Meet Our New Head of School: Dr. Jeremy Zajicek

We are thrilled to welcome Jeremy Zajicek as the new Head of School at Lansing Christian School! With deep roots in Christian education, a passion for leadership, and a heart for families, Dr. Zajicek brings a thoughtful and mission-driven presence to LCS. We asked him to share more about his background, calling, and vision for the future of our school community.

Getting to Know Dr. Zajicek

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your family?
I was born and raised near Minneapolis, MN. I grew up in a home where my mom and dad sacrificed to send me and my two brothers to a Christian school. The gospel focus between home, church, and school had a profound impact on my spiritual foundation.  As my faith matured, I came to understand that my purpose in life was to use the talents and gifts God had given me to glorify Him, regardless of my vocation, and I wanted to do this through business!

I met Jeanna as a freshman in History of Civilization class at Maranatha Baptist University. Jeanna was also a business major, so we ended up having many classes together over the next four years. In 23 years of marriage, God has blessed us with six children: Brone, Charlotte, Natalie, Eli, Judah, and Thea.

A Calling to Christian Education

What experiences or people shaped your journey in Christian education?
Have you ever had one of those moments as you read the Bible when the words seem to speak directly into your current circumstances? Twelve years ago, as I contemplated an opportunity God set before me to leave a business career to serve as head of school, Matthew 9:35-38 came alive to me, and I gained a fresh perspective on this passage. Jesus stated that the Harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few! It was that moment that I knew God was calling me and our family to Christian education. It is a deep honor to partner with parents to equip children to be laborers in the Harvest.

A Vision for Impact

What led you to pursue a leadership role in Christian education?
I distinctly remember the moment when God invited me to consider a leadership role in Christian education! Here is a little background. As Jeanna and I began our family, we knew that church needed to be a foundational element. For that reason, we were active in our local church, and we were all in! We served in any way we could contribute. While God was blessing my business career, I could not ignore a growing feeling that God was calling us to something “more”. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact cause of this ever-increasing feeling, but in hindsight, I can see that God was preparing my heart. One day in 2014, I was having breakfast with my pastor, and he asked me if I would consider leaving my business career to become a head of school.

As I reflect on the past 11 years, I can think of no better way to spend the time God has given me than to partner with parents to equip the next generation for Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that God pursued me and equipped me with unique gifts, experiences, and skills that I can use for His glory in Christian education.

What drew you specifically to Lansing Christian School?
I have learned in life that while I have specific plans, I must remain sensitive to God’s leading. So, what specifically drew me to LCS? I saw God work in a providential way, which gave me no doubt that He was directing me to LCS. When I was a head of school candidate at LCS, I had the opportunity to have a site visit and meet many of the faculty and staff. I enjoyed these interactions, and I was impacted by the depth of love that the staff have for Christian education. It is an honor to partner together as we pursue the mission of LCS.

Leading at LCS

What excites you most about serving as Head of School?
The opportunity to partner with parents to equip young men and women to engage the world for Jesus Christ! As you read my bio and other Q&As from my intro blog, you will hopefully sense that I am as enthusiastic about Christian education as the day I believe God called me into this vital work. LCS has an incredible history of faithfulness to God’s word. Every time I walk through the atrium and see the picture of individuals praying over the materials that would build the first LCS building in 1951, I am amazed by how God has poured out His blessing on LCS over the past 74 years. It is an honor to support this community.

What are your hopes for the future of LCS?
Throughout the book of Psalms, hope is a prominent theme. In fact, we see the heights and depths as various psalmists pour out their hearts to God. Our faith in God tethers our hope as the creator and sustainer of all things. Let me illustrate this briefly. Sometimes we express hope when there is uncertainty in our circumstances. A couple of weekends ago, our family took a second trip out to Grand Haven to enjoy the beach on a hot summer day. As we began our drive, we all hoped that our travel time wouldn’t be extended by construction or beach traffic. In this usage of hope, it was tied to something pretty trivial. But it also illustrates that biblical hope should be accompanied by a confident expectation of how God will work. Hebrews 11:1 clearly articulates this principle: “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” My hope for LCS is that we continue to remain faithful to God’s word as we seek to equip students to make an impact in His kingdom. In this, we have confidence that God will bless our efforts for His glory.

