As a headmaster I often interact with leaders of schools from around the country. Whether it’s at a conference, a friend, or a mentor, I hear a lot of stories about schools. Some stories are positive, but many are difficult to hear. Through it all, I’ve gained a clearer perspective on Brook Hill, and I have to say, I’m thankful.

I’m thankful because Brook Hill has the marks of a healthy school, at least as I define it.

6 Marks of a Healthy School

1) A Trustworthy Board

I had never been in a place with such strong, humble leaders until I stepped foot into our boardroom. Our board is not only chaired by our founder, Steve Dement (the most humble man you will ever meet), but led by experienced and wise men and women that have the best interest of Brook Hill at heart.

Our board members don’t micromanage either. Instead they act as guides and visionaries for the health and future of Brook Hill. They hold me accountable while also encouraging me to dream big and take risks.

2) Empowering Teachers

Great teachers are at the heart of every great school. I truly believe that each student meets the mission of the school in the classroom, and we’ve taken every effort to ensure our teachers embody Brook Hill’s mission in every area of their life. If a school has lackluster teachers and apathetic coaches, then its mission will be compromised and its students will suffer.

I’m thankful to serve at a school that takes the hiring and training process seriously, giving Brook Hill highly qualified faculty who truly care about their students. Whether it is encouraging students on the field, taking care of them on the bus drive home from a long game, or helping students in their classroom at odd hours of the day, teachers and coaches take time to not only cultivate our students’ bodies and minds, but also nurture Christ-like character in their hearts.

3) Successful Alumni

Our job as a school is very similar to your job as a parent – we are both striving to help those entrusted to us mature and grow into godly young men and women who make valuable contributions to society.

Brook Hill may be young, but even in our youth we have been able to see the fruits of our labor. Our alumni go on to thrive in college academically and spiritually (and many even athletically). But if our students’ success stopped in college, we would have fallen short of our calling. I am proud to say that our alumni are working hard, serving in our military, raising families, running for office, and serving in their churches. Their lives have been marked by their time here, and they’re making a difference for Christ and His Kingdom.

4) High Standards

In order for a school to thrive, it has to hold strong to its core values. Schools that tolerate immoral conduct and destructive lifestyles are drinking organizational poison. But high standards extends beyond conduct, it bleeds into every area of the school: academics, athletics, fine arts.

Excellence isn’t something you’re just born with, it takes a great deal of hard work. At Brook Hill we’re working hard to cultivate excellence from the inside out. It starts with excellent leadership and faculty, but it also extends into our programming. That’s why we’ve implemented a no-pass, no-play policy across our school. Excellence in the classroom translates into excellence on the field and on the stage. We don’t take bullying lightly, because excellence in character and relationships translates into excellence in the family and the workplace.

5) Perseverance in Hardship

Organizations, like people, face challenges and adversity, and even in our youth, we’ve already been through so much. How someone responds in the midst of hardship, shows their true colors, and I’m proud of how the Brook Hill community has responded in difficult times over the years.

Brook Hill has not only lived through a struggling economy, but also through deep loss. I would never wish the loss of a student or faculty member on any school, much less both – yet through this tragedy I saw God show up through the Brook Hill family. I saw God meet financial and practical needs. I saw God comfort and heal. I saw a community rally behind one another and lift each other up.

6) Contributes to Society

Finally, a healthy organization contributes to society. A school should contribute more than the caring, responsible citizens that they graduate, however. A school should serve and be a light in its community. In this way, it trains students to go out into the world and do the same.

We take service seriously at Brook Hill. That’s why our students earn community service hours and every team does a service project together. We set aside one day every school year to serve our surrounding community and our lower school classes find a way to “love thy neighbor” every year.

Brook Hill isn’t perfect, but I do believe we are healthy and we are getting healthier all the time.

What are other signs of a healthy school?