Message from the Head of School – October 2025

Dear Christ’s Church Academy Families,

One of the greatest lessons we can teach our students at Christ’s Church Academy is that leadership is not about titles or talent—it is about influence and choice. Every student on our campus, from our youngest preschoolers to our high school seniors, has influence. The question is: How will they use it?

I am reminded of a powerful story from the 1997 NCAA Basketball Tournament. That year, the University of Arizona men’s basketball team made one of the most remarkable runs in college sports history. The Wildcats defeated three No. 1 seeds—Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky—to win the national championship. It is a story that is still told by sports fans nearly three decades later.

But behind the stars of that championship team—players like Miles Simon, Michael Dickerson, Jason Terry, and freshman sensation Mike Bibby—stood a little-known walk-on freshman named Josh Pastner. At just 5’11”, he was not expected to play meaningful minutes, and most fans never noticed him. But his impact was undeniable.

Early in the season, Pastner and his fellow freshmen began a nightly ritual: taking 300 shots after practice, often in an empty gym. When the doors were locked, they found another court. Over time, other teammates joined in. Eventually, Pastner stopped taking his own shots and began rebounding for the others—choosing to help them sharpen their game. He was not in the spotlight, but his energy, encouragement, and unwavering belief that their team would win the national championship became contagious. When Arizona won, the coaches recognized that his influence had helped shape the team’s culture. The following year, the player who rarely left the bench was awarded a full scholarship.

Pastner’s story reminds us of two truths that apply not just in sports but in life: everyone has influence, and everyone has a choice.

At CCA, we want our students to recognize that same truth. They do not have to be captains, class presidents, or first chairs to lead. They simply have to choose to use their influence in a way that honors God—to build others up, to serve, to encourage, and to lead with integrity.

Jesus taught this kind of leadership when He said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26). True leadership is not about being seen—it is about helping others succeed.

Our calling as parents and educators is to help students see that their daily choices—showing kindness, telling the truth, forgiving quickly, and working hard—are powerful expressions of leadership. When they choose to influence others for good, they reflect the heart of Christ, who led not by power or position but by humility and love.

In His service,

John Stubblefield