New Year, Big Growth
An Interview With Academy Principal Betsy Johnson
After another year of record growth in enrollment, I sat down with Academy for G.O.D. principal, Betsy Johnson, as she shared some thoughts after a full week of classes.
CAN YOU GIVE US THE QUICK VERSION OF THE GROWTH ARC FOR THE ACADEMY?
In the Academy's first year, the entire student body could fit on the stage. Here, they performed for the first supporter/grandparent event, titled "Come and See," referencing Jesus' words that demanded the faith to come and experience something before it was widely known.
The Lord has been so good, it's really amazing. The Academy started in Fall 2013, we had 23 students in a K-6 program. This fall we have nearly 200 in a K-12 program!
At the end of our 4th year, last spring, we had 110 students, so it’s consistent with the growth pattern of nearly doubling each year. We’ve seen a lot of growth and interest.
THIS YEAR MARKS A BIG JUMP IN ENROLLMENT. CAN YOU TELL ME SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR
This picture shows just a portion of our student body this fall as they engaged in a school-wide dodgeball game on the first day of school!
Well, an interesting point to note is that we haven’t spent a single dollar marketing our school. Instead, it is a lot of word of mouth. People tell their friends and family, the word continues to circulate. This year we’ve been able to accommodate for many of the new applicants.
IN WHAT WAYS IS THE ACADEMY ACCOMMODATING FOR SO MUCH GROWTH?
A lot of our effort goes toward developing our teachers. They are our greatest resource, in terms of making our school what it is. They are in the classrooms,inspiring and educating, while also attending to the social and emotional needs of the students. So, we can only accommodate an influx of students if our teachers love their jobs, are competently performing, and are ready for growth. We believe they are. Our teachers really are the ones carrying out the mission and vision of the Academy on the day-to-day.
Over the summer we spent hours each week with our teachers, investing into them so that they can invest well into our students. They are really incredible people, but to be able to encourage them and push them to even develop further is a privilege. One thing that is unique is that at the Academy, you won’t see teachers finding their identity in their specific classroom, and that leaks over to the students as well. So, we emphasize students finding identity in their social groups. Those social groups are what stay in tact whether they are in the garden, on the soccer field, performing on a stage or learning in a traditional classroom. Our teachers work to create those strong social bonds among the students, while at the same time modeling that same cooperation with other teachers. Our staff is all great friends.
CAN YOU SHARE A FEW RECENT TESTIMONIES FROM ACADEMY FAMILIES?
At the Academy, 8 out of 14 of our lead teachers are male. In fact, both our Junior High and High School classes are lead by male teachers, Mr. Reese (here) and Mr. Dailey.
I’ve been really thankful because parents have been really outspoken about their experiences by reaching out to call, or write an email, or talk with me at the back-to-school party, about their experience. I have two testimonies that come to mind right now, one is from a returning family. The mom sent me an email saying how notably different their summer was because of the way that their sons were able to interact together, with their cousins, and others, over the summer. Their extended family members could see the growth, and their home was much more peaceful. This mom expressed her gratitude to the Academy staff for working together to educate her children in the things that even affect their social relationships.
Also, over this past week, just a few days into their time with the Academy, new parents whose children have only been with us a few days have noted enthusiasm for school from their children that they’ve never seen before. Multiple parents have told us that they don't have to struggle to wake kids up out of bed anymore. They're ready to go! Still more parents of tutorial students (a homeschool 1-2 day program) are asking about enrolling in the 5 day program.
I’m so thankful for all of these testimonies. It's what we want for all of our kids.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SEE THE VISION FOR THE ACADEMY BEING ENACTED ON A DAILY BASIS?
It really goes back to the mission statement: ”Holistically educating children to become responsible, kind and ethical neighbors; competent persons, globally conscious, and historically relevant.” This is not just one person’s responsibility, it’s everyone's: lead teachers, course teachers who teach specialty classes, administration. As a Category IV school, we are able to create our own curriculum, which gives us the freedom to emphasize their moral education, and learning the Bible. But these values aren’t just relegated to Bible classes, but the principles and ethics carry throughout the students’ Academy experience. The social and emotional learning is so important... and we train our teachers in how to do that appropriate to the age level, so we have 6-7 year olds having classes called “My Emotions” and our High Schoolers taking “Emotional Intelligence.” They are able to navigate intrapersonally how they are feeling and also interpersonally with the people around them, in a healthy way. Perspective taking and asking for forgiveness all contribute to a holistic education that will result in healthy adults. We really believe these kids are going to change the world.
Coach Joel Olson runs the first volleyball practice for "The Phoenix," a joint team with another Christian school in the area. We are excited to offer competitive sports to our students, knowing they'll learn so many life lessons in the process!
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON?
