The Situation:
In the late 1990s, a group of leaders in Southern California believed Christian education had a gap: schools that took faith seriously often compromised on academics while schools that excelled academically often treated faith as an afterthought. They believed this approach was flawed and wanted to build a college-prep institution grounded in Christian values that could compete with the best private schools in the country.

Bill’s Approach:
As a co-founder, Bill focused on building an institution, not just a school. That meant treating donors as partners in the mission rather than just sources of funding, putting governance and financial discipline in place from the start, and making decisions based on where the school needed to be in 25 years. Importantly, Bill and Bev didn't just govern from the boardroom. They were - and still are - very much involved in its operations. In fact, he coached football and she coached cheerleading. Bill eventually went on to serve as chairman.

The Outcome:
Oaks Christian grew into one of the largest and most respected Christian college-prep schools in the country, without a traditional feeder system. Thousands of graduates have gone on to careers in business, ministry, education, and public service. The governance and financial structures built in those early years are still holding.

The Lesson:
"The goal was never just to build a school, but to build a Christ-centered institution that would leave a mark."