Our Team
You could say we know each other pretty well.
Our partners have a working chemistry that only time can build. We have worked together and shared life for anywhere from 10-25 years, so we know each other well – from strengths to skillset and everywhere inbetween.
Clients feel this connection and see the difference in the results. It’s an energy of ambition, big ideas, and respect. But like any good camaraderie, we have the old stories and inside jokes to have fun along the way.
Tom
Konjoyan
Tom is a mission-driven leader with a clear vision for building high-performing teams and strengthening institutions. A former collegiate athlete in football and baseball, he brings the discipline, teamwork, and resilience developed on the field into his work in education and nonprofit advancement.
He began his career in fundraising with World Vision, gaining valuable experience in donor engagement and mission-aligned support. As a founding member of Oaks Christian School in Los Angeles, Tom played a central role in establishing the school’s vision, infrastructure, and broad base of community backing.
Tom and his wife, Kelly, currently live in Shadow Hills, CA where Tom serves as the Head of School at Village Christian Schools, a K-12 private Blue Ribbon School. Tom’s hands-on experience in planning and organizational change has positioned him as a trusted voice in Christian education.
He brings to NextEd a deep understanding of school leadership, planning, and resource development to help Christian schools thrive in an evolving educational landscape.
Experiences
- Partner, NextEd
- Current Head of School, Village Christian School
- Founding Associate/Head of School, Oaks Christian School
- Treasurer/Board Member of CESA
- Director of Corporate, Foundation and Major Gifts, World Vision
- Pepperdine Presidential and Key Executive MBA
- CESA Certified Head of School
- Van Lunen Fellow
NextEd Passions
I am particularly excited to help schools plan, find new leaders, and start new schools in their communities and around the globe.
Kurt
Unruh
Kurt is a visionary leader and entrepreneur with a longstanding passion for creating what is not yet visible. From an early age, he demonstrated a unique ability to identify unmet needs and bring new ideas to life—traits that have defined his career as both a legal professional and an educational innovator.
His journey into Christian education began at home, where he supported his wife, Jade, in homeschooling their five children. While practicing law, Kurt’s passion for Christ-centered learning deepened, ultimately leading him to become the founding Head of School at Valor Christian High School. Under his leadership, Valor grew to serve over 1,200 students in grades 9–12, establishing a strong reputation for academic excellence and spiritual formation.
Motivated by a calling to expand access to high-quality, Jesus-centered education, Kurt continues to pursue opportunities to foster innovation, sustainability, and global impact in the Christian school movement.
As a NextEd partner, he brings legal acumen, entrepreneurial insight, and a deep commitment to advancing the Kingdom through education.
Experiences
- Partner, NextEd
- Founder and visionary for Courage Schools
- Founder and visionary for Jesus Schools
- Former Founding Head of School, Valor Christian Schools
- Former Charter Member, CESA
- Former Board Member, ACSI
NextEd Passions
I love our dual focus of helping existing schools and leaders become stronger and more effective, as well as the opportunity to create new offerings and services.
Gary
Arnold
Gary is a passionate advocate for weaving Christ into every aspect of education. Raised in the evangelical Quaker tradition, he brings a peacemaking spirit and a deep commitment to bridge-building across communities and cultures—anchored firmly in the truth of Jesus and Scripture.
His background has equipped him with a unique ability to foster unity while remaining rooted in biblical conviction. Gary has exercised these gifts through service on various national councils, as a founding member of the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA), and as a former lobbyist in Washington, D.C., where he engaged thoughtfully with leaders from a wide range of perspectives.
Gary has served as Head of School in both Massachusetts and the greater Chicago area. He and his wife, Karen, later followed a call to Arkansas, joining God’s work in Little Rock. Over the course of 16 years, they witnessed and helped lead a significant transformation in the school’s reach and impact—both locally and beyond.
As a NextEd partner, Gary draws from decades of leadership experience and a deep well of spiritual and relational wisdom to support Christ-centered schools with courage, clarity, and grace.
Experiences
- Partner, NextEd
- Community Relations, Mountaire, Inc.
- Board Member, Arkansas State Board of Education
- Former Head of School, Little Rock Christian Academy (AR)
NextEd Passions
My spark for NextEd ignited when we decided to solve problems as a team. The multiple perspectives make for better, deeper, and wiser solutions.
