Dear Rockford Christian Community,

Recently, we communicated to our staff and families that Rockford Christian AD Isaiah Johnson has expressed he will be stepping away from his position as athletic director following this school year to pursue new opportunities. As a much-loved and respected administrator, Isaiah has served as athletic director at RC for nearly 10 years and coached multiple sports including boys varsity basketball. Over the years, Coach Johnson led the Royal Lion basketball program to numerous regional and sectional championships and achieved over 200 career wins as coach.

“During this time at Rockford Christian, I have had the privilege of working with dedicated coaches and staff as well as coaching many fine athletes, including the opportunity to coach my two sons, Isaiah ‘21 and Isaac (“Ike”) ‘22. As both an athletic director and a coach, I share with our student-athletes that sports teach us valuable life lessons, like teamwork and resilience. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be a positive and trusted influence in the lives of Royal Lion students and families.”

With the departure of Coach Johnson, we look to the future of Royal Lion athletics focused on the continued success of our students as they grow in Christ-like character, game strategy and skill, and overall physical health and well-being.

A key component of our school’s three-year strategic plan has been the overall evaluation of academic, artistic, and athletic programming that ensures we remain true to our mission, vision, and core values as well as the pursuit of excellence in all that we say, think, and do. Through strategic planning sessions and conversations with multiple stakeholders, Rockford Christian is announcing a restructure of K-12 athletics and competitive student activities into a model better aligned with best practice in Christian education.

To help chart our path forward toward this goal, we welcome Mr. Ted Lawver as the new Head of Athletics and Activities. With a Bachelors in Business Administration and Sports Management, Ted brings experience in athletics, leadership, and business. Before moving to Illinois in 2016, he served as the Athletic and Activities Director at Lake Center Christian School in Hartville, OH, where he played a pivotal role in advancing athletic and activity programming, fundraising, coaching mentorship, and worked to align the overall culture with the school’s mission. Additionally, Ted was an active member of the NIAAA and a mentor through the OIAAA in Ohio, helping to develop programs and criteria for training new athletic administrators.

Currently, Ted is the president and owner of ForeverLawn Chicago, applying his passion for organizational leadership and cultural transformation to drive lasting success. Beyond his professional career, Ted has also dedicated the past five years to coaching the RC girls’ varsity basketball team, pouring into the development of that program and its athletes. He and his wife, Danielle, have four children at Rockford Christian, making this opportunity even more meaningful as he invests in the school’s future. With deep-rooted experience as a coach, official, and administrator, he is dedicated to unlocking opportunities for both athletes and organizations. As he steps into this role at Rockford Christian, Ted is eager to collaborate with the administration and athletic department to elevate Royal Lion athletics to a new standard of excellence.

We are grateful for Isaiah’s faithful leadership and guidance of our athletic programming and for the tremendous impact he has made in our Royal Lion community. He and Ted will be working closely over the next few months to ensure a smooth transition for players, participants, and coaches.

Blessings,

Dr. Jahna Duda