LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: Dr. Dean Nicholas

  • Dr. Dean Nicholas to be the next Head of School at CHCA

    Dr. Dean Nicholas to be the next Head of School at CHCA

    Symmes Township, Ohio – Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy’s (CHCA’s) Board of Trustees has announced that Dr. Dean Nicholas, currently the school’s Assistant Head of School and formerly Upper School Principal, has accepted the invitation of the Board of Trustees to be the next Head of School at CHCA, effective July 1, 2021.

    In a press release the school said that the appointment is the result of a national search that began in late November 2020 when the Board learned that CHCA’s current Head of School, Randy Brunk, would be retiring at the end of the school year, completing a “long and successful” 18-year tenure as the school’s Head.

    “Under Brunk’s leadership, CHCA saw many years of record enrollment, endowments grew substantially, he oversaw capital campaigns raising nearly $20M, and championed innovative programming that established CHCA as one of the nation’s leading Christian schools.”

    Angela Sweeney, CHCA Board of Trustees Search Committee Chair, led select Board Members and a Community Panel through the selection process. “The selection of the Head of School is the single most important duty of our Board members. Our mission was to find a leader who is passionate about Christian education and has a strong vision for the school’s future. And it was important that this leader reflect CHCA’s Christ-centered culture and values,” said Sweeney.

    “Among the qualified candidates, Dr. Dean Nicholas rose to the top given his extensive expertise being a national leader in Christian Education and his successful 25-year tenure at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy,” shared Ben Beshear, CHCA’s current Board President and ’97 graduate of the school.

    CHCA’s current Head of School Randy Brunk had this to share of his successor: “Dean and I have worked towards this day together for many years knowing this was a possible outcome, and I am thrilled for this opportunity for him.  He knows what is necessary for the job and I am confident he will fully embrace this opportunity to lead CHCA well into the future.”

    After spending the early years of his teaching career as a college instructor, Nicholas joined CHCA’s Christian Studies Department as a teacher and as Chair of the Department. In June of 2007, he was named Principal over Grades 9-12 and in 2015, added Grades 7-8 to become the school’s first Upper School Principal.  In July of 2020, Nicholas was appointed Assistant Head of School, leading the school’s COVID response efforts and operations. He holds degrees from Wheaton College (B.A. Double Major), Wheaton Graduate School (M.A.), and Hebrew Union College (Ph.D.).

    The release said that Nicholas also received endorsements from Christian educational leaders throughout the country. Dr. Katie Wiens, Executive Director of the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability, shared, “I’ve known Dr. Nicholas for over a decade, as we have worked togetherto build a network of the very best Christian Schools across the nation and the world. From the beginning, I recognized him as an excellent thinker, with the highest standards for what Christian education can and should be.” 

    Dr. Jon Eckert, Baylor University Professor of Leadership and Endowed Chair for Christians in School Leadership added, “I’ve worked with and studied schools all over the U.S., and CHCA is one of the best. I can think of no one better to lead the work forward than Dean Nicholas.”

    Nicholas said that he is thrilled for what the future holds for CHCA and excited to build on the foundation that was laid before him. “For the past 25 years, I have had the distinct pleasure of working with students and seeing them develop a passion to learn, lead, and serve. I have seen them take their gifts and passions to do incredible things, not just within the walls of these campuses, not just within the city of Cincinnati, but literally around the world. I am so honored and excited to be stepping into this role as the next Head of School at CHCA.” 

    As an instructor and published author in both Christian higher education and secondary education, Nicholas has served on numerous accreditation and leadership teams, education panels, and is a sought-after lecturer and presenter.  He also served on the Steering Committee and as the Cincinnati Coordinator for the America-Israel Friendship League.

    Nicholas is married to Julie, who is also a published author and currently works for CHCA. Together they have three boys – a CHCA graduate attending Grand Canyon University and two currently attending CHCA’s Upper School. Nicholas enjoys fishing, reading, and taking every chance to see and root for the Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers in his spare time.

  • Two CHCA Lifelong Friends Earn Perfect Score on ACT

    Two CHCA Lifelong Friends Earn Perfect Score on ACT

    Contributed by Tammy Rosenfeldt

    Sycamore Township, Ohio – Two Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy seniors – Scott Burk of Loveland, son of Andrea Burk and Adam Jutt of Mason, son of Mike and Anne Jutt – recently earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36.

    Not only are Burk and Jutt academic peers together at CHCA, they have also been best friends since they were three-years old!

    Over the many years of their friendship they have been through a lot together, including the loss of Burk’s father when he was 10-years old.

    As Burk’s mother shares, “They have always supported each other in good and hard times and truly enjoy spending time together.” Both boys have gone on to succeed in their years at CHCA, being involved in many activities, including athletics and the fine arts.

    Their senior year is getting off to a fun start together as well, as Jutt and Burk were voted Class President and Vice President, respectively. And in the academic realm, in addition to their perfect ACT scores, both students have also been named National Merit Semifinalists.

    “We are so proud of Adam and Scott for this remarkable accomplishment,” shares CHCA Assistant Head of School Dr. Dean Nicholas. “Having known both since they were elementary students, it’s been fun watching them grow into bright, engaging, articulate servant leaders in our Upper School. And as special as this feat may be, it is only a small part of what makes them incredible members of our community!”

    The ACT is a standardized curriculum-based achievement exam used for college admissions that measures what students have learned in school. It covers tests in four academic areas of English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning, each scored on a scale from 1–36. A student’s composite score is the average of the four test scores. Students who earn a 36 composite score have likely mastered all the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in first-year college courses in the core subject areas. The score for ACT’s optional writing test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT composite score. ACT scores are accepted by all major four-year colleges and universities across the U.S.

  • Loveland students at CHCA Scott Burk and Christopher Swedes named National Merit Semifinalists

    Loveland students at CHCA Scott Burk and Christopher Swedes named National Merit Semifinalists

    Matthew Onadeko, Adam Jutt, Megan Stotz, Scott Burk, Christopher Swedes (Provided Photo)

    Symmes Township, Ohio –  Dr. Dean Nicholas, Assistant Head of School of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, announced that Scott Burk (of Loveland), Adam Jutt (of Mason), Matthew Onadeko (of Mason), Christopher Swedes (of Loveland), and Megan Stotz (of Mason) have been named National Merit Semifinalists. A certificate from the National Merit Scholarship Cooperation will be presented to these students at CHCA’s Academic Awards Night in May 2020.

    These academically talented high school seniors now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

    Over 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

    To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and rewards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and write an essay.

    “We are so excited to announce these students as National Merit Semifinalists,” shared Nicholas. “They are not only excellent students and scholars, but well-rounded examples of everything we aspire to be at CHCA. As students, musicians, athletes, servant leaders, and peoples of faith, they move us forward as a community!”