Gateway Christian Academy is excited to announce Mr. Tim Bender as the new Head of School. After a nationwide search, much prayer, and a thorough interviewing process, Mr. Bender will begin July 1, 2024, as the 8th Head of School in Gateway’s rich 58-year history.
For the last 15 years, Mr. Bender has been a highly motivated and successful coach and athletic director with a proven track record of outstanding leadership in working with all levels of diverse athletes from high school to professional teams. From securing million-dollar school donations, to establishing mentoring programs and more efficient operational procedures, Tim has proven himself as an all-in leader who is forward-thinking and extremely proficient at networking and team building. While at Norfolk Christian School, he won Coach of the Year for starting a high school football program that began with middle school students and achieved multiple years of playoff appearances.
But most importantly, Mr. Bender is a Christian role model and influencer, demonstrating to his players, coaches, and students the paramount importance of knowing Christ and serving Him as an ambassador in the world. His passion and commitment to impacting young people and their faith can be witnessed from the athletic field to his personal connections with families helping them to find community and a place of belonging.
Tim holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from California University of Pennsylvania in Sports Management and a Master’s Degree in Education and Curriculum Design from Texas A&M University. He brings a wealth of leadership experience to the Head of School position, having served on the coaching staffs of both the Houston Texans and the Texas A&M Aggies. Sensing God’s leading to minister to students in a greater way, Tim left professional football to move to the collegiate level and then ultimately to the high school level in Virginia Beach, where he has poured into youth as the Athletic Director at Norfolk Christian School for the last 6 years.
“This move to become a Head of School is the next step of my incredible journey to where God is continuing to lead me to be a molder and shaper of young men and women. I’m thankful for this opportunity to lead Gateway Christian, and I believe there is so much potential that exists for GCA to become the largest and most impactful Christian school in Virginia Beach. It is my desire to equip students to excel spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially as champions for the cause of Christ in this world,” Mr. Bender expresses.
Tim has been married to his beautiful wife Carey for the last 12 years, and we welcome them to our Gateway Christian Academy family!
