1975-2000

During 2000-2001 CHA marks its 25^th Anniversary as not only a school, but as a vital ministry extension of the University Boulevard Church of the Nazarene (UBNC) in Jacksonville, Florida. Christian Heritage Academy (CHA) opened its doors to 24 students for the 1975-76 school year. Ever since then it has been "Sending Out the Light" in an attempt to teach students to "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

Vision for CHA actually began several years before it opened. The UBNC Senior Pastor then, R.E. Zollinhofer ("Pastor Z"), had allowed Grace Christian Academy to rent some of the church’s facilities for its school. It was this exposure to Christian education that gave Rev. Z the idea of UBNC opening its own school.

He "saw the need" for a school and "saw two Christian educators," so he approached Ruth Cox and Connie Glenn, UBNC members, about starting a church school. They envisioned offering "quality education in a Christian atmosphere, so that students are exposed to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and are encouraged to develop their individual abilities." Then and now, that is the CHA Mission.

The original visionaries and supporters of this endeavor felt "a Christian foundation was lacking in the public sector." They believed a Christian day school, as opposed to a boarding school, could serve not only church families but also the community. However, they wanted a very open and non-sectarian school. There would be no denominational limits, but there would be a code students and parents had to agree to and understand before being enrolled at CHA.

Choosing the name for the school was "done by design." Many church affiliated school names used "Christian" in the middle, such as Mandarin Christian School. In order to be distinctive, "Christian" was used first. Also, since a main purpose of the school was to give students a Christian heritage, the name became Christian Heritage Academy.

"Of course, using ‘Christian’ as the first word of our name put us at the beginning of the alphabet," said Connie, a sales savvy lady, "so we were listed before other schools in the phone book." Attracting students and gaining financial stability were key goals, so this advertising edge was helpful.

Much planning, prayer and preparation went into being ready for the opening school year. In 1973-74 a survey was done among the UBNC congregation to see if it would support a school as part of its ministry.

Ruth said, "We did a lot of data crunching before we began. There was a need and interest, but would church families, especially those without school-aged children, support the school? It would mean an invasion of their Sunday School classes and wear and tear on church grounds and facilities. They gave their support and we began."

Ruth, Connie, and UBNC teenagers under the leadership of the Youth Pastor Les Sprang, also canvassed the neighborhood around UBNC to announce a Christian school would be opening soon.

"We went up and down streets, knocked on doors, handed people a brochure, and then told them about starting the school. Out of those efforts we gained about one-third of our school students that first year," said Ruth.

CHA began by offering classes only to 6^th and 7^th graders because there was a demand at the time for education alternatives to the public sector that was bussing these students from their neighborhoods to special grade centers across town.

That first year, the curriculum and format were traditional. Ruth and Connie taught the subjects. Ruth, the only full-time faculty member, served as Head Master, performing the administrative functions as well. Connie taught social studies two days a week. Since Grace Christian Academy (GCA) was still renting the roundhouse space at UBNC for its students, CHA used the old church sanctuary (demolished in 1987 to make way for the current sanctuary) and some adjoining Sunday School rooms.

In 1975 and subsequent early years, challenges were abundant. How could a new school with limited funds get up and running and then stay solvent? Cost conservation included painting boards with chalkboard paint; taking discarded credit and debit slips and with a little glue on the ends making note pads; going to city auctions to find furniture; gathering the first library books from garage sales, donations, and going-out-of-business sales at other schools and many other "make do with what you have" measures.

It was even a challenge to get the students to school, so a van, bus and carpools served the purpose at various times. Lunchtime was also a hurdle to a young school that couldn’t afford a cook. By improvising, the students were fed prepackaged sandwiches, pizza, McDonald’s hamburgers on Fridays, and, of course, the old standby – a sack lunch.

And did Ruth ever get discouraged? She said, "The challenges served me well as a good foundation for an administrator because since then I’ve never let ‘no’ or ‘can’t’ be a part of my vocabulary. I have always pushed outside the box."

Ruth looked to the GCA principal Joel Trodeau as a mentor. She also insisted on teaching at least one class, even when the faculty increased and she could have been freed from that task.

"I wanted to keep one foot in administration and one in teaching. This dual role helped me test the waters to see which way I wanted to go. This was a transitional time for me professionally," explained Ruth.

Although it started on a shoestring budget and struggled to stay solvent, CHA provided a quality education and did not water down its standards. Word of mouth advertising began spreading the school’s name and good reputation.

"CHA and its quality education were accepted in the community," said Rev. Z. "We were the only church school on the southside that required certified teachers on our faculty. We had a good reputation."

Parents and community people began asking when other grades would be added, so a waiting list was started. Ruth went to the school board and told them CHA could expand to first through eighth grades because the overwhelming demand would translate into students and, thus, financial support.

Meanwhile, Rev. Z was introduced to the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) program. It focused on individualized study units known as PACES. Students, seated in individual carrels, learned by working through the units at their own speed. This program required a minimum of certified teachers since trained teachers’ assistants could also work with the students.

