Grafted Together Ep 58: Assessing Your School with the Flourishing Faith Index, with Dr. Steve Whitaker

Dr. Steve Whitaker, Head of School at The First Academy (FL), talks with Jerry Nelson about the Flourishing Faith Index and how to properly assess your school's spiritual formation progress. Learn more about the FFI at acsi.org/ffi   Dr. Steve D. Whitaker has been the Head of School at The First Academy since July 2003. Under his leadership, the school has implemented an ambitious spiritual formation agenda, achieved significant enrollment growth, and celebrated remarkable academic successes. Through multiple capital campaigns, the campus has undergone major additions and renovations, with The First Academy families and friends generously pledging over $60 million to support these initiatives.   Dr. Whitaker has authored works on various subjects, including school culture, Christian living, and Biblical worldview issues. In 2015, he published *In God We Trust: Five Anchor Points for Turbulent Times*. He is set to release two more books in 2026: “City on a Hill” and “By Still Waters."   Recently, he was appointed the Founding President of Orlando Christian University, which will open in August 2027. His service includes positions on the ACSI Executive Board, FHSAA Board of Directors, FCIS Board of Directors, and ABHE Board of Directors, as well as being a charter member of the Council for Educational Standards and Accountability. In 2010, Dr. Whitaker founded Neighborhood Charter Schools to help urban churches establish charter schools for disadvantaged students.   Dr. Whitaker earned his Bachelor’s degree in South Florida, followed by a Master of Education from MidAmerica Nazarene University and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Louisville. He completed his PhD in Higher Education Administration at the University of Louisville. He is married to Tricia, and they are parents to Amanda, Stephen, and Caleb, and recently welcomed their first daughter-in-law, Bruna, into the family.   You can follow him online at his LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-whitaker-ph-d-01001528