Christan (Hibschman) Perona graduated from Timothy in the class of 1991. During her time here, she was involved in many activities such as choir, Student Council, NHS, yearbook, and Varsity Cheerleading. Little did Christan know that her years of experience at Timothy Christian School would guide her into one day becoming the Head of School at Central Christian School in St. Louis, Missouri. Let’s hear more from Christan about how TCS helped her become who she is today.
Where are you today?
After attending Taylor University (Upland, IN), my husband and I moved to St. Louis so he could take a teaching and coaching job at a Christian secondary school (7th-12th). I worked in social work for about five years (drug and crime prevention and then adoption) and then became a Director of Admissions at Central Christian School, the Christian elementary school my children attended. This is my eighteenth year at Central. In 2020, I became the Head of School. I never imagined my career path would take me into school administration, but God closed some doors and opened others along the way, and here I am. It is an incredible privilege to lead a diverse community of students, faculty, and families at Central, and I’m so grateful for how I get to watch God work every day.
What do you like best about your career? Please list any accomplishments/what you are most proud of in your career.
As I shared, my biggest joy in my career is watching God work. My team and I can make plans, but it is the Lord who is directing our steps. When we face difficult situations, God sustains us, provides for us, and guides us. He proves Himself faithful over and over. When we are in a season of challenge, or when things begin to fall into place, we have opportunities to bring God glory. I’m amazed that when something is thriving or flourishing at my school, God is glorified. And when we admit our need for Him, God is glorified then, too. On a macro level, we’re celebrating higher enrollment this year, as well as some program expansions. On an individual level, I was able to earn a graduate certificate online through Harvard’s School of Education and Business School. I’m currently working toward a Master’s in Leadership at Gordon College and will graduate in May 2025. I’ve learned so much and have met others all around the country who are also working in Christian schools.
What has been the most challenging part of your career?
The most challenging part of being a Head of School was stepping into this role during COVID. Shepherding a faculty and school community with all the mystery and loss and fear and confusion was definitely difficult. I have grown in my belief in God’s sovereignty because I entered into leadership in such a dramatic time. I had no choice but to trust God because I wasn’t an expert on infectious diseases, and I was a first-time Head. Another challenging part of leading a Christian school is hiring mission-fit teachers and staff. In the past five years, we’ve seen educators choose new industries. It is so important to hire culture fits who are both Christ-followers and excellent instructors. I am deeply grateful each time the Lord brings us a new faculty member and when He allows their career path to intersect with our school’s path.
What do you love most about TCS?
I love the diverse community of Timothy Christian School. I love how the school educates children and teens in K4 all the way up through 12th Grade. When I was in high school, I drove 30 minutes to get to school while another student came from Brooklyn. What God is doing at Timothy is so vibrant, and people come from all over to enroll their kids. It’s a beautiful picture of the multiethnic Body of Christ and an excellent opportunity to grow in relationship with others.
What is one word that best describes the school? Why?
Joyful. When I think back on my years at Timothy, I remember teachers who were always happy to see my classmates and me. I remember my parents laughing and conversing with other students’ parents.
Describe one of your favorite memories of TCS.
One of my favorite memories of TCS was traveling to Washington, DC each Christmas season with the choir. I loved the opportunity to be with friends, sing all over our nation’s capital, do a little sightseeing, and more. I looked forward to it every year, and I’m grateful for the teachers and parent chaperones who made that annual trip possible.
From your own experience, why do you believe it was important for you to attend TCS?
TCS provided me a solid foundation of Biblical truth. I attended from 8th-12th Grade, and I’m grateful for teachers and adults who came alongside my parents in helping me see the world from a Christian worldview. I remember how TCS held chapel and Spiritual Emphasis Weeks, so the Bible was not just something we studied as a subject but applied to our lives, as well. As a teenager, being in relationship with teachers who were committed to Christ influenced me, as well.
How are faith and learning integrated at TCS?
All truth is God’s truth, and this message resonated through each class I attended at TCS, infiltrating each subject and content area. Faith in Christ informs every aspect outside the classroom, as well. From the practice field to the lunchroom to field trips to conversations with teachers and much, much more – I was part of a community of believers that was seeking God and His will for our individual lives and our school at large.
In what ways did TCS prepare you for college and beyond?
TCS prepared me so well for college. I remember I tested out of the required freshman Math and English classes because of the way TCS prepared me. It freed up more space in my college course schedule to take other classes that would fulfill my major and minor requirements. I was grateful for the opportunity to take AP classes and earn college credit. The foundation TCS laid in my life helped me understand the importance of seeking God and trusting Him with decisions I’ve had to make as an adult — in family relationships, in my career, and in my adult friendships.
What would you tell a friend to encourage them to send their child to TCS?
I would tell a friend that children are in their most formative years, and so the foundation of an education rooted in Biblical truth is so important. Researchers have indicated that our sense of morality is determined by age 9, and worldview is built by the age of 12. Further, when teenagers developmentally begin to question what they’ve been taught and seek to understand their life experiences more deeply, the importance of a Christian education continues. God’s Word is true, the Gospel of Jesus can (and should) drive everything, and God can be trusted.