Dr. Monica Hall’s dual service reflects the leadership and community care recognized during National Principals Month and National Chaplain Appreciation Month
Two national observances converge this October: National Principals Month and National Chaplain Appreciation Month. For Dr. Monica S. Hall, these commemorations aren’t just calendar coincidences — they mirror the two intertwined pillars of her professional life: guiding a school community while serving as a U.S. Army Chaplain.
Hall wears many hats. She is the Founder and Head of School at T.H.R.I.V.E. Christian Academy, the Founder and CEO of The HallPass Institute, and the creator of T.H.R.I.V.E. Live!, a learning management platform. Her resume also includes roles as an educator, author, speaker, culture architect, and nationally recognized thought leader in education, partnering with schools, districts, churches, and organizations to enhance leadership, communication, and community culture.
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Her academic pedigree includes degrees from Howard University, Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, and the University of Miami. An ordained minister, Hall has dedicated 20 years to the U.S. Army Reserve. Across her military and educational spheres, she identifies a shared objective: serving people with compassion, courage, and purpose.
“Whether I’m supporting Soldiers or leading a school community, the work is about listening, offering care, and helping people recognize their purpose,” said Dr. Hall.
Her journey to chaplaincy wasn’t the one she initially envisioned. Hall had her sights set on becoming a military attorney, with aspirations of one day serving as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. However, during her junior year at Howard University, she felt a calling to Army Chaplaincy. That pivot set the stage for a career defined by service across military, educational, and faith-based communities.
At T.H.R.I.V.E. Christian Academy, Hall applies a whole-child educational model that intertwines academic growth with belonging, leadership, and character development. The school’s origins trace back to her work running a community center for children and families. Since opening its doors in 2013 with just two first-grade students, the academy has expanded to serve more than 300 students, whom they call Student-Stewards.
Hall advises families to look past glossy brochures and instead observe how a school’s stated values play out in everyday interactions: how staff respond when students face challenges, whether kids feel a sense of belonging, and if every member of the community is treated with respect.
Her educational approach places a premium on literacy as a gateway to voice and agency. Students at T.H.R.I.V.E. receive evidence-based reading instruction, personalized academic support, and ample chances to read, write, speak, and think critically. Hall maintains that learning is most effective when it reflects students’ own identities while expanding their horizons.
Hall’s leadership draws strength from her Christian faith and her family. She and her husband are raising eight children. Whether as an educator, chaplain, speaker, or executive, her mission stays steady: empowering leaders to build communities where purpose fuels people, culture enables communication, and excellence serves as the baseline.
Why it matters: Hall’s simultaneous recognition in two distinct fields underscores how leadership principles — listening, care, and purpose — transcend professional boundaries. Her story offers a model for how educators and military leaders alike can build cultures that prioritize human dignity and potential.
Shauna J
T.H.R.I.V.E. Christian Academy
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