This essay by Dr. Lance Gibbon is one of a collection of four orginially published by AASA, The School Superintendents' Association in School Administrator Magazine (November 2025) as part of a piece titled, "Applying Religious Faith Across the Spectrum: Personal essays from four superintendents from diverse belief systems." You can view the entire piece here: https://www.aasa.org/resources/resource/applying-religious-faith-across-the-spectrum.
The true test of leadership isn’t when things go smoothly — it’s when everything is on the line. My faith doesn’t sit on the sidelines of my work. It guides me, especially in the hardest moments.
As a public school superintendent and follower of Christ, I try, imperfectly, to reflect Jesus’ model of servant leadership. He came not to be served, but to serve — meeting people with love and grace, no matter who they were or what they believed.
Jesus had a heart for children and for those on the margins — widows, orphans, the poor and the sick. That compassion challenges me to think differently about the barriers our students face. In one school district, we eliminated fees for school supplies, musical instruments and uniforms so a “free” public education could truly be free.
Some families were skipping meals to buy school clothes. Rather than making them ask for help, we offered support up front. The message was simple: You belong here. We’ve got you.
Standing Firm
Serving others often opens unexpected doors — sometimes even turning critics into partners. We built one of the region’s largest home-school partnerships by listening carefully and making room for families to personalize learning while staying connected to the district. We deepened relationships with union leaders by checking in early and offering help before it was requested. Even parents once labeled “difficult” became allies when they felt heard, respected and included.
Not everyone welcomed these changes. For some, progress threatened the status quo. Standing firm in the face of opposition is a common thread in the lives of faithful leaders — modeled perfectly by Christ. I’d like to say I’m no longer surprised by the pushback that can accompany doing what you believe is right, but I’m still learning that lesson. Faith in leadership requires both courage and humility.
Without Agendas
I’ve often said I’m an evangelist — not for religion, but for public education. Still, some of my closest relationships and most meaningful allies have been local pastors. In many ways, we share the same burdens: serving people, standing in tension, sometimes feeling alone and staying rooted in conviction. Our partnerships weren’t about proselytizing. They were about service.
During the pandemic, one pastor offered to take a special offering to bless our staff. In a single Sunday, his relatively small congregation raised more than $40,000. Volunteers assembled personalized gift boxes for all 800 employees — filled with local items, gift cards and handwritten notes. No strings attached — just gratitude. The response was overwhelming.
As superintendent, I work to remove barriers for those who want to support our schools in meaningful ways. At an annual pastors’ prayer breakfast, leaders from across denominations gathered to pray for our schools. I shared our needs, and they committed to lifting up our students, families, and staff — not only that day but throughout the year. Their support — quiet, consistent and practical — made a lasting difference.
This work constantly tests your convictions. My identity in Christ has been the anchor that steadies me — through criticism, personal attacks and tough decisions. I remember one especially contentious school board meeting as we worked to reopen schools during COVID-19. The opposition was intense — from all sides. Afterward, I sat alone in my car, drained and questioning. In that moment of doubt, I sensed God’s quiet reassurance: You were called for a time such as this.
There’s a verse in Galatians I return to often: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” That promise doesn’t remove the weight of leadership, but it reminds me why perseverance matters.
The Look of Faith
My faith does not compel me to bring religion into schools. It compels me to lead with patience, grace and hope — to tell the truth kindly, to apologize quickly, to protect the vulnerable and to make decisions that elevate students above politics and personalities. It asks me to see people through the eyes of Christ — fearfully and wonderfully made, deeply loved and worthy of my very best.
When leaders of any belief choose service over spotlight, courage over comfort and relationships over winning, schools flourish. Students feel known, staff feel trusted and communities lean in.
Any success I’ve had isn’t mine alone — it’s the result of being placed in the right moment and given the strength to act. That is faith in action: doing what you can, leading with love and never losing sight of why we do this work — our students.
Dr. Lance Gibbon is superintendent of the Hood Canal School District in Skokomish Nation, Wash.