Holland Christian names Jeff Haverdink next head of schools

HOLLAND — Holland Christian Schools has named Jeff Haverdink as its next head of schools, effective July 1.

Haverdink currently serves as executive director of alumni and family engagement at Calvin University and brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience to the role, spanning higher education, school finance, banking and philanthropy.

Holland Christian has grown into a six-campus, 1,900-student school system with a wide range of programs, including a Spanish Immersion track, an outdoor education Forest School, a Homeschool Connection program, STEM-focused elementary programming, and a full athletics and fine arts program. Last year, the HC Board of Trustees partnered with Vanderbloemen Search Group, an executive search firm specializing in faith-based organizations, to find a leader with the strategic, financial and organizational vision to lead this rapidly growing organization.

Prior to launching the nationwide search, the Board engaged the Holland Christian community through interviews and surveys to understand the qualities and priorities that families, faculty and supporters most valued in the next leader.

"This search has been our number one priority this year," said Matt Adkins, president of the Holland Christian Schools Board of Trustees and chair of the Search Committee. "After speaking with candidates from around the country, the Board is excited that we've selected an HC alum with deep ties to West Michigan and a commitment to Christian education. Jeff brings an authentic leadership style that will fit right in here."

About Haverdink

Haverdink is a 1993 graduate of Holland Christian High School and comes from a multi-generational HC family — his parents, brother, uncles, aunts and cousins all attended the school. Jeff's late father, David Haverdink, was a respected pillar of the community who served the Hamilton Fire Department for over 50 years, 40 of those years as fire chief.

Haverdink and his wife, Erin, who benefited from Christian education themselves, said they chose Christian education for their two daughters long before their first was even born. "We're passionate about Christian education," said Haverdink. "While it requires real investment from families and our community, the value and impact it has on the lives of students is priceless."

At Calvin University, Jeff led engagement and external relations efforts for 67,000 global alumni and families. He also oversaw the Alumni Association Board of Directors and served as a trusted advisor to the university president. Previously, as associate director of gift planning at Calvin, he grew and retained an estimated $150 million portfolio of future planned gifts and led an innovative bequest campaign that doubled expected donor response rates.

Beyond Calvin, Haverdink has been deeply involved in school leadership at Dutton Christian School in Grand Rapids for over 12 years. After six years on the Board, he served as the school's director of finance, where he helped Dutton navigate enrollment growth, building projects and strategic planning.

Jeff is known for his authentic leadership style and his genuine care for the people he works with. He holds an MBA from Western Michigan University and a B.A. in Business from Calvin University.

The head of schools role

As head of schools, Jeff will focus on organizational strategy, financial stewardship, community engagement and building a culture where teachers can thrive.

"The heart and soul of Christian education is our teachers and staff," Haverdink said. "The impact they have in the lives of our children is truly a forever gift."

He also expressed a vision for steady growth and long-term success at Holland Christian. The private school's enrollment has grown 20% over the past five years, the school carries minimal debt, and the $22.5 million Faithfully Forward capital campaign has already raised $15 million toward renovations, fine arts improvements and campus enhancements that will touch nearly every Holland Christian student.

Haverdink's experience with tuition assistance at Dutton Christian gives him a firsthand understanding of the financial realities families face when choosing Christian education. His fundraising background and deep familiarity with the West Michigan community position him to support the philanthropic efforts that make Christian education accessible to more families.

Leadership transition

Haverdink's role as head of schools is slated to begin in July of this year.

The Holland Christian community voiced its gratitude for the contributions of Eric Forseth, who served as head of schools from 2020 until 2025, when health-related issues led to his early retirement from the role. Forseth provided decisive leadership for the school through a season of strong enrollment growth while navigating the challenges of COVID-19.

The board also expressed its deep gratitude to Jeff Pett, who served as interim head of schools this year. "On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank Jeff Pett for stepping up to an important role when he was most needed this year," Adkins said. "Pett brought an incredible passion to work every day, and his exceptional leadership skills helped ensure that our schools were able to advance several key initiatives through a year of transition."

For more information about Holland Christian, visit hollandchristian.org.

— Submitted by Holland Christian Schools. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.