Daily Republic: Vacaville Christian Schools CEO blends faith with education
By Nika Megino, Education Editor
Paul Harrell laughs along with parents who were dropping off their kids before a school day at Vacaville Christian Schools. Harrell is the school’s Chief Education Officer. Harrell moved from Michigan to take the job. (Photo by Chris Jordan)
FAIRFIELD - Paul Harrell never planned on becoming the chief educational officer of Vacaville Christian Schools or moving to California, but the Michigan native is and has.
Harrell realized last year as he worked in Michigan that his plans weren’t as important as what God had in store for him.
“If I would have ever guessed that I would have ended up in California as a CEO of a Christian school, I would have thought you were insane last year, but this is directed by the Lord,” he said.
The born-again Christian said the decision to take the position at Vacaville Christian Schools was led by his faith. He yearned for more after being the director of advancement and in charge of all finances at Grosse Point Academy in Michigan.
“We were successfully achieving goals in Michigan, but we felt that something higher was calling us to contribute more in ways that the schools didn’t provide in Michigan - and that was the faith aspect of education, which is, to any Christian who lives their faith, tremendously important,” Harrell said.
Harrell decided to come to Vacaville after listening to an inspirational speech at a conference that made him familiar with “the most frightening prayer you could ever pray: Lord, your will, not mine. Your purposes, not mine. Do with me as you will.”
The night of that conference, Harrell and his wife, Krista, recited that prayer. It became the “pivotal moment,” he said, in the decision to move to Vacaville.
“What I know is (God) wants me to administer to this school and lead this school and love these children and care for these wonderful people who work here and try to make this community as loving and caring as it ever could be,” said Harrell, whose two sons attend Vacaville Christian. “And for how long? I have no idea - for as long as the Lord wants me here.”
As chief educational officer, Harrell wears more hats than he can probably count.
“I’m a caregiver. I’m a fund-raiser. You’re a cheerleader. You’re a coach,” Harrell said. “You’re someone who monitors the financial status of the school. You mentor people. You guide people. Flat out, in one word, you teach.”
What intrigued him about the Vacaville job was that it is at a Christian school that is “fed by more than 100 churches, from non-denominational schools to Roman Catholics.”
“They all meld together in a very positive, yet intriguing way,” he said.
Harrell is not concerned with measuring Vacaville Christian against other denominational or public schools.
“We just provide something different - a faith aspect that they can’t provide,” Harrell said. “They strive for excellence in education, so do we. We strive for it with faith.”
“I respect what they do immeasurably; we (just) do something different.”
Reach Nika Megino at 427-6953 or .
Posted in: VCS in the News