As Northland Christian School celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the new head of the school, Dr. Ryan Berens, is ready to implement his vision and guide the school in a prosperous direction.
Berens’ official first day on the job was June 1, but he has been researching what makes Northland Christian School a special place since the beginning of the year to ensure he is prepared to hit the ground running.
This is Dr. Berens’ 21st year in education, during which he has held various leadership roles at Christian schools nationwide. At Dr. Berens most recent stop, he was able to help increase enrollment from 620 students to 850 over a period of four years.
“I felt called by God to take on the leadership of a school and make my mark on it,” Dr. Berens said. “Northland Christian has a rich tradition and history, but it was ready for some adjustments to ensure we could carry on and build upon the legacy established by the school’s founders for the next 50 years.”
Dr. Berens has played a key role in transforming schools into places students eagerly anticipate attending. Across different sites, he has implemented initiatives for students to engage in and establish new traditions.
He has fostered a secure environment for students to cultivate meaningful academic connections with their teachers and has developed a framework that fosters continuous school improvement.
“My goal in coming to Northland is to bring some of those very similar structures and add to the traditions and culture that is already in place,” Dr. Berens said. “One of the great things about Northland is that the structure and people are already in place. Northland has the opportunities for students to try and excel in many areas including academics, the arts and athletics. There are very few schools our size that have as much to offer to the student experience. The issue has been that very few people know how great Northland is. A major goal for this year is to take what the school does and get it out into the community. We want parents and students to know all that we have to offer as they are looking at where to take the next educational step.”
In honor of fifty years of excellence in academics, athletics and fine arts, and to celebrate the future ahead, Northland Christian School will host alumni events throughout the year and present The Golden Jubilee gala in February.
“A school with a 50-year history in Christian education has undoubtedly left a lasting impact on the broader community,” Dr. Berens said. “The graduates of Northland Christian School are actively making a positive difference in our community, all for the glory of Christ. The school has a solid foundation to continue growing and thriving over the next 50 years. This year provides us with the perfect opportunity to express our gratitude to those who paved the way before us.”