Ruth and Rev. Z took training in this "learning centers and multi-age group" curriculum. The second school year, CHA offered grades 1-8.

"While I was Head Master at CHA, it never embraced the ACE program 100%," said Ruth. "I felt reading and math needed group instruction, so we combined that with the individualized unit. But the ACE structure made it possible for CHA to expand its grade offerings and remain financially in the black."

Connie remembers this curriculum transition as a "major overhaul" that required "working day and night" to prepare individual study carrels for the students and "finding the right people to assist as teacher aides."

But she also recalls, "It was fun. Ask any of the students who attended CHA, and they will tell you they had a good time while they learned. It was a good school."

Ruth agrees saying, "We all had so much fun together even though we worked hard. But it is laughing and crying together that really bonds a relationship. There was little strife because all who came to work and volunteer at CHA had a common vision and focus."

The school continued to grow, and in its third year added kindergarten as well as ninth and tenth grades. With the expansion into higher grades came the addition of intramural sports teams, cheerleaders, and homecoming events complete with Queens Mary Gamble Hughes in 1979 and Criss Webster in 1980. Students chose a crusader as their mascot/logo and gold and black as school colors.

In addition, Coach Bill Ely came to direct the sports program. Connie says, "Ruth and I were teachers, but Coach was the glue. He was wonderful with those kids."

Annual all-school plays were also presented with elaborate backdrops and costumes to complement the music and drama. One followed the Noah’s Ark theme, another was patriotic, others featured the nativity, but all uplifted Christ and His Kingdom.

Those plays were the best public relations tool we ever had," said Ruth. "The children learned about stage presence and developed their speaking and singing abilities, parents witnessed what their tuition investment was producing, and church members saw what the wear and tear on their facility was producing."

CHA also co-sponsored, with the UBNC teen group, several concerts by "Bridge", a Christian contemporary musical group. It was a promotional and evangelistic opportunity for the school and church.

"We tried to build a well-rounded program," said Ruth. "We never wanted the students to feel like because they went to CHA they were slighted in any fashion. Rather than be equal to the public school, we wanted to be better. I believe that was a good model and structure, and it is being followed today at CHA."

In 1980 Ruth left CHA to pursue doctoral studies and other untravelled professional paths. In June 2000 she completed 11 years in the Duval County Public School system as an administrator and principal. Now Dr. Cox is Director of Teacher Education at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Connie moved on in her career after 1981. She taught school for a number of years, and then became a licensed realtor, earning awards for top sales.

Rev. Z retired from his pastorate at UBNC, only to go back into the ministry as pastor of the Nazarene Fellowship church in Yulee, Florida.

All three are proud of the Christian heritage CHA still provides for its students today but humbled when they think of what they started and how God blessed it.

"We saw something happening that was bigger than us," said Ruth. "So the long hours, back pay, efforts to gain students and the pressure to stay solvent were worth it. It was incredible putting it all together, and the students, parents and church were so enthusiastic and supportive. It was a great time!"

Rev. Z says, "Every time I see those children on the CHA playground, I feel blessed." He continues, "Ruth and Connie get all the credit for starting the school. I knew nothing about how to do it, but they did. What a fantastic job!"

Over its 25-year history, CHA has had six administrators. Each brought certain strengths to the position, and each left a unique mark upon the school. This leadership is one of the reasons CHA has survived and thrived for a quarter of a century.

From 1980-1983 Jonathan Sparks was the CHA Administrator. Seeking to "emphasize a higher level of thinking skills," Jonathan recommended the school move to the Alpha Omega curriculum. Individualized curriculum with some small group interaction was still the format, but the new program challenged students more academically and intellectually. Jonathan and his wife wrote a comparison of ACE and Alpha Omega. The company that publishes it eventually used this pamphlet as a national marketing tool. According to Jonathan, "Today Alpha and Omega is one of the most computerized and advanced home schooling curricula available."

While at CHA, Jonathan went back to school himself. He earned his Ed.S. degree in educational administration. After leaving CHA, he completed his Ph.D. in using computers in an information science environment. Today he serves as the Dean of Library Services at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

From 1983-1986 Dave Jackson was the CHA administrator. During his tenure the high school grades were dropped, the individualized curriculum was eliminated and a traditional classroom teaching environment instituted, and the CHA child care was established. In addition, CHA became a "participating member" in the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (FACCS).

There were financial, public relations and organizational challenges during these years, and Dave recalls, "Pastor Z gave me the opportunity to be the administrator when others said someone with no educational experience should lead the school. He supported me even when he didn’t agree with some of the changes I made."

Dave’s business expertise resulted in a strong child care program and a more streamlined school structure. Their financial bases grew and so did their independence as outreach ministries of UBNC. Today Dave lives in Highland Ranch, Colorado where he is president of Stewardship Dynamics.

