Wade Ortego, Head of School at The Ambrose School in Boise, Idaho, brings a rare mix of heart and focus to Christian education. After five years leading the school—his fourth educational leadership role—Ortego has helped Ambrose grow to three campuses with two distinct educational models: a traditional five-day program and a collaborative model.
In his conversation on the School Success Podcast, Ortego shared how easy it can be for schools to drift off course—especially when they’re growing fast or hiring new staff. His advice? Don’t just hire someone based on credentials. Instead, prioritize people who genuinely love students, love Christ, and share the school’s worldview and long-term vision.
Fighting Mission Drift
At Ambrose, staying true to the mission is serious work. Ortego spoke candidly about the emotional challenges of adding an entirely new campus with a different educational model. This process involved difficult conversations and significant effort to maintain unity under one mission.
The key insight Ortego offers is this: schools without a clear mission aren’t experiencing “drift”—they’re “adrift” entirely. He emphasized that schools must understand who they want to be before they have the resources to become it, noting this is especially challenging for startup schools that often chase funding opportunities rather than staying true to their founding vision.
Ortego also stressed the importance of board alignment. When board members come and go, it’s easy to lose institutional knowledge and focus. He recommends strategically onboarding new board members with the school’s history and ensuring they truly love that legacy rather than seeing it as something needing “institutional change.”
Burnout Is Real—and Needs Attention
Ortego didn’t shy away from a tough topic: burnout. He admitted it’s affected both him and his team over the years, acknowledging how school leaders and teachers often take on too much because everyone’s working hard in the same direction, but at an unsustainable pace.
His solution is both practical and relational. Schools need to think strategically about supporting their people for the long haul, sometimes even telling dedicated teachers to go home instead of staying late to grade papers. As Ortego put it, there’s no Superman in school leadership—no one can do everything alone.
One key insight: boards should ensure the head of school has the resources and time to perform their job effectively, rather than expecting them to handle everything alone.
Accountability Matters
Ortego talked extensively about the value of accountability—having people who can check in, offer advice, and give honest feedback. These supporters don’t all need to be in education, he noted. Some of his best input has come from “guys who don’t know anything about education, but they know things about people.”
He encourages leaders to find this support through church communities, educational conferences, local Christian business networks, or even reaching out to other school leaders. Ortego believes in the power of connection and welcomes calls from fellow educators seeking guidance.
The key is building these relationships before a crisis hits, and giving trusted people permission to speak truth into your life—even when it’s uncomfortable to hear.
A Simple, Lasting Message
When asked for one final piece of advice for school leaders, Ortego kept it simple:
“Love your family, go to church, commit to it, and be a part of it.”
That message sums up his approach to leadership—clear, grounded, and focused on what matters most beyond the walls of any school building.
Click here to listen to the full podcast episode.