Leadership Team - Part 3

The Leadership Team: Fostering Community, Excellence, and Discipleship

North Raleigh Christian Academy’s Leadership Team is a group of 16 administrators who serve the staff, students, and families by overseeing various aspects of NRCA’s ministry. They work together to drive the school’s strategic initiatives developed from the School Improvement Plan and Accreditation Report, ensure operational integrity by crafting and supporting school policies and procedures, and help teachers and students successfully carry out the mission and vision of Kingdom education. During the school year, the Leadership Team meets on the first Friday of each month.

This year saw the largest number of new Leadership Team members since NRCA began. With seven people new to their roles going into the 2022-2023 school year, the team prepared for the upcoming season by holding a leadership retreat away from campus for almost a week in July. Before the retreat, they read The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leadership by Tim Elmore. During the retreat, they discussed the principles in the book and how to apply them in their leadership positions. The team also reviewed the school’s mission statement and identified three key components that NRCA will focus on over the next three years: community, excellence, and discipleship.

Throughout this school year, NRCA will focus on community with the schoolwide theme of “Love God, Love Others.” Romans 12:9-10 anchors this theme. It says, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

God’s hand is clearly on this ministry, and he has placed key people in positions at NRCA to help lead throughout this season. We are excited to introduce you to the people serving in new Leadership Team positions this year.

To wrap up our introductions, this week, we get to know Technology Director Matt Zeblo and Jennifer Christensen, who serves as Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Parent Relations Director.

Matt Zeblo | Technology Director

Matt Zeblo

Matt Zeblo is NRCA’s new technology director. The job of the technology director is huge because the school depends on technology.

“We’re responsible for every piece of technology here on campus. That’s the software that we use on desktops in classrooms, student and faculty iPads, administrative laptops, and anything you see as far as projectors and TVs,” Zeblo said. The Technology Department also oversees “our network—that’s the Wi-Fi all over campus. We go back and forth and see what areas are working, what areas can be improved, and how we can incorporate some of the new protocols that may work a little bit better depending on what kind of devices are being used in those particular areas. It’s my job to make sure faculty and students have what they need to thrive in the classroom.”

As the Technology Department oversees devices and systems, they make sure the technology works for NRCA’s specific needs. Learning from other schools has helped Zeblo and his team make beneficial decisions. “We evaluate across the board different processes that make sense for what we do here versus what other schools have done. That’s the valuable part. We are lucky enough to have relationships and an open dialogue with other schools to figure out what’s worked for them and then customize that to figure out what, exactly, works for North Raleigh Christian. So, it’s an all-encompassing look at technology. That’s how it works here,” Zeblo said.

Zeblo’s college degree is in business, but his path to finding his passion led him through technology support and eventually into coordinating technology in education. “I have spent a number of years working in education technology, and it’s always been a goal of mine to be in a leadership role in education technology. This was a great opportunity that was presented to me. Also, to work at a Christian school where the gospel is the centerpiece and center focus is something that I always wanted to be a part of.”

The thing he enjoys most about his job at NRCA is the people. He admires the talents of NRCA students and staff. “The people here are so nice, so accommodating. It’s evident that there’s a passion for learning,” Zeblo said. “The students here are so gifted. I see that across the board, from athletics to fine arts to academics. I think the all-encompassing experience of being associated with North Raleigh Christian Academy is just exciting, no matter what corner of the community you’re in,” Zeblo said.

Zeblo has three kids, a daughter who is three years old and twin boys who are one. “I’m really looking forward to, hopefully, having them attend school here in a few years down the road.”

By: Caden Landis, Shield Editor

Jennifer Christensen | Assistant to the Superintendent Parent Relations Director

Jennifer Christensen

Jennifer Christensen has been at North Raleigh Christian Academy for 13 years. “I started out subbing and became an actual staff member in 2015,” Christensen said. Christensen currently serves as the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and the Parent Relations Director.

Before becoming the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, Christensen worked part-time at the attendance desk in the front lobby as the attendance secretary. “I also taught piano part-time, which a lot of people don’t know,” Christensen said. Although she has worked at NRCA for over a decade, Christensen is excited about her new role on the Leadership Team this year. “The thing I am looking most forward to is learning more about NRCA and how each organization works hand in hand,” Christensen said. She also says that she loves working with the Leadership Team and being able to come alongside them.

In her various roles, Christensen works with events like the Book Fair, staff appreciation lunches, and Moms Connect 4 Community. Christensen also assists Dr. Kevin Mathes with events like Board meetings. She enjoys how each day is different.

Christensen was not expecting to transition to a full-time position, as she assumed she would just work part-time and leave when her last child graduated. However, the surprise opportunity turned out to be a perfect fit. “I just feel like it was the right time for our family for me to make the move to full time, and I love NRCA so much I did want to be here more,” Christensen said.

Christensen said she is inspired “by everyone I work with in the school because everyone is so supportive and encouraging.” She said that even when she was here parttime, everyone was so nice and treated her like family and made her want to be here. “I am thankful and blessed to work at a school that continuously blesses our family,” she said.

While moving from the lobby to the administrative wing has limited her routine encounters with students, she still encourages them to stay in touch. “One of the things I love most about working at NRCA is the students. Any chance I have to invest and pour into their lives through encouragement and prayer is a blessing to me,” Christensen said. 

By: Finley Huneycutt, Shield Writer