Danita Bye: “In my mind’s eye, I actually see 30 classical Christian schools across North Dakota."
Publication: heartlandleader.substack.com
Author: Tom Tucker
July 25, 2026
A new chapter in North Dakota education will begin August 19 when Christian Crossroads Academy opens its doors in Stanley, offering families in the state’s northwest corner a classical Christian education rooted in a biblical worldview.
The school is the culmination of years of prayer, planning and community vision, according to Danita Bye, who is helping lead the effort alongside her parents, Fred and Joyce Evans.
“My parents were really the catalyst,” Bye said. “They purchased a former lumber yard at the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 8 and came home and announced, ‘We’re starting a classical Christian school.’”
But she believes the vision extends far beyond one family’s initiative.
“I think there have been people in this community praying and dreaming about educational options for years,” she said. “The desire has been here for at least a decade.”
A Different Approach to Education
Christian Crossroads Academy will launch this fall with approximately 20 students enrolled in kindergarten through eighth grade. Although organizers originally planned to serve only kindergarten through third grade, they expanded after recognizing the needs of families with older children.
The long-term vision is to become a K-12 school.
For Bye, the appeal of classical Christian education reaches beyond strong academics.
“I’m a huge proponent of education,” she said. “But what captures my imagination is learning every subject through a biblical worldview.”
A scientist by training with a background in biology and chemistry, Bye said she never encountered professors who connected academic disciplines with God’s design.
“I’ve studied mathematics, biology, chemistry—yet never once did anyone suggest that mathematics teaches us something about God and His world, or that the incredible design we see in biology reveals God’s character,” she said.
She believes classical Christian education intentionally restores those connections while developing students who can think deeply, reason carefully and live virtuously.
“As we move into the age of artificial intelligence,” Bye said, “the need for critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, and people who view the world through a biblical worldview becomes even more important.”
Building a Statewide Movement
Although Christian Crossroads Academy is located in Stanley, the school expects to serve families throughout the surrounding region. Some inaugural students will commute from communities such as New Town and Tioga.
Bye envisions something even larger.
“In my mind’s eye, I actually see 30 classical Christian schools across North Dakota,” she said.
She believes collaboration among schools will be essential, particularly in rural communities where enrollment numbers differ significantly from larger cities such as Fargo.
“There will need to be different models,” she said. “It’s going to look different in Stanley than it does in Fargo, but I believe collaboration is the key.”
Transforming a Lumber Yard into a School
Launching a new school has required more than educational planning.
Bye has also overseen the renovation of the former lumber yard into a modern educational facility—a project exceeding $1 million.
“My expertise in building is zero,” she laughed.
She credits experienced contractors and consultants with helping navigate building codes, safety requirements and countless decisions.
Another challenge has been recruiting teachers in northwest North Dakota.
“We don’t have a team that’s already been trained classically,” Bye said. “But we do have teachers who love children, love the Lord, and are willing to learn alongside this entrepreneurial venture.”
She has also worked to establish a community-based governing board, emphasizing that Christian Crossroads Academy belongs to the region rather than any single family.
Service on the State Board of Higher Education
Bye recently completed six years on the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, where she participated in hiring university presidents and helping guide the state’s public colleges and universities through a period of significant change.
She describes the experience as deeply rewarding.
“The people I worked with were so life-enriching,” she said. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity.”
Despite mounting challenges facing higher education nationwide, Bye remains optimistic about North Dakota’s university system.
“Our university system is extremely strong and robust,” she said.
One distinction she highlighted is campus culture.
“When students compare North Dakota campuses to some neighboring states, they consistently talk about feeling safe,” Bye said. “That’s something we should be proud of.”
She believes North Dakota’s universities have cultivated an environment where respectful dialogue, patriotism and academic freedom continue to flourish.
Preparing Leaders for the AI Era
In addition to her work in education, Bye is a leadership consultant who specializes in helping organizations navigate artificial intelligence.
Her next book, Character Mandate, explores a question she believes will define the coming generation:
“Will we lead AI, or will AI lead us?”
She argues that rapidly advancing technology makes moral character more—not less—important.
“We’re bombarded 24 hours a day by algorithms designed to influence how we think,” she said. “The question becomes, how do we remain clear-eyed, wise and grounded?”
For Bye, the answer begins long before college or the workplace.
“It’s about developing leaders of character,” she said. “That’s why classical Christian education is so important.”
She also believes AI can play a positive role in education when used wisely, pointing to one family whose child with dyslexia experienced significant gains through an AI-assisted reading program.
“There absolutely are places where AI can serve students,” she said. “The key is using it thoughtfully.”
A Request for Prayer
As opening day approaches, Bye says the overwhelming support from the Stanley community has strengthened her confidence that the academy is fulfilling a greater purpose.
“It feels like a miracle happening,” she said. “The support we’ve received from the community has been extraordinary.”
Her request is simple.
“Please pray for us.”
Christian Crossroads Academy begins its inaugural school year on August 19 in Stanley, North Dakota.
Families interested in learning more can visit www.ccand.org.
For information about Danita Bye’s leadership consulting and weekly leadership resources, visit www.danitabye.com.
Additional resource: North Dakota Coalition of Classical Christian Schools
Tom Tucker is Director of Advancement at Capstone Classical Academy in Fargo, where he cultivates philanthropic partnerships and community relationships in support of the academy’s mission. A former television news anchor and Emmy Award-winning journalist, Tucker enjoys telling the stories of entrepreneurs, innovators, faith leaders, and community builders who are helping strengthen North Dakota and the Fargo-Moorhead region. Learn more about Capstone Classical Academy at CapstoneClassical.com.