At Nicolás Fund for Education (NFE), we believe that breaking the cycle of generational poverty in the Ixil region through Christian education requires more than just a great curriculum—it requires a flourishing workplace culture. That’s why, for nine consecutive years, Nicolás Christian School (NCS) has participated in the Best Christian Workplaces (BCW) employee engagement survey. This annual check-in helps us measure, learn from, and improve our staff culture by benchmarking against over 100 other Christian schools in the BCW global database.
The BCW survey is a research-based diagnostic tool that measures eight factors that drive workplace culture, such as teamwork, talent, development, communication, leadership, strategy, and compensation. It includes both quantitative metrics and open-ended responses. Each year’s results show NCS operates at a healthy, often “flourishing” level of employee engagement. In fact, our scores remained strong even during a year of incredible transition—when our entire staff came together to open a new, state-of-the-art school campus, requiring a lot of extra effort.
According to the survey, some of the greatest strengths at NCS are team unity, spiritual vitality, and a deep sense of purpose. One employee shared, “This is a place where I feel God’s presence every day. We work hard, but we do it together—and we see the fruit in our students.” Another commented, “I’m grateful to be part of a school that not only teaches Christ but models Him in our relationships and work.”
Why does this matter? A flourishing culture leads to emotionally engaged employees who care about our students’ success. And emotionally engaged teachers create transformational learning environments. NCS has remarkably low employee turnover, and our leaders are committed to stewarding a culture that supports high-impact teaching and long-term stability.
This commitment is paying off. One of the ways we measure educational effectiveness is by the number of our graduating seniors who pass the national university entrance exam—a key gateway to opportunity. Amazingly, this year, nearly 90% of our seniors passed, a remarkable testament to the excellence of our faculty and their devotion to our students’ futures. Each dollar donated to Nicolás Fund for Education is stewarded to create this kind of flourishing culture. Your investment supports not only books and buildings—but also passionate, emotionally engaged educators who are transforming lives. When we invest in healthy teams, we see real results: thriving teachers, empowered students, and entire communities revitalized by hope.