Teacher, Before You Say Yes, It’s Important to Know What We’re Not
Below is a teacher-facing article that clearly and winsomely explains “10 Things We Are NOT”—not defensively, but honestly and invitationally—for educators who are discerning whether they should leave something behind in order to step into something better.
Content is faithfully drawn from 10 Things We Are NOT at Christian Crossroads Academy .
If you’re a teacher exploring Christian Crossroads Academy (CCA), you’re likely not just looking for a new position - you’re discerning a new alignment.
Many excellent educators are quietly asking hard questions:
· Why does teaching feel so fragmented?
· Why do my values feel misaligned with my workplace?
· Why does it feel harder to teach the way I know children actually learn?
At CCA, clarity matters. So, before we tell you everything we are, we want to be equally clear about what we are not—because the right fit brings freedom, and the wrong fit brings frustration.
We Are NOT Just Another Private School
CCA is not a private version of a broken system.
We are not defined by tuition, prestige, or exclusivity. We exist to form students with eternal purpose, not simply academic credentials. Teaching here means your work contributes to shaping souls, not just transcripts.
If you’re looking for “the same thing, just smaller,” this may not be the place. But if you’re longing to teach with purpose that outlasts test scores, you’re paying attention to the right things.
We Are NOT One-Size-Fits-All
CCA does not believe children or teachers thrive in rigid, impersonal systems.
Our approach is personalized, experiential, and designed to engage the whole child: head, heart, and hands. This requires thoughtful planning, flexibility, and professional judgment from teachers.
If you prefer scripted programs and uniform pacing regardless of student readiness, this environment may feel demanding. But if you value meaningful engagement and differentiated instruction rooted in relationship, this approach is deeply rewarding.
We Are NOT Confined by Outdated Methods
While CCA is rooted in timeless truth, we are not stuck in the past.
We embrace innovation, creativity, and modern tools, but we do so wisely. Technology serves learning; learning does not serve technology. Teachers are encouraged to think critically about tools, methods, and outcomes.
This is not a place for trend-chasing or checkbox compliance. It is a place for educators who want to redeem what is useful and discard what diminishes human flourishing.
We Are NOT a Mirror of Failing School Systems
CCA intentionally offers an alternative.
We do not replicate overcrowded classrooms, diluted standards, or low expectations. We believe children rise to the expectations placed on them when they are supported with clarity and care.
For teachers, this means you are not asked to manage decline; you are invited to cultivate excellence. High expectations are not seen as harsh; they are seen as hopeful.
We Are NOT Disengaged from Family Life
At CCA, parents are not interruptions. They are partners.
We reject the idea that education works best when families are kept at arm’s length. Instead, we equip and empower parents to lead, guide, and influence their children well.
For teachers, this means collaboration, communication, and shared vision. It also means you are not alone. You are supported by families who value your role and work alongside you for the good of their children.
We Are NOT Academically Shallow
CCA takes learning seriously.
Our curriculum is intellectually rigorous and wide, cultivating depth, wonder, and mastery. We are not satisfied with surface-level coverage or “teaching to the test.”
This requires teachers who love learning themselves, educators who value thinking, questioning, and pursuing truth. If you long to teach content that matters and stretches both you and your students, this environment is energizing.
We Are NOT Isolated from Our Community
CCA does not exist in a bubble.
We see education as a form of service. Our school is engaged with the broader community, seeking to uplift, serve, and contribute—especially where there is need.
Teachers are invited to see their work as public service with spiritual significance. Your classroom matters not just to students, but to families and the wider culture.
We Are NOT Afraid to Challenge Students
We believe challenge is essential for growth.
CCA does not lower the bar to avoid discomfort. We believe children and teachers grow through meaningful struggle supported by encouragement and guidance.
This is not a place where mediocrity is normalized. It is a place where effort, perseverance, and responsibility are cultivated with grace.
We Are NOT Neutral in Values
CCA is unapologetically Christ-focused.
We do not claim neutrality on moral truth, identity, or purpose. Our worldview is biblical, and our compass is clear.
For teachers, this clarity is often a relief. You are not asked to compartmentalize your faith or remain silent about what you believe. Integrity is not a liability here—it is foundational.
We Are NOT Passive About the Future
Finally, CCA is not preparing students for a world that no longer exists.
We equip students to dream boldly, live purposefully, and lead faithfully in an AI-powered, rapidly changing world. This requires teachers who are thoughtful, adaptable, and grounded in eternal truth.
If you are curious about how classical formation, Christian faith, and future readiness can work together, you’ll find that conversation alive here.
Choosing What to Leave Behind Matters
Discerning a new opportunity often means acknowledging what no longer fits.
CCA may not be right for everyone - and that’s okay. But for teachers who are ready to leave behind neutrality, fragmentation, and diminished expectations, CCA offers something different.
Something rooted. Something hopeful. Something worth building.
Sometimes the clearest way forward begins with understanding what you’re no longer willing to accept.
Danita Bye
Danita Bye is a Leadership Futurist, Author, and Founding Board Member of Christian Crossroads Academy. She’s committed to restoring virtue-centered formation in education. Her work focuses on empowering leaders in an age of rapid technological change, where wisdom and discernment matter more than ever.
She partners with Christian leaders across education, business, and civic life who believe character ultimately determines impact. Danita serves on many boards in North Dakota and nationally that are focused on leadership and ethics. She is the author of Millennials Matter and the forthcoming Character Mandate, and a TEDx speaker passionate about forming leaders rooted in truth, courage, and faith.
Danita has a master’s in transformational leadership from Bethel University, MN. She currently lives near the TTT Ranch, in Stanley, North Dakota, where she grew up. She’s been married for 42 years and has six grandchildren.-