The NextEd Team
As heads and former heads of schools with over 130 years of combined experience leading Christian Schools from coast to coast, we are committed to helping strong schools become stronger.
Gary Arnold
Little Rock Christian Academy
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About Gary
Gary is President and Head of School of Little Rock Christian Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. For over thirty years, Dr. Arnold served as the head of school for independent Christian schools in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
In addition to leading LRCA, Gary Arnold presently directs the Head Certification program for the Council for Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA). He is also the current Board President of the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) in Washington, D.C., the leading advocacy group for religious and independent schools in the United States. CAPE assists the US Department of Education's Blue Ribbon School program for private schools.
Randy Brunk
Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
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About Randy
Randy just completed his 18th and final year as Head of School at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (CHCA) in Ohio. Prior to his tenure at CHCA, he served as Head of School at Peoria Christian School in Illinois and as Assistant Superintendent at Fredericksburg Christian School in Virginia for a total of 32 years in Christian School leadership. Before going into education, Randy spent a decade in real-estate development and acquisitions.
While at CHCA, Randy brought the young school to a place of national attention by introducing creative educational innovations to its program and facilities such as a Reggio-inspired pre-school, a state-of-the-art environmental sciences program/greenhouse and teaching kitchen, a highly popular entrepreneurship program, a globally ranked FIRST Robotics Program/Lab, a diverse International student program, and Take Flight, a targeted, effective dyslexia program.
Jay Ferguson
Grace Community School
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About Jay
Jay has just completed his 19th year as Head of School of Grace Community School, the largest private school in East Texas. Prior to coming to Grace, Jay was a practicing attorney, litigating employment law and civil rights cases, including those involving school districts. He has taught School Law and Governance at Covenant College, Gordon College, Peabody College at Vanderbilt University and Baylor University.
Jay is a recent Past President of the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability, where he authored the organization’s head of school certification standards. He is recent past chair of the Texas Private School Association, the chief advocacy group for religious and independent schools in the State of Texas. Jay currently chairs the Executive Board of the Association of Christian Schools International, an organization supporting 25,000 schools in 100 countries.
Tom Konjoyan
Village Christian School
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About Tom
Tom is the Head of Village Christian School, in Los Angeles, CA. For over twenty years, Tom has led Christian schools in the Los Angeles area. Prior to serving at VCS, Tom was on the founding team that built and led Oaks Christian School in the Westlake Village area for its first decade. He also served as a Director of Foundation, Corporate, and Major Gifts for World Vision in Seattle, WA.
Tom is on the Executive Committee of the Council for Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA) where he serves at the Treasurer. In the midst of the pandemic, Tom started and led the Students First Coalition in Los Angeles which successfully fought for private schools to have a voice in reopening school campuses.
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Steve O'Neil
Vail Christian High School
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About Steve
Steve is completing his 16th year as a Head of School and begins his 6th year at Vail Christian High School in Edwards, Colorado. For over 30 years, he has held leadership, teaching and coaching positions at Westminster Schools of Augusta (GA), Haven of Peace Academy (Tanzania), Minnehaha Academy (MN), Regis Jesuit High School (CO) and Denver Academy (CO).
He has been involved with the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA) since its founding in 2010, was a Charter School member and served on its board for 6 years. He currently serves as U.S. Board Vice-Chair for Daystar University (Kenya). For several years Steve was the private schools' consultant for Curriculum Designers, Inc. working alongside Heidi Hayes Jacobs.
Kurt Unruh
Association of Christian Schools International
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About Kurt
Kurt is an attorney and was the founding Head of School of Valor Christian High School in Colorado, serving 1200 students in grades 9-12. Sensing a responsibility and passion for advancing Christian schools around the globe, Kurt transitioned from Valor to found NextEd, an educational services company focused on advancing and improving Christian schools and school leaders.
For more than thirty years, Kurt has served in vocational Christian ministry in a variety of contexts, with specific experience in visionary leadership, technology, law, governance and finance. Kurt's great joy comes from creating and advancing business initiatives that serve Christian causes.
