Administration
Society seems to pressure our young people to lower their expectations and self-respect. I believe people, in general, have lowered their expectations of what it truly means to be a leader. More so than before I can remember, our society is in need of leaders to step forward and initiate movements to raise these expectations. Our intent is that OCS graduates do just that. Our mission “Preparing Youth for Time and Eternity” is structured to produce leaders with a twofold purpose. We want to bring young people closer to God by providing them with the tools to make a life for themselves in this world and a place in the next. In addition, we want them to leave OCS with the courage to share this foundation with others as community leaders. We pray that OCS produces difference makers, young people motivated to raise the world’s expectations. Being a part of shaping this type of leader is what drives my passion for Christian education.
We seek not to replace public education but rather provide an alternative without the governing restrictions of mainstream schools. It excites me to know we have the freedom to educate and develop the “whole” person. In fact, we expect our graduates to attend the greatest universities and set them on fire for the glory of God. Christian education should produce men and women full of brilliant ideas and a heart for this nation and those beyond. OCS should yield leaders in passionate pursuit of bringing pleasure to God through loving and leading his people into the fullness of His plan. Some will get this mission, some will not; but to the success, we give God the glory and press on.
Ouachita Christian will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the school on October 5, 2024. The vision of the early founding families, to put God first, and have faith that the school would be successful is a great testimony to their trust in God. As we look back at the great things God has done for the school, we see his hand in all things. God has blessed us with great leaders, great staff, great families and especially his children.
The success of our academics and athletics is another reminder of the great things God has done for our students and our school. OCS has positively impacted hundreds of families in our community and across the country. With a focus on Christianity, leadership and academics, OCS will continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the community. We believe in creating a nurturing and challenging academic environment that empowers students to excel and look forward to seeing our students continue to thrive and be well-prepared for the opportunities that lie ahead.
While partnering with all of our OCS stakeholders, including administration, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and board, we will continue to uphold our mission of “Preparing Youth for Time and Eternity” and provide an exceptional education in a Christian Environment for generations to come. As we look to the next fifty years, our beliefs are firmly planted in trusting that God still has great things to come for OCS.
As an educator for more than 30 years, I have served as a classroom teacher, curriculum coordinator, administrator, and assistant professor in both public and private schools. However, my greatest blessings have come from my service at OCS over the past ten years. During this time, I have witnessed faith, courage, wisdom, and commitment to our mission of “Preparing students for time and eternity.” The past few years brought about a previously untested resilience that emerged stronger than ever in each administrator, teacher, staff member, and student. It is this strength and faith that have built a culture at OCS that is spiritually deep, academically strong, and rich in extracurricular activities.
My prayer is that in keeping with Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,” students find their God-given purpose as they develop or grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is my purpose to help each student know that he or she is valued and to help make sure each student is prepared not just for academic success, but for a life filled with a deeper purpose, promise and a desire to serve.
At OCS, our desire remains true to serving God by providing a Christ-centered education that graduates young adults equipped as Christian leaders in the world. This is what unites us and what has bound us from the start. This mission is truly timeless as our students and alumni use their growing platform to express their faith to our community, country, and the world.
OCS has my heart. This school has shaped who I am as an educator since I walked through the doors in 1993 to teach 4th grade. I learned how to love students well and be a part of something bigger than just myself. After teaching here for several years, I went out into the public school system as an “OCS missionary” for over 20 years, carrying the beauty of this family with me. My husband, Mike, and I were blessed in my absence to still be OCS parents. Our daughter Callie graduated in 2020, and our son Silas is a part of the class of 2027. I praise God that He orchestrated my return in 2022 and gave me the gift of speaking Jesus out loud and on purpose to the students here once again.
The Proverb writer reminds us that children are a gift from the Lord. We are called to teach them God’s words and even to become like them in order to follow Jesus more closely. After 32 years of classroom instruction, it is a privilege to move into an area of service that will allow me to support and guide all of our elementary students and teachers alike to seek first His kingdom and grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. W.B. Yeats said, “Education is not about filling a pail, but about lighting a fire.” How blessed we are at Ouachita Christian School to light that fire not only for time, but also for eternity!