Our high school program has grown and is continuing to grow! We had 3 students last year and now have 12. We are excited to be able to offer sports to our older students by partnering with another local private school--we are starting with volleyball in the fall, then soccer in the spring. There are great skills to be learned there. There is a High School mission to El Salvador slated for December. We’re also implementing a “Buddy Break” program that facilitates time within the school week for our Jr and Sr high students to work with students that have special needs. We're excited to see our older students continue to implement the values they've learned in order to strengthen others. That is what responsible, kind, ethical neighbors are all about.
Throughout the interview, Principal Johnson exuded thankfulness as she recalled and recounted the unfolding story being written at the Academy for G.O.D. It was clear that she could have continued sharing stories of the Lord’s faithfulness for quite a while longer, and that she was truly energized by the process of remembering and sharing. The Academy is surely growing, and it’s in more than just the number of students.
Equipping Teachers for Group Success
On July 3, Aquatic Public School (APS) kicked off its second school year after their summer break. Like any school in its first years, there are many new systems that need to be implemented in order for the day to day to function well and for students to receive a quality education.
Corey Foster, a lead teacher at the Academy for G.O.D., explains a rubric for enhancing student behavior in the classroom to the teachers at APS. This produced much dialogue amongst the staff.
The teachers at APS had requested training on behavioral management in the classroom, so this week, we held a three-part teacher training seminar. One of our goals was to teach them about motivating positive behavior, rather than just punishing the negative. We also emphasized group incentives in addition to the individualized awards that the school already has in place.
We also provided opportunities for the teachers to let us know what issues that seeing arise in the classroom, as our partnership with the school is still relatively new. By the second day of the seminar, we could barely stop the teachers from sharing about their classroom experiences, and we were thrilled to recognize a genuine desire to offer quality education amongst the APS staff.
The day after the seminar, we saw that the customizable charts were already being utilized in their classrooms and that teachers and students were already enjoying the celebration of good behavior!
In India, education functions off of competition. As students make their way through the education system to the university level there are limited seats available. With these factors, much of their educational approach is individualistic to the point of creating hostility between students when working to obtain those seats. In contrast, much of our seminar emphasized the need for students to work together and to build one another up so that all could receive a healthy education that would then go on to meet the needs of their communities. While competition can be a good thing, we also emphasized the team dynamic of competition and how it should result in students being lifted up. We challenged teachers to think about the jobs that these students will someday hold and families that they will someday raise--that they will need to know how to work together with their co-workers and neighbors in order be of benefit to their society.
In an exercise to teach how positive reinforcement and group rewards can promote good behavior in students, these teachers won prizes of their own that they can use in the classroom.
We began our second session by creating a point system based off of positive participation, discussion and everything we would also hope for their classrooms. The teachers were divided into teams, created team names, and learned our expectations as well as the incentives to participate (winners would get to choose between a new game for their classroom and colorful dry erase markers). They jumped right in and were extremely enthusiastic about participating.
From this model, we focused solely on positive behavior and working together- rather than just getting the ‘correct’ answer. This competition allowed them to begin freely talking about the situations they experience in their classrooms and brought a variety of healthy questions to the surface. We wanted them to experience a classroom full of questions and dialogue that resulted from giving them a goal to work towards. The excitement in the room was profound.
We offered the teachers simple tools to chart positive class points, which could be used in a variety of ways based upon their classroom needs and age levels. Initially as we explained these systems, there was a lot of confusion from the teachers as they so quickly wanted this system to be individualistic and celebrate the “good students.” We showed them the benefit of a whole group working to achieve points and how when one student is weak their whole class will come around them and encourage them to do well so that all can succeed. The teachers asked so many questions and our time together was filled with healthy discussion as we all worked towards possible solutions together.
As we have spent time in classrooms at APS over the past week working with students and teachers, we have seen these systems being implemented by teachers in the classroom and they have been enthusiastic to show us. Each classroom is using the charts differently based upon their classroom needs and students are earning points. The students and teachers are eager to earn points towards prizes. While we have two weeks together to help the teachers implement these systems, we are excited that Rachel Nowlin will be staying for the year to help further this process and help make it applicable and successful for the teachers and their students.
2016-2017 Year In Photos
A CELEBRATION THROUGH PHOTOS OF ANOTHER WONDERFUL YEAR AT THE ACADEMY FOR G.O.D.
What a year! As we look back over our 4th year of school at the Academy for G.O.D., we are humbled by the opportunity God has given us to teach and shape the lives of our students. From focused times of study, to fun times in recess, to times of sincere worship and everywhere in between, these young people are well on their way to becoming responsible, kind and ethical neighbors; competent persons, globally conscious, and historically relevant (our mission). Enjoy a few of the moments we captured along the way!
