Pathways into leadership: The education, work, and leadership experiences of Protestant Christian school leaders

Research has shown school leaders to be important for teacher retention, school climate, and student outcomes. Christian schools have great flexibility in hiring leaders, and the topic of these leaders’ prior experience and training is understudied. In this mixed-methods study, we examine the education, experience, and demographics of 447 Protestant Christian school leaders who participated in the Association of Christian Schools International’s Flourishing Faith Index survey. We then discuss our findings from interviews with nine ACSI school leaders regarding the ways their past experiences contribute to their effectiveness in their roles, as well as areas in which they felt under-equipped.