From 1986-1990 Martha Legg served as the school’s administrator. Among key improvements she remembers starting the pre-school program, revising parent handbooks, initiating the Florida Performance Measurement System for CHA teachers, overseeing a major asbestos clean-up in some school room areas, and establishing a 12-month pay schedule option for faculty.

Besides these accomplishments, Martha felt, "establishing a team with a vision of what Christ had called each of us to do was a great victory. There was a unique spirit of unity and devotion to one another and to our established goals. I loved coming to work, and I think the rest of the staff did too."

She added, "Praying with students and seeing their lives change is a special memory I have of my days at CHA. It was a real honor to have a small part in their becoming God’s children."

Martha has just returned to Florida after 10 years in the Dallas-Ft.Worth, Texas area. She and her family live in Winter Haven.

From 1990-1991 Mike Curry was the CHA administrator. He and his family had just returned to the United States from missionary service in Africa.

"It was a personal challenge to experience the reverse culture shock of coming back to my home country," said Mike.

Although there were a lot of adjustments, Mike said he "loved UBNC, CHA and the people." The administrator job was difficult for him, but the "sweet spirited and loving" staff and faculty reached out to him and his family.

In addition, Mike remembers, "We experienced a real movement of the Holy Spirit that year and several students accepted Christ for the first time."

Mike is now Director of Single Adults and Compassionate Ministries at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene in Bethany, Oklahoma.

From 1991 to August 2000, Jill Hoskins was the CHA administrator. The student body grew significantly during Jill’s tenure from 95 to a high of 195. CHA dropped the sixth grade and became a premier Christian primary school for kindergarten through fifth grade.

Jill saw a real need to upgrade "the aesthetic value of the school," so each summer she had an improvement project. Over the years CHA purchased new bulletin boards, student desks and chairs, replaced carpeting, painted regularly, upgraded computers, and added more multi-media technology. In addition, commercial-size cooking and refrigeration equipment was purchased for the kitchen, the round house became an indoor dining room for students, classrooms were built in part of the church fellowship hall, and two portable classrooms were added to the campus.

Major accomplishments in these years were full accreditation of the school by FACCS in 1995 and reaccreditation in 2000.

Jill said, "We prayed the accreditation team would see the good that is being done here, because not only do our students get a quality education, but also Christ is alive and well. The reaccreditation is God’s stamp of approval on this school."

Jill and her family moved in August 2000 to Valparaiso, Indiana where her husband took a staff position at Valparaiso First Church of the Nazarene. Jill is supervising student teachers at Valparaiso University and working part-time in retail.

These past leaders were asked what they feel has contributed to CHA’s longevity, and they said:

Ruth Cox - "It has survived because the school, church and staff are providing a Christian heritage. CHA maintains a good purpose and focus. The quality is there and the value system."

Connie Glenn – "We have been through some lean times, but a quality staff, supportive church and many other strong people were there to hold CHA together."

Jonathan Sparks – "It is because the church decided to support the school as a true Christian entity and not as a response to any problem in the public schools."

Dave Jackson – "Through the sacrifice of many teachers and staff, the school survived. People worked so hard and gave so much of themselves during some difficult times."

Martha Legg - "The school has survived because of anointed leadership, teachers and board members who are determined to do God’s will in linking the home and school to the church’s ministry."

Mike Curry – "CHA has lasted 25 years because God is glorified there!"

Jill Hoskins – "CHA is here today because God’s hand is on this school. It was God’s will for this school to be started 25 years ago. When I look back at the paperwork that was done to start CHA, I am awed and amazed at what God did through Ruth, Connie and Rev. Z. I see how God has had His hand upon Christian Heritage Academy from the beginning to the present."

Since it has been "Sending Out the Light for 25 years," CHA has influenced thousands of lives. It has truly followed Matthew 5:16 which admonishes, "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Yet in this new millennium, CHA is poised to send out the Light, Jesus Christ, to reach more school families and the community like never before in its history.

Ruth’s vision for CHA is for it "to be an entity of its own with a building and worship facilities." She would also like to see modern classrooms that are designed with many technologies available.

Connie and Rev. Z see expanded or new facilities in CHA’s future. Rev. Z believes "visibility and accessibility" are key to growth for both the school and church.

Because of the recommendations made by FACCS, Jill says, "something major has to be done with property and facilities in order for CHA to be competitive and stay accredited."

She adds, "If we are going to keep up the pace with the generation that is out there looking for schooling for their children, we must do more than just put down new carpet and add paint to the walls. We really need to have state of the art educational facilities that match those of the other education options out there."

The current CHA Administrator Rev. John Satterly says, "My vision includes upgrading our facilities, possibly expanding to the middle school grades, and reaching out to our community by offering after school programs such as English as a second language, athletic programs and community service projects."

He believes with its solid foundation and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, CHA "must see the available opportunities with the eyes and heart of Christ and then partner with the church to reap the harvest."

Quality education…Christian atmosphere…saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ…these are all key to the school’s mission and vision. In this new day for CHA, may God continue to bless its leaders, staff and supporters as they attempt "to train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

History written by Leora Legacy

Summer 2000