Welcoming our next Head of School, Dr. Nathan Stevens


A MESSAGE FROM OUR ICS SCHOOL BOARD

The ICS School Board is excited to share an important announcement with you regarding our new Head of School, Dr. Nathan Stevens.

As a reminder, one of the first steps in the search process was to survey the ICS community for your thoughts. You said the criteria for the next Head of School should include:

  • Demonstrated ability as a school leader
  • Ability to build a team and work collaboratively
  • Capacity to provide decisive leadership

Respondents also indicated most importantly, the new Head of School must demonstrate a deep personal faith, a biblical worldview, and a contagious passion for partnering with parents in raising children who know biblical truth and can apply it.

The School Board sought only candidates who demonstrated a steadfast commitment to a biblically sound, evangelical perspective that is aligned with the Statement of Faith of Immanuel Bible Church.

Using the search firm JobfitMatters, we conducted a rigorous search, analysis, and interview process that led to meetings with final candidates in person on campus. Every step of the way, we acknowledged our dependence on the Lord for wisdom as we prayerfully considered each decision. Finally, we were blessed with several well qualified candidates and the decision was not easy but unanimous.

And so today, with thanks to God, the Immanuel Christian School Board is excited to announce the selection of Dr. Nathan Stevens as the new Head of School beginning in July 2023. We are grateful for your prayers throughout these many months during the search process and with you, we praise God for His provision and kindness to our school.  

God is clearly at work in leading Nathan to ICS:

  • Nathan Stevens has a proven track record of leadership in Christian education
  • He is an experienced collaborative team builder  
  • He is a tested decisive leader committed to building a vision for the future of ICS
  • He demonstrates a deep personal faith, a love for God and His unchanging Word, and a passion for partnering with parents to inspire students who will make a difference for Christ 
  • Nathan and his family desire to be part of a ministry grounded in the truth of God’s word that will challenge them to grow in sanctification

In His providence, the Lord has provided a superbly well-qualified and aligned leader for ICS!

The Board looks forward to introducing you to Nathan over the coming months. Please continue to pray with us for our new Head of School, the ICS Leadership Team, faculty and staff, and the School Board—that we would lead well by God’s grace and with His direction throughout the transition.  Huber Parsons
Chair, School Board
Immanuel Christian School
A Ministry of Immanuel Bible Church
school.board@icsva.org


Nathan Stevens sees Immanuel Christian School as a school that is “deeply grounded.” In his experience with Christian schools, he believes there is often a difference between schools that claim to be “Christian” and those that are truly grounded in the Word. I am encouraged by Nathan’s strong commitment to the authority of God’s Word for every area of school life.
Stephen E. Danish, ICS Head of School Emeritus


A LETTER FROM DR. STEVENS

Dear Immanuel Christian School Community,

It is a blessing to communicate with you as the next Head of School at Immanuel Christian School. My wife Kacy and I have had the opportunity to interact with your community over the last several months. We have been so encouraged by the alignment between Immanuel Christian School’s commitments and our desires for our family.

When God led me to the opening at Immanuel Christian School, I started by reviewing the declarations of who you aspire to be. Your mission provides a firm grounding for excellent Christ-centered education as you rightly ground yourself through an explicit statement of faith under the banner of Immanuel Bible Church. Your core beliefs and position as a ministry of Immanuel Bible Church were a significant draw to me. I was also drawn to your recognition of the appropriate place of the school as a partner “with families to inspire students for purposeful lives of learning, godliness, and service.” As a father of three daughters, Adria (21), Hannah (19), and Harper (10), I understand how essential it is to partner with like-minded people who understand the transformational power of the gospel of Jesus Christ while not sacrificing a purposeful approach to learning and growth.

Immanuel Christian School is well-positioned to carry out the work God has placed before us due to a strong faculty and staff, a talented leadership team, a called and committed school board, and the long-term sacrificial leadership of your previous Head of School, Mr. Stephen Danish. I am honored and humbled by this opportunity to serve alongside you at Immanuel Christian School.

I want to thank the School Board, leadership team, and the elders of Immanuel Bible Church for your care and hospitality to Kacy and me throughout this process. Please pray for us as we finish strong in Georgia and prepare for the upcoming transition to Virginia. We are excited about the future and I look forward to getting to know you better very soon.

In Christ,Nathan Stevens


“As a former teacher, I grew more excited and interested as I listened to Nathan describe his passion for Christian education and academic excellence. With broad experience in education, he’s exceptionally well prepared to build on Immanuel’s strong foundation with a fresh vision for the future.”
– Jana Murphy, ICS School Board Member


GETTING TO KNOW NATHAN STEVENS

Nathan Stevens and his wife, Kacy, have been married for 24 years. They have three daughters, Adria (21 and in her last year at The University of Georgia), Hannah (19 and in her second year at The University of North Georgia), and Harper (10 and in fourth grade).

