Meet Matt Covey | Head of School at Denver Christian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Covey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
We are in the education “industry,” specifically the Christian education “industry.” While biblical values we reveal within our education are rooted in ancient truth and unchanging, how we have progressed in providing education to children has developed over time. One example is the launch of our Business and Entrepreneurship Academy, which is one of the career academies we have developed as part of our high school elective offerings at Denver Christian School. Within the Business and Entrepreneurship Academy, Jon Baker, our academy director, is providing instruction to our students on how they can 1st think entrepreneurially and then apply that thinking towards action. Our B and E students have launched two student-run businesses within our school, most recently launching Surge Cafe, a smoothie business. By creating opportunities for themselves and others, they are learning how entrepreneurialism can be a force for good toward human flourishing.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been a part of Christian education for 24 years. First as a teacher and coach, then as a principal, and now as a head of school. Much of my success at any level is due to the professionals I have been able to surround myself with. I am most proud of the fact that I have been able to lead teams of people, at each level, who care deeply about the development of young people and are willing to work very hard so that each of these young people has the opportunity to develop and realize their God-given potential. At Denver Christian, our team’s willingness to develop a unique educational environment has led to record-setting enrollment, success across all our athletic teams and performing arts groups, and the development of over half a dozen new academic offerings, PS-12th grade, such as our Business and Entrepreneurship Academy. The challenge of growing a Christian school is no different than growing a business. It takes diligence, vision, assessment of risk, understanding of your unique value proposition compared to the competition, and courage. The development of Denver Christian as a school over these past five years has taken a combination of all of those things, and I am grateful to the families we serve and the staff I serve with who have “brought it” every day to get us to the place we are now as a school.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take my best friend to three places: I love to golf so that I would take them to the Ridge at Castle Pines, Fossil Trace, and Bear Dance golf courses. Colorado is underrated as a destination for golfers. I believe the golfing opportunities in the area are one of Colorado’s best-kept secrets. There are excellent golfing experiences for any budget, and one could easily plan a week’s trip with a group of friends and find excellent courses, great lodging, and a wonderful food scene.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Our donors, whose generosity gave us the necessary start-up funding to launch our Business and Entrepreneurship Academy. Jon Baker, whose bravery in leaving a successful career to become our Academy director has led to our students being pushed to develop products and processes of high value. Our students, who had the courage to join our Academy in its infancy and develop a successful student-run business in under one year time.

Website: denverchristian.org

Instagram: denverchristian

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DenverChristianSchool

Image Credits
Denver Christian Schools