Dr. Brian Simmons joins us in today's podcast to share what he's learned over his 40+ years of experience in Christian education. How important is strategic planning? He's come to the conclusion that "a board cannot fulfill its primary responsibilities and a head of school cannot effectively lead the day-to-day operations of a school without a strategic plan!" Why is that? What difference does it really make? This episode takes a deep dive into answering these questions along with so many more! Every administrator and board member could glean some incredible wisdom into effectively fulfilling their roles and leading their schools more effectively!

As promised, here are the...

Book / Chart Recommendations:

Dr. Simmons' Flow Chart / Strategic Planning Model: https://www.fortifyfoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Strategic-planning-model.pdf

"7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey (Urgent / Important Matrix)

"Master Planning: The Complete Guide for Building a Strategic Plan for Your Business, Church, or Organization" by Bobb Biehl

Bobb Biehl's Strategic Planning Arrow Sheet: https://tools.bobbbiehl.com/products/strategic-planning-arrow-24x36-planning-sheet

"The 4 Disciplines of Execution" by McChesney, Covey, & Huling

"SMART" Goals chart by George Duran

"Rethinking Sustainability" by Alan Sue