Twenty-five years in Christian education have sharpened his focus. Dr. Chris Hobbs began as a PE teacher and coach, then moved into athletic administration and campus leadership across the Northeast, the D.C. area, South Florida, and Texas. Today, he serves as Head of School at Indian Rocks Christian School. With parents who spent decades in Christian schools (his father for 48 years and his mother for about 30), he often says that Christian education is his life.
The Three C’s: Making Belief Contagious
Dr. Hobbs’ leadership is built on three simple habits that foster trust and momentum.
Clear Expectations. Name the mission, core values, and the portrait of a graduate. Make the target obvious so daily work feels important.
Console Quietly. Give frequent, low-stakes feedback in private. Small course corrections help maintain high quality and strong relationships.
Celebrate Openly. Praise great work in public. Lift faithful “heart and soul” people so others see what good looks like and repeat it.
Culture You Can Feel
Mission is not a poster. It is the plan for every day. Dr. Hobbs uses emails, devotionals, PD, and team meetings to point everyone back to purpose and values. He likes to act as a “Chief Reminding Officer.” When he sees people living the mission in small ways, he thanks them by name. That is how belief spreads.
The Thermostat Mindset
Leaders set the climate. Dr. Hobbs aims to show up with steady energy and hope, rather than just taking the temperature. On hard days, he calls a timeout, gets quiet, prays, and seeks wise counsel. Then he returns ready to lead. Teams draw strength from that consistency.
Always Growing
For Dr. Hobbs, “writing is refined thinking.” He reads and writes often. He also invests in formal learning, such as the Colson Fellows program and leadership coursework from Kellogg. With staff, growth is built in. Leadership meetings open with short book discussions. He shares quick links and excerpts to keep ideas moving. Summer reading turns into action steps. If someone hints at a new degree, he encourages them to go for it.
Pulling It Together
Clarity, quiet coaching, and open celebration guide Dr. Hobbs’ playbook. People know the target. They get timely feedback. Faithful work gets lifted in public. When adults align around a mission, students feel it first and benefit most.
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