Dr. Atolagbe Featured as a Trendsetter

Dr. Toyin Atolagbe, the Executive Director of Great Hearts Christos, was featured as a “Trendsetter” in a recent article by the AZ Foothills Magazine. While Dr. Atolagbe would typically shy away from this kind of attention, she never misses an opportunity to share her vision for the new branch of Great Hearts private Christian schools. Christos Academies are a separate, faith-based, non-profit, private school arm of the Great Hearts organization committed to creating and offering the best ecumenical Christian classical academies in the country. Dr. Atolagbe will lead as the Executive Director. In her new role, she will oversee the Christos program and the leadership team at each academy.

Dr. Atolagbe comes to this role from her most recent position as Headmaster of Archway Lincoln, a Great Hearts Academy serving K-5 scholars in Chandler. We featured Dr. Atolagbe and Archway Lincoln earlier this year when the academy, under her leadership, received statewide recognition as the top K-8 school in Arizona based on state testing.  The Great Hearts academy was #1 out of 1,343 elementary schools in Arizona and given the letter grade A according to the school report card released by the Arizona Department of Education.

In the article, Dr. Atolagbe pulls back the curtain into her personal life, as she shared tidbits of her husband Dr. Adebayo Atolagbe, her two children, some of her favorite things, as well as what a typical day in her life looks like. “My day begins with a YouVersion Bible devotional, listening to praise and worship, and praying. I call my mom to check in and plenty of meetings on the upcoming opening of Great Hearts Christos. I also do a lot of check-ins with my hubby and children.”

She told the magazine that if she could have dinner with anyone, it would be author and speaker, Simon Sinek. “His mindset and energy are very similar to mine. His message of positivity, optimism, and kindness resonates with me. We are better when we work together for the good of all.”

Dr. Atolagbe has always been an inspiration to everyone around her and that has not stopped as she works around the clock to open two new campuses this fall. It is no surprise what she said her pet peeve was. “People who deny themselves happiness due to lifelong insecurities,” she said. “We all have something that makes us feel insecure. I think insecurities can be short-lived if you understand who you are in Christ.” She also listed “People that feel entitled or think they are better than others,” as another pet peeve.

You can read the article in its entirety at https://www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/people/leaders/trendsetter-to-know-toyin-atolagbe-executive-director-of-great-hearts-christos

You can now submit an application for your K-5 student for the 2023-2024 school year at Great Hearts Christos through the application portal. You will be asked to select your desired campus location during the admissions process. You can read through our Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions for questions about enrollment.

The locations include Evident Life Church at 415 N. Gilbert Road in Gilbert with an expected enrollment cap of 120 scholars, and Redemption Alhambra will be the home of the second campus at 1830 W. Glenrosa Avenue in Phoenix with an expected enrollment cap of 200. We are delighted to have these two churches as our partners as they are communities with a clear vision for Christian education, led by faith-filled pastors and pastoral teams, and we are fully aligned on our statement of faith to serve families. The campuses are well suited to our academy program.

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts?  Please contact jason.moore@greathearts.org.