporting goods retail industry. He reflected on how those business experiences shaped him for his current role:“Everything that I did way back in the 90s in the retail industry, I’m using today. Never thought that would happen. It’s definitely a calling of God.” Long’s perspective underscores that customer service, forecasting, and building strong teams all translate into running effective schools, as they do in business.

Dr. Cy Smith affirmed this unique blend of perspectives, noting, “Christian schools are a unique hybrid… You’re an educational institution, a ministry, and also a business.” For school leaders trying to build an excellent organization with results to match, holding these three identities in tension is essential.

Stewardship and Strategic Vision

Long emphasized the biblical mandate behind financial stewardship. “Every dollar that we have coming in is God’s dollar. What we’re trying to do is build His kingdom by going through education.” His commitment to stewarding resources echoes the broader mission of Christian schools: to serve students faithfully while ensuring the sustainability of the organization.

Cy pointed out that such stewardship requires an ownership mindset across all levels of the school. “You have to really think like an owner. Can you get the third-grade teacher and the food service worker to buy into that idea so they’ll have the care and desire to leave this place better than they found it?”  Ownership, in this sense, is less about titles and more about shared responsibility.

Communication that Builds Connection

One of the most pressing challenges of large schools is communication. With nearly 3,000 students across multiple campuses, the Christian Academy of Louisville must find ways to help families feel seen and heard. Long acknowledged the difficulty:“We have to bring in 350 new students a year just to maintain where we’re at. To be able to build relationships with those families—it’s daunting.”

Yet he also shared innovative strategies, from parent feedback platforms to monthly employee surveys, that provide authentic two-way communication. The result builds relational trust, not just data.

Dr. Smith applauded this intentionality, remarking, “If Christian schools are going to thrive in this moment, they’ve got to be well-run organizations that deliver both an excellent education and an extraordinary partnership experience for their families and employees.”

The Pursuit of Excellence

For Long, excellence isn’t optional.  It’s a biblical calling. “Excellence comes straight out of the Bible… every day I come in, I’ve got to remember I’m working for the Lord and not for man.” This commitment drives everything from teacher mentorship programs to strategic planning initiatives, always with the aim of serving students well.

Chalkboard Points

Dr, Smith closed the program as he usually does, with two “Chalkboard Points” to help frame the most important concepts of the program. 

 

Chalkboard Point #1:  To thrive, Christian schools must be well-run organizations. 

“You know, excellence takes time. Providing an extraordinary partnership experience with families is achievable right now. It just takes intentionality and determination.”

Chalkboard Point #2: Leaders cannot lose track of how their people feel.

“Feeling uniquely valued gives us the grace that we need to stay the course and achieve success with each child.”

Schools are no different than businesses. Success requires a balance of strategic vision, financial stewardship, strong systems, and, above all, a commitment to valuing each person.

Bigger doesn’t have to mean impersonal. Schools, like successful businesses, can grow while still caring, and by acting small, if leaders are intentional about making every student, family, and employee feel valued.

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For more information about Dr. Cy Smith, Mansfield Christian School, and/or the Clearly Christian Education movement, click on ClearlyChristianEducation.com.