Serving Families and Staff

How do you plan to support the LCS community?
I plan to support the families and staff of LCS by having a genuine and growing relationship with God – I believe that is the most important role of all Christians. Adding to that foundation, I plan to support the LCS community by listening, learning, and working alongside others as we strive for our mission. As the staff and I model these characteristics, we serve as a testimony for the students of LCS. These thoughts remind me of Romans 12:1-2: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.

Building Christian Community

What does Christian community mean to you?
When I think about Christian community, I think about the early church as described in the book of Acts. As Jesus left his earthly ministry, Christians were given the incredible gift of the Holy Spirit. The school exists as an extension of the church, and we partner with parents to teach all content from a biblical perspective as we equip students to make an eternal impact with their lives. I hope to continue to cultivate this at LCS by remaining focused on God’s word, because it is profitable for all areas of life that we may be complete and equipped for every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17). As we remain faithful to God’s word, we produce fruit that is only attributable to the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). Our role is simple, yet difficult! We submit and remain faithful to God’s word, and the Holy Spirit produces the fruit.

How do you view your role in shaping the culture at LCS?
My role is to serve the parents, students, and staff of LCS. We see Christ model this for us in Philippians 2:1-11. The passage couldn’t be more direct. It says, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Jesus Christ”. As I think about leaders who have impacted me and the organizations they serve, they follow the example of Christ. This shouldn’t surprise us. Yet it is still challenging to do consistently. So, my chief role is to model the attitudes and actions of Jesus Christ. When we all submit to Christ’s example, we find unity and synergy as we pursue the mission.

Staying Connected

How can parents and students expect to interact with you?
During school, students can expect to see me present in the hallways, during lunch periods, and occasionally popping into a classroom to check in on how things are going. Students can also expect to see me at athletic and other extracurricular events throughout the year. Parents can expect to see me in the hallways during pick-up times and at events throughout the year. Besides these informal opportunities to connect, families can also expect to see specific opportunities to connect with me through things like Head of School coffee times. In addition to these face-to-face opportunities, I plan to communicate regularly through various written and digital channels. The fundamental principle I wish to convey to families is that I am open and accessible to you. If we haven’t been able to connect yet and you would like to, please don’t hesitate to send me an email or give me a call so we can arrange a time to meet.

A Few Fun Facts

Do you have a favorite Bible verse?
I have a photograph on the wall of my office that I took many years ago while visiting the Oregon coast. Parts of the coast in Oregon are very rocky, and the ocean was particularly fierce on that day. Inscribed over the picture is Psalm 19:14 – “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” There is so much packed into this verse! First, this is a daily reminder that God is my Lord; I strive to have Him as Lord in every element of my life and I look to Him for direction. Secondly, He is my Rock. The circumstances of life may swirl around me, but just like the rock formation in the photo, I can depend on God as unchanging and immutable. Third, He is my Redeemer. Each of these distinct truths about God shapes the reality that every word that comes out of my mouth and every thought in my heart belongs to God, and I need His power to reflect His glory as a husband, father, and servant at LCS.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I enjoy coffee of every type, but my favorite way to drink coffee is a hot cup of coffee with some cream and a little brown sugar.

If you had to describe LCS in one phrase, what would it be?
A group of people laboring together for a specific mission.
Two key components lead me to answer the question in this way. First is the mission. In 1951, a group of parents came together to form Lansing Christian School. In our founding documents, these families boldly stated that “The basis of the organization and of its instruction is the infallible Word of God.” The second component is the bond that enables us to labor together in pursuit of our mission. The LCS Doctrinal Statement concludes by describing what makes the unity possible: “We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Good News of Jesus Christ gives us the opportunity to labor together for God’s kingdom.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Dr. Zajicek and his family. We are grateful for the experience and heart for ministry he brings to Lansing Christian School, and we look forward to the year ahead under his leadership!