In this On Air episode, Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer for Education Christine West sat down with Jennifer Johnson, senior corporate communications specialist, to share her perspective on the shifting challenges facing K 12 and higher education institutions. From funding uncertainty to staffing shortages, Christine offers a clear look at what schools are navigating today — and where Church Mutual is partnering with them in the year ahead.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Before we dive into coverage, what does the education landscape look like right now? What are school leaders most concerned about in 2026?
Christine W.: There’s so much happening in the education space. In K 12, many schools are focused on their financial situation. We’ve all seen the political back and forth at the federal level, which affects the states, and then trickles down to the school board level. Education is a passionate topic because it involves people’s children, so ensuring proper funding is critical.
Staffing and teacher shortages are another major concern. We’ve seen notable bus driver shortages, which may sound simple, but transportation is crucial for delivering education services. Fewer teachers are entering the profession, and there’s a lot of competition for talent.
In higher education, institutions are also concerned about finances. For the first time in a long time, they’re having to compete for students. We’re seeing fewer 18 year olds choosing the college route — whether due to generational shifts or financial considerations. Colleges are becoming more proactive with recruiting and supporting students, including helping them navigate financial aid, which they haven’t traditionally done.
At the same time, they’re investing in high tech, beautiful campuses to attract students — ivy, brickwork, state of the art labs — which are expensive. Combine that with declining enrollment, and financial pressures grow.
Q: Looking back at 2025, where did you see risks emerging in education?
Christine W.: Property risk is near the top of the list across all types of schools. Education has that in common with churches — we insure a lot of property. Maintaining buildings in good condition and ensuring they’re safe for students and staff is essential.
Property closures also have financial consequences, especially in public schools, which don’t get paid for student attendance when schools are closed. Natural disasters in 2022 and 2023, as well as wildfires last year and early 2026 winter storms bursting pipes, have highlighted how critical building maintenance and capital improvements are.
On the liability side, every school leader’s worst nightmares are mass casualty events — such as an active shooter — and sexual abuse of a student. We’ve seen improvements in both areas. Technology for campus safety continues to advance, and awareness around abuse risk has increased significantly since the Child Victims Act passed in New York in 2019. That spotlight has encouraged schools to examine their practices and make improvements.
Q: Across private, public and faith based education, where do you see the biggest opportunities for Church Mutual to better support schools in 2026?
Christine W.: CM Regent and the Education COE are built on public school districts — that’s our foundation and legacy. We intend to continue providing excellent service there.
But we have significant opportunities in private and independent schools and in higher education. Private schools include a wide range of models — Montessori, faith based, fine arts, language immersion and more. In 2026, we plan to focus on expanding in those areas. We’re excited to support great organizations that haven’t historically had a home with us, and to serve them alongside our public and religious schools.
