Excellent Leader Training (ELT), together with the Tefila Indonesia Foundation, organized leadership training programs on several occasions. In mid-2010, following one of these programs, Mr. Budi Utomo proposed to Mr. Anton Darmawan and Mr. David Novandi that they establish a school in Kupang. Despite having neither prior experience nor capital, Mr. Anton Darmawan agreed to lead the project under the auspices of Yayasan Pandhega Jaya.

With limited resources, a volunteer team of young people from the SMCC and ELT communities pioneered the development of SMAKr. Pandhega Jaya. A significant milestone came when Mrs. Elisabeth Devi Dwi Dutavire and Mr. Hizkia Ade Kurniawan decided to dedicate themselves fully to the school. Mrs. Devi was appointed Principal and developed the academic system alongside two educators native to NTT, Mrs. Jeni Rodiani Mau and Mr. Samuel Meha.

Construction and academic preparations progressed side by side until the school officially opened student admissions in March 2014, welcoming 22 students as its first cohort. With a Christian character-based curriculum and a boarding school system, the school demonstrated its quality through positive changes in its students. As a result, applications surged in the second year, even though the school could accommodate only 25 students.

Today, SMAKr. Pandhega Jaya has earned the trust of the community. Development and expansion continue as the school works to shape an outstanding generation of national leaders.