A Parable, Model, and Tool for Thriving as a School and a Leader. 

Growing Forward envisions a vibrant community where students develop in faith, knowledge, and character, nurtured by a shared passion for excellence and deep trust in God's guidance. 

In Growing Forward, Dr. Derrick Mueller shares a heartwarming parable that reminds us of the precious gift of investing in others and the remarkable achievements we can attain together. The book is structured into three parts: a parable, a description of the model, and resource material for training, discussion, and information.

Throughout the parable, eight key principles of growth are revealed and interwoven through a mentor’s interactions with a school principal. The 8 Ps—Picture, Plan, Plow, Plant, Protect, Prune, Pollinate, and Propagate—provide a transformative framework for cultivating a thriving Christian school community.