Randy
Brunk
Randy is a builder and strategist with a unique ability to connect operational insight with visionary thinking. His passion for renewal was sparked early, watching his parents constantly remodel their family home. That formative experience evolved into a lifelong drive to create and reimagine, first through hands-on construction and entrepreneurship, and later through educational leadership.
He began his educational career in the classroom before transitioning into leadership, serving as Head of School at Peoria Christian School and later at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. In both roles, Randy guided growth through strategic planning and organizational development. Randy has also contributed to the broader educational landscape through board and committee leadership with ISACS, OAIS, and ICNS. As the founding board chair of the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA), he helped shape a national movement focused on excellence in Christian schooling.
Randy and his wife, Nancy, now live in Colorado and remain deeply involved in the work of strengthening schools through NextEd. As a NextEd partner, Randy draws on decades of experience to help schools explore bold possibilities. Whether rethinking academic programming or reimagining physical space, he excels at helping teams identify their next faithful step—and building a roadmap to make it happen.
Experiences
- Partner, NextEd
- Former Head of School, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
- Former Head of School, Peoria Christian School
- Former Teacher/Assistant Head of School, Fredericksburg Christian Schools
- Board and/or Committee Leadership, ISACS, OAIS, ICNS
- Founding Board Chair, CESA
NextEd Passions
I love getting real with schools about what exists in school culture, programming, and facilities—then rolling up my sleeves to help make a distinct and achievable plan.
Steve
O’Neil
Steve is a strategic leader and problem-solver with a gift for asking the right questions to uncover the core issues. With headship experience spanning a variety of Christian schools—both in the U.S. and East Africa—he brings uncommon insight into how people and institutions grow, adapt, and thrive.
Steve and his wife, Denae, reside in Vail, Colorado. Steve currently serves as Head of School at Vail Christian High School, where he leads with a global perspective and practical, on-the-ground insight. His background includes work in international education, single-gender schools, and those serving diverse learners.
He also serves as U.S. Board Vice-Chair for Daystar University in Kenya and remains active with the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA). Prior leadership roles include serving as Head of Westminster Schools of Augusta, Head of Haven Peace Academy in Tanzania, and Principal at Minnehaha Academy.
Steve brings to NextEd a unique, broad perspective and decades of experience in helping Christian schools thrive through change, challenge, and opportunity. His work reflects a passion for working with boards, identifying talented school leaders, and equipping boards and school heads to lead with clarity and purpose.
Experiences
- Partner, NextEd
- Current Head of School, Vail Christian High School
- Former Head of School, Westminster Schools of Augusta
- Former Head of Upper School, Minnehaha Academy
- Former Charter School and Executive Board Member, CESA
- Africa Roundtable Declaration, ACSI
NextEd Passions
I want to see every Christian school be excellent and more children to have a seat at the “banquet table.” So goes the school leader and school board, so goes the school.
Jay
Ferguson
Jay is a culture builder with a pastor’s heart and a strategist’s mind. A former litigation attorney with over a decade of experience, he brings a rare blend of legal insight, analytical thinking, and relational wisdom to his leadership in Christian education.
Raised in the Park Cities area of Dallas, Jay and his wife, Ashley, made Tyler, Texas their home to raise their three daughters. Jay currently serves as Head of School in Tyler, Texas, where he has helped grow a once-small Christian school into a nationally respected institution.
Jay is known for guiding institutions through complex and sensitive challenges—whether working alongside boards, school leaders, or faculty teams. His calm, principle-driven approach allows him to navigate difficult decisions while maintaining focus on mission and long-term health. In addition to school leadership, Jay serves as an adjunct professor, helping to shape the next generation of leaders with clarity, conviction, and care.
As a NextEd partner, Jay offers schools steady leadership, thoughtful perspective, and a deep commitment to Gospel-centered flourishing.
Experiences
- Partner, NextEd
- Current Head of School, Grace Community School
- Former Board Chair, CESA
- Former Board Chair, ACSI
- Former Board Chair, Texas Private School Association
- Past/Current Adjunct Professor, Governance and School Law, Gordon College, Covenant College, Vanderbilt, Dallas Baptist, and Baylor
NextEd Passions
I believe that organizations, especially schools, hinge on leadership. NextEd provides the opportunity to work with people I love to help schools become even stronger.
Take the first step toward your next step, today!
Whatever you need, NextEd can find a way forward for you. It all starts with a conversation about you and the exciting opportunity (or pain point) you face.
