Dear CLHSA Friends,
Two months ago, I was contacted by an executive search company asking if I would be interested in
learning more about Bakersfield Christian High School (BCHS) in California. In my 16 years at the CLHSA I
have often been contacted about potential job opportunities. With the exception of one other such
opportunity, each of these inquiries ended very quickly. In other words, I have not been job seeking!
My work and ministry at the CLHSA are extremely fulfilling.
Jennifer and I flew out to visit BCHS two weeks ago. I have since been offered the position to be the
head of their school. After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to accept this job offer and
will become their new school President beginning in July of this year. We will remain in Cleveland and
continue our work here through the end of this school year.
Our reasons for moving to California and joining the BCHS community have nothing to do with anything
negative in Cleveland. In fact, I am pretty convinced that the “golden years” of the CLHSA are right
around the corner. Our schools are in great shape in terms of enrollment, we remain true to the LCMS
doctrine while successfully making broad steps to reach into the Christian community, our finances are
very solid, a strong leadership team is in place, state legislative maneuverings are going our way,
facilities continue to be improved...the list could go on.
Our board leadership has been wonderful to me. The commitment of our community towards moving
forward is unquestionable. I have appreciated our current Board Chairman’s (Mr. Nathan Hessler’s)
partnership in ministry, just as I have appreciated this same partnership from the previous Board
Chairmen- along with the Boards as a whole, both past and present- with whom I’ve worked.
Cleveland- in general- and the CLHSA- specifically- have been and continue to be wonderful blessings to
my family. It is the location where Jennifer and I started our family and watched our children grow ever
older (wayyyyy to quickly, might I add). I love the CLHSA and the community which this organization
entails. Having the opportunity to serve as the Principal at Lutheran West for 8 years and as the
Superintendent at the CLHSA for this same length of time has been the professional experience of a
lifetime. I cannot say enough positive things about the organization or the people. I am proud of what
we (the faculty/staff/administration, boards, students, friends and volunteers) have accomplished
throughout this time period. The CLHSA and its schools look far different than in 2000 (my first year).
We are a stronger organization. This has occurred because of the work and leadership of many, guided
by the Holy Spirit. I have been privileged to be a part of this leadership team and to partner with you.
I thought it might be helpful to provide a few insights as to the manner in which I went about
considering this job change. I’m not trying to defend my decision, but hopefully able to pre-empt some
questions that might be left unanswered if left unaddressed:
? There is no easy way to consider a change of jobs. I did not want to draw attention to myself by
announcing I was visiting another school. I’m not a big fan of announcing a job offer or potential
job change and then taking weeks to decide for several reasons, but mostly because I'm a bit
uncertain that the feedback process is always as transparent as should occur...I've known few
people who have the gumption to really tell an individual it's time to leave. Too often the
feedback seems to be polite and not authentic. In any event, though, I think I have a fairly
accurate assessment of where I stand in our community and it was not this assessment that has
led me to California.
? A little bit about Bakersfield Christian. It is a school located about 2 hours from Los Angeles and
very similar to Lutheran West in many ways. Its enrollment is just shy of 500 students, has a
very large campus which gives a collegiate feel (@50 acres), enjoys strong academics and an
outstanding extra-curricular program. What it does not have is a corresponding ministry to that
of Lutheran East. I will miss not having such a corresponding ministry in Bakersfield. It also does
not have a long history like that of the CLHSA, being at its current location and utilizing its
current name for a relatively short time period.
? Here are the thoughts driving Jennifer and my decision…in no particular order:
1) The school has a very successful tennis team. Erik is a talented player and still has majorly
untapped potential. The climate of California is conducive to his reaching his full potential, and
being a part of a very successful tennis team is simply an additional positive.
2) Jennifer and I plan to work full-time (God-willing) for another 10 years. Counting college
years, our kids will only be living in our house for around this same time period. During these
ten years, while we still have our nuclear family together and I have my health (a big concern
with the stress of administration), we want to have a new adventure. I want for my family to
experience another part of the country. We have vacationed in California (and the West in
general) a number of times. We have said California might be a place to which we would like to
relocate. Earlier in this writing I indicated only really pursuing one other job opportunity during
my time in Cleveland. That particular opportunity was also in California.
3) I love the LCMS school system. My dad and now I have dedicated our lives to it. I would be
very comfortable staying in the LCMS school system for the rest of my career. My passion for
Christian ministry, though, is even more a point of dedication for me than specific Lutheran
education. I think that this has clearly been demonstrated in my work at the CLHSA. Being a
part of an intentionally multi-denominational high school is extremely interesting to both my
family and me.
4) While the other three items are in no particular order, this fourth item is the most relevant to
my ministry in Cleveland....16 years is a long time to be an administrator at one school (one
school system). As I grew up, in my dad's role as school administrator, my family moved about
every 7 years. Today, I find it somewhat abnormal for a school administrator to stay even that
long at one school. The administrative history of the CLHSA, other than Dr. Sagehorn, would
mirror such a statement. I am proud of my longevity at the CLHSA. It is a testament to the
community that they have been supportive of one person and his ideas for such a period of
time. I hope to have been worthy of such support. Increasingly, though, I am finding it difficult
to be objective and strong in my decision making. My ties in the community run deep. Where
decisions should be based upon the phrase, "student first", I am increasingly aware of my
inability to separate my personal feelings for families and circumstances, with that of what
would be in our students' best interest. Worshiping with individuals, working through life
situations with colleagues, and knowing personal details about so many families leads to real
difficulty in maintaining objectivity. Again, I feel that as time goes by and relationships become
ever stronger, doing this becomes increasingly difficult. While this reality has not paralyzed me
and I still can (and could continue in the future to) make the challenging decision, the personal
stress level does rise on a nearly yearly basis. Having a reset on relationships as a school
administrator is therefore important...and one of the reasons that change can be very
important.
Does the CLHSA face challenges? It certainly does. But we are wonderfully positioned to meet these
challenges. I could stay at the CLHSA until my retirement and would still have a list of challenges to
tackle. The challenges might look different than today (then, again, perhaps not!), but challenges would
certainly still be present. I really don't know that there would be a "better" time to depart than now
(and this opportunity in California would not likely repeat itself).
I have tried to explain my thoughts to you and hope this attempt may have answered some questions.
Know that I'm trying to handle this life transition with as much professionalism and grace as I can.
A number of people have asked me what's been wrong over the past few weeks...it's simply that I'm
sad. My time at the CLHSA is ending. For me, this is not joyous. Yet what awaits is incredibly exciting as
I think about my family having a whole new set of challenges and opportunities in another part of the
country, while still serving the Lord in leadership at a Christian high school. I ask that you pray for me
and my family as I concurrently continue to work with you and pray for you and our ministry at the
CLHSA.
In Christ,
John