Nathan currently serves as the Assistant Head for Academic Affairs at Whitefield Academy in Smyrna, GA. In this role, he leads a team of faculty members who oversee curriculum development and instructional practices, aligning curriculum with the school’s mission and emphasizing biblical integration. Previously, Nathan served as the Upper School Principal for four years.

Nathan’s background demonstrates significant depth of experience and spiritual maturity. During his 24 years in education, he has served 17 years in leadership roles. Consistently involved in many areas of school life, Nathan has contributed not only as a leader but also as a teacher, advisor, athletics coach, and even performed in a school musical.

He has a Bachelor’s Degree in History Education, an M.S. in Educational Administration, and is currently in the dissertation phase of a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership (with plans to complete his doctoral work by March 2023).

The Lord has gifted and prepared Nathan to serve as the next Head of School of Immanuel Christian School. He has a track record as a collaborative, innovative, mature leader in Christian education.  He has the heart of a shepherd and a teacher and has demonstrated experience and success as a multifaceted school leader, manager, and communicator.

Through God’s grace, Nathan has partnered with others to foster growth in all aspects of school leadership. His opportunities to strategically engage in admissions, athletics, academics, arts, technology, communications, human resources, and development have allowed him to manage and lead within the complexities of dynamic organizations. His leadership experience has provided him with various experiences and has reinforced his understanding that each context has unique characteristics that must be valued as a leader seeks to serve in a way that honors God and the people who have served faithfully throughout the years.

Nathan is drawn to the compelling purposes articulated by ICS’s core declarations. He strongly affirms the Statement of Faith of Immanuel Bible Church, and he believes in building a culture of practiced reflection, guided by the power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, in which all community members — from the development and admissions staff to teachers, parents, and students — are challenged to consider their practices from the inside-out. The authenticity of this type of experience provides the grounding for a persuasive message to those inside and outside the school who recognize the formational power of a community committed to inspiring “students for purposeful lives of learning, godliness, and service.”

Nathan and Kacy have been deeply involved with the local church throughout their marriage, during which Nathan has served as a teacher, youth worker, nursery worker, deacon, and elder. They understand and value God’s work in and through the local church body and continue prioritizing this in their lives. A verse that has challenged Nathan in his personal life and his work in Christian education over the last several years is II Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”


HEAD OF SCHOOL FAQ

What are Mr. Stevens' qualifications?

Nathan’s background demonstrates significant depth of experience and spiritual maturity. During his 24 years in education, he has served 17 years in leadership roles.

Consistently involved in many areas of school life, Nathan has contributed not only as a leader but also as a teacher, advisor, athletics coach, and even performed in a school musical.

He has a Bachelor’s Degree in History Education, an M.S. in Educational Administration, and is currently in the dissertation phase of a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership (with plans to complete his doctoral work by March 2023).

Nathan is drawn to the compelling purposes articulated by ICS’s core declarations. He strongly affirms the Statement of Faith of Immanuel Bible Church, and he believes in building a culture of practiced reflection, guided by the power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit.

What is Mr. Stevens' start date?

Nathan will join ICS as the Head of School this coming summer, July 2023. Dr. Dill will continue to be our Interim Administrator for the 2022-2023 school year.

Will Mr. Stevens come to campus again before starting as Head of School? Will I have an opportunity to meet him?

We are still working on those details. There will be opportunities for Nathan and his family to get to know the ICS community and for us to get to know them too!

Will there be additional staff changes?

No additional changes are planned at this time.

Were other candidates considered?

Using the search firm JobfitMatters, we conducted a rigorous search, analysis, and interview process that led to meetings with final candidates in person on campus. Every step of the way, we acknowledged our dependence on the Lord for wisdom as we prayerfully considered each decision. Finally, we were blessed with several well qualified candidates and the decision was not easy but unanimous.

Will Mr. Danish still be involved with ICS?

Mr. Steve Danish, Head of School Emeritus, will continue focusing on the ICHS Capital Campaign.

I want to help make Mr. Stevens and his family feel welcome? What can I do?

Thank you. There will be many opportunities to make the Stevens family feel welcome at ICS.  Stay tuned!

I would like to contact Mr. Stevens? How can I reach out?

For now, Nathan is focused on finishing strong at his current school. There will be future opportunities for getting to know him and his family soon.

How can I share my thoughts on this decision?

You may contact the school board at any time at school.board@icsva.org.