On August 11th, we opened our doors for the 2016-2017 school year to 111 students, Kindergarten through 12th grade. The beginning of our fourth year as the Academy of G.O.D. was welcomed with much anticipation and excitement, from teachers and students alike, for a full year ahead!
One of the most practical ways we can implement the value of “the older serve the younger” (Gen. 25) is by example. Each week, our Junior High and High students facilitated a time of morning worship for the younger elementary levels. It was a highlight of the week all around!
Educational games and apps make learning technology fun! Even in our youngest levels, almost every class incorporates some activity on the iPad. Students learn how to navigate programs and handle their iPads with care.
We love our moms! On the first Friday of each month, our PTO organizes a “Mom’s Coffee Hour” where mothers can come after morning drop-off to enjoy coffee and fellowship with one another. These times are unifying and helpful as moms grow in friendships alongside their kids!
One special afternoon, Principal Johnson and Mrs. Rosemary Sherrod combined their Literature and History courses to host a special guest from the Hopewell neighborhood where the Academy for G.O.D. is situated. Ms. Francis came to the class with stories to share from her experience living during the civil rights movement, coinciding with a historical fiction book set in 1963 Mississippi that the students had been reading. Ms. Francis emphasized the importance of treating one another well, working hard and having a strong faith. The students not only asked questions, but also appreciated her story and prayed with her.
Mr. Munoz’s passion for Anatomy has fueled many students' interest in health care. Classes like Anatomy, Hygiene, and Nutrition all build on one another, and teach kids not only how their bodies work but how to care for them in practical ways.
“Outdoor Adventures” for our kindergartners was a class that did not disappoint! Whether it was a nature trail, exploring different types of trees and plants, or even building with materials from the outdoors, our students loved every moment of being out in the fresh air, learning more about the world they live in!
The theme of this year’s Grandparents Day was ‘A Thankful Generation’. Students prepared individualized poems and cards to express gratitude for their grandparents. We are thankful for so many wonderful relatives involved in these student’s lives!
On April 6th, the Academy hosted our annual Open House event for prospective students and families in the Nashville area. With over 200 guests in attendance, our entire campus was opened with demonstrations from teachers and students in the workshop, school kitchen, garden, athletic fields and indoor classrooms.
Thanks to the Bee Cause Nashville, this year we installed an INDOOR bee observation hive in our STEM classroom. The students were captivated by the display as they checked out the hive in the mornings or in between classes. The hive is overseen by Hopewell Gardens Apiary and bee keeper, Mr. Jeff Sherrod.
Then there are the dads! This spring, our dads took a special evening with their sons at the bowling alley. With over 50 families in attendance, there was some fun, lighthearted competition and a whole lot of father-son bonding time!
Wednesdays at The Academy follow a different schedule, one that promotes students’ spiritual development. Though it requires extra work and volunteerism to organize a day with a completely alternative schedule, it is well worth it when we see students developing soft hearts that love to worship and pray.
Music may not come “natural” for every child, but having the opportunity to explore a variety of instruments and learn to play in a band is a gift we love to offer our students. At the upper elementary level, students begin forming small worship bands and play with one another throughout the duration of the year, anticipating an increased skill level for each individual on their particular instrument.
Teachers have always been our school’s greatest resource. We are so thankful for each of our staff, who poured endlessly into students this year, believing that each child is worth developing into a capable, confident person!
These guys blew everyone away during Student Performance Night, lighting up the stage with their tribute dance! It was a powerful symbol to all who watched, of the sweetness of unity that makes room diversity. At The Academy we truly believe that each child is created with unique gifts, and there is a place for each of them.
Field Day was electric, with almost palpable energy in the air as teams vied for points to win 1st place in the overall competition! The day carried many impactful lessons, from perseverance through discouragement, to celebrating others when they did well. At the end of the day, the 1st place ‘Blue team’ were charged with the task of leading field cleanup, practicing Jesus’ teaching that the first shall be last, and that to be someone great means to be a servant to others.
Academy Students Fill Classrooms Around the Globe
Last week marked the end of our Fill a Classroom school supply drive, hosted by The Academy for G.O.D.
These students at Aquatic Public School in India, along with schools we work closely with in El Salvador and Uganda will be the recipients of the school supplies drive.
After receiving lists of needed supplies from G.O.D. partner schools in India, El Salvador and Uganda, homerooms at the Academy were paired up with a particular schools, and encouraged to fill the needs together. The response of Academy students and their families was overwhelming! Collectively, students gathered nearly 400 pounds of school supply items, from paper and pencils to art supplies and math games. 12 large boxes of materials are now packed full, ready to be sent out with Academy teachers volunteering their time abroad this summer.
