Jim Wagenschutz takes the reins at Byne Christian School

ALBANY — Jim Wagenschutz’s office at Byne Christian School is littered with empty packing boxes. The walls are bare. It’s obvious Byne’s new school administrator (which he prefers as a title instead of headmaster) is still settling in after spending 10 years at Hickory Grove Christian School in Charlotte, N.C.

His first official day on the job was Monday.

“Charlotte is a great place to live and raise a family, but I think God wanted me to take this job,” Wagenschutz said. “The way the situation played out, the job here had to be investigated. I had not intended on leaving Hickory Grove, but every place I looked in regard to Byne and Albany I saw doors opening up before me. My family and I had a nice life in Charlotte, but God seemed to want me to take this job.”

A 1995 graduate of Pensacola Christian College, Wagenschutz is originally from San Antonio, Texas., but grew up in Flint, Mich. He replaced long-time headmaster David Bess who left at the end of last school year.

“Like Flint, Albany doesn’t seem to be thriving economically, and is not growing fast. I know (Byne) has also had its ups and downs in the past,” Wagenschutz said. “We don’t have any grandiose dreams of making Byne the largest private school in Albany, we just want to be the best we can be where we are. Like I said before, we’re not going to be the biggest school in Albany, but we can be what God wants us to be.

“We want to be like a home to people.”

Aside from the people in the church and adjoining school, Wagenschutz said he has been impressed by the on-campus facilities.

“We have really nice facilities for a school our size,” he said.

With classes set to begin Monday, Wagenschutz is ready to clear his office of empty boxes and is ready to get to work.

“I am thrilled to be here because in a weird way I think God wants me to be here,” he said. “The people have been great to us and we are excited to get started.”