Dr. Boyd Chitwood
Dr. Chitwood is a transformative leader of learning companies, founding and leading multiple startups and continuing operations for over 25 years. He consults to corporate, K12, and non-profit clients on matters of learning development, strategy, innovation, and team building. He also offers thought leadership and C-suite coaching.
Most recently, Dr. Chitwood served as superintendent for Mingo Valley Christian, a PreK-12th grade school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During his tenure, he helped transition the school to independence from the church which started it, helping establish an independent identity, form tighter school community, connect more completely with the broader metropolitan community, and grow the school, its faculty and its families in excellence of program and strength of organizational vision. Financial development allowed the purchase and development of the school's first campus. Student retention was raised from 83% to multiple years at 97% evidencing cohesion and positive vision.
In a 13-year leadership tenure with Little Rock Christian Academy, Dr. Chitwood spearheaded a path of quadrupling growth from enrollment of 300 to 1240 with creation of a 50-acre campus and building of a 165-person faculty and staff. He pursued standards of excellence by which – with ministry commitment to broad spectrum admissions profile -- approximately 10% of each graduating class qualified for National Merit recognition, and competitive success was achieved in multi-sport, state titled athletic programs as well as regionally recognized performing arts groups.
Dr. Chitwood also navigated a Tampa, Florida school through positive turnaround over a six year course of stabilizing and strengthening. Beginning with million dollar plus operating deficits, declining enrollment, and damaging drift in vision and relational cohesion, the school recovered to experience financial, enrollment, and connected community victories. During this time, 2 competitor schools each year for 5 years stopped operation. His school survived and thrived.
He holds an Educational Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) with emphasis in Professional Development, a master's in educational administration from UALR, an M.Div. in Theology and Moral Philosophy from Vanderbilt University and a Physics B.S. from Rhodes College.
Dr. Chitwood also has seven years of direct business experience in investments, marketing research, public relations and copywriting.
Other service and community involvements for Dr. Chitwood have included appointment to the Arkansas Governor’s Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education, founding board leadership for the inner-city S.T.E.P. Ministry in Little Rock, and church leadership in teaching as well as pastor, elder and deacon positions. He is the author of an educational research monograph on teacher training for interdisciplinary instruction and a blog author writing on topics of education and culture as they relate to parenting, schooling and the broader societal implications for organizational development, ethics, economics, and politics.
Through these experiences and more, Dr. Chitwood has developed insight and ability in a variety of areas including teaching, educational leadership, communication, curriculum development, change management, organizational development, fundraising, financial management and teacher training.