Teaching students to have a global awareness is one of the emphases at the Academy. Fill a Classroom drive gave kids a chance not just to learn about what’s going on around the world, but to be a part of doing something about it. It was precious to see the generosity that flowed from students of every level. Kindergarteners painstakingly chose their best pencils to share. 7-year-olds spent entire recess blocks combing over the list of supplies, matching classmates up with particular items to make sure that each and every supply would be gathered for St. John’s Primary School in Uganda.
These items, all collected by students at the Academy for G.O.D., are a result of the students learning about the needs in the developing world and responding generously.
11 year old Porter Bohannon went shopping with his family, and brought in paper, scissors and notebooks for students at a rural school in El Salvador. “I’m hoping my items will help the kids have a better learning experience in school.”
12-year-old Elliott Davis thought creatively about how she could give from her own possession. “I had a pair of brand new slippers that I’d been planning to return and when I heard about the school supply drive I thought, that would be the perfect thing to use my money on! So my mom and I returned the slippers and went and got 22 boxes of crayons, a jumbo pack of expo markers, and those were the last items on the list for our school in El Salvador!”
The winning class that earned a pizza party after gathering the most supplies for Aquatic Public School in India.
The 8-10 year old students who gathered supplies for Aquatic Public School in India were the first ones to check every item off their list! They earned a pizza party together, along with some tasty treats that were donated by parents. But even after the pizza party had been won, students banded together to donate the final remaining items on each supply list, until in the end we received close to 10% more items than requested on almost every list!
We want to thank every person who donated towards teachers and students all over the globe, who will excitedly receive these supplies and start their school year off with a well-stocked classroom! It is more blessed to give than to receive, and we are blessed to have wrapped up our school year by giving together.
Rise Before the Aged
ACADEMY FOR G.O.D. CONNECTS NEIGHBORS ACROSS GENERATIONS
“You shall rise before the aged, and defer to the old; and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.”
A basic and steadfast value at the Academy for G.O.D. is respectfulness of parents and teachers. But the above verse goes beyond that. It talks about a regular and consistent respect and deference to the aged--and not just those you see in school or home environment. The Bible says that this kind of care for the elderly is an expectation upon all those who fear God, and our students are learning it from the very beginning.
These are some of the sweet students who called McKendree Village their favorite place.
When I drive to the grocery store now, my kindergartener tells me “That’s McKendree Village mom!” It’s one of the most exciting new landmarks that we pass. Because the Academy for G.O.D. campus is only a short drive from McKendree Village Assisted Living Center in Old Hickory, each class has been able to take field trips to spend time with the residents this year. This was birthed out of a desire to make “field trips” more than a fun break from the school schedule, but also an eye-opening experience for students to understand their world, including the variety of people in it. If we are teaching our students to be kind and ethical neighbors (the school’s mission), that needs to include learning how to properly respect, greet and care for the elderly in our vicinity. The results were just as the school had hoped: fantastic.
When my daughter traveled to McKendree with her class, her class had been prepared on how to show respect and care, encouraged to shake hands, ask questions, and listen to responses. Her teacher texted me after, “Charlee did so well asking them questions and listening, shaking their hands. One man, Milton, told her gesture would make his smile last the whole day.” But it made the students’ day as well. Chaperones were sharing that the kids said it was their favorite field trip yet!
Brandon Galford, Academy teacher and field trip facilitator, told me, “Our kids painted pictures for the residents and did various crafts. One of the women I spoke with doesn’t have any kids or grandkids. She said she looks forward to the “God school kids” who come out and bless them.” He continued, “Several of the women were seriously moved. One lady, Betty, told me she’s so thankful that our kids come out and get exposed to elderly people so that they can grow up to not fear getting old - so they can see it as a blessing. She said she prays this for the kids.”
Mr. Galford accompanied Miss Foster's class to McKendree with his daughter Sophia.
When the high school students were asked about their favorite part of the visit, Gerron Norman immediately responded, “The joy that was on their faces as we sang with them.” From Amazing Grace to How Great Thou Art, the students sang songs the residents could sing alongside them. Teachers likewise enjoyed sitting in between the young and old generations and observing the experience. Academy teacher Ashley Moore reflected, “It was touching to me to see our students in full-fledged ministry mode. I saw them take intentional moments to introduce themselves to the residents and ask about their kids and grandkids. They never left a room without asking for ‘words of wisdom’ and offering to pray with each person they met. They were also given the opportunity to perform worship songs and some funny skits they’ve been working on in other creative arts classes. It was fun to see education and ministry collide.”
So often we drive right past our neighbors, old or young. We keep doors closed and don’t ask questions. But the Academy for G.O.D. is training kids in another way--one that explores their natural vicinity and asks how they could be good neighbors, showing love and respect and kindness, opening doors that previously were closed. I think that Milton is in good company when he notes this gesture of kindness makes a lasting impression.