For the past fifteen years, I have been administrator of CedarWood
Christian Academy. We have had a measure of success in an area where
the neighborhood schools have been described by the state legislature
as failing schools in a failing district. One of the motivations
for me (to acquire my doctorate and to grow in understanding and
developing more effective practices) is the great need to turn things
around for so many. One of my special interests is brain-based
learning and how to help students become engaged in their learning.
I wear a lot of hats. I teach math and science and enjoy playing
around with new ways to demonstrate math and science principles. I
enjoy sports and not only coach basketball but also am a certified
official.
My wife, Dee, and I have
four children, Ruth, Deborah, Rachel, and Daniel. All three girls are
in higher education. Ruth is the music teacher and secretary at the
school. Deborah is in law school at Georgetown, and Rachel has just
started classes at University of Denver (Did I mention that they won
the national hockey championship for the past two years?) My youngest,
Daniel, is a sophomore at CedarWood. We are blessed to have a loving
family and very much enjoy time together. There are few joys in my
life that compare with knowing my children know the Lord and are
making the most of their lives.
Why do I believe in Christian education?
Romans 12:1-2 challenges us to lay our lives before God as a
living sacrifice. This means being available for God to use us and
being a witness of how great God's plan for man is. However, even
though we may be believers, without our thinking being changed or
transformed we will still live selfishly and according to flesh that
cannot please God. The goal of Christian education is to learn God's
ways and demonstrate the abundant life He intended for us.
Times when I knew God intervened
Several times there have been situations where CedarWood should
have died, but God in his mercy opened doors and gave it new life. One
summer CedarWood had made arrangements to lease a larger building from
Aurora Public Schools. However, during the summer the Aurora school
board changed their mind and suddenly were not honoring their oral
agreement. It was two weeks before school and we had no place to meet.
God intervened by providing a church that had an education building
that was not being used. The church board met with us and gave
approval one day before faculty orientation began. The building had
even been leased by the Aurora Public Schools at one time so the
facility was well suited for classrooms and the plus side was a
wonderful relationship with the people at the church. |
