David Welling, Head of School, Trinity Christian Academy

In an interview with Invest:, David Welling, Head of School at Trinity Christian Academy, talked about key achievements including expanded dual enrollment and early college programs, enhancing student engagement and cost savings for college bound students. The academy supports success through personalized learning and academic tracking, while emphasizing customized college prep. Christian values drive character development, contributing to a 20% enrollment increase post-pandemic. TCA utilizes cutting-edge technology and is researching ways AI can enhance the learning experience. TCA promotes leadership through service-learning projects and traditional roles.

What have been some of the most significant achievements and developments for the academy over the last year? 

I would say it has to be within all three major components, academics, athletics and the arts.  The most significant changes have been within the academic program. The dual enrollment and the early college opportunities we offer here at TCA gives our students an opportunity to graduate as a high school student with their (AA) Associate of Arts degree, which puts them two years ahead if they are on a traditional university track. Getting more momentum and articulation agreements with the local community colleges in the area and working with them has allowed us to expand that program so now a higher percentage of students are engaged. Cost savings is an easy motivation for getting students and families on this academic track. 

How does the academy support student success and achievement? 

We try to individualize learning experiences, but we also begin to track them especially in their math, science and language arts to see if they can get to the benchmarks needed for an early college experience. It is okay that not every student pursues an AP path, and we don’t create that expectation that every student must be good at every subject. For example, I will never be an Olympic athlete, and that is okay, but I should have opportunities to join a sport that I can enjoy for a lifetime and find success in that.

Another way we support student success is by having the whole family engaged in one place. TCA is a one-stop-shop for the entire family. By having programs for all ages Nursery through 12th grade we allow families to learn and grow together throughout their entire pre-college education. Having a full complement of before and after school activities is a time saver that all families enjoy.

In what ways are your offerings tailored to benefit students’ college prep? 

I think the way you encourage students is through opportunity and exposure. It is just as important for students to learn what they are “bad” at as it is for them to learn what they are good at. We do not have to fix what they are bad at, but we can help them understand there are ways to use things you are not as good at to build and improve the things you are good at. We are not a cookie cutter program. We are distinctive in our market. 

How do you instill Christian values amongst students and to what extent does it contribute to their personal and professional growth? 

Many schools will take the same concepts and values we emphasize but call it something different like “social-emotional learning” or “character development”. Without good character, integrity, and values, you will not go far in any business no matter which career you choose. We believe that God our Creator has gifted every student in a unique way to be used for purposes that they get to discover as they grow and learn more about their world and humanity. We truly believe that about each student. This encourages our teachers because they don’t see a student as a number or an annoying person but as a future image bearer of God that we have empowered to discover their purpose in this world.

What are some of the main challenges facing the education sector? 

The whole value struggle is one because during the pandemic, all the families that had their children in secular schools were able to personally see what their kids were learning. Many began to realize their values were not aligned with the school system they were in. Across the globe, faith-based schools saw an increase in enrollment like ours which was close to 20% enrollment growth. That has been a game changer for us because we offer what families are looking for – a framework of truth that correlates with every subject area. Unfortunately, secular schools cannot offer this foundational value system that is so desperately needed today.

What support services are in place for students who need additional assistance? 

We have Student Support Services that comes alongside and provides resources and helps for students that may be struggling with mild to moderate learning differences. Teachers refer students based on things they notice, or tests administered in order to get them the necessary support whether it is visual, processing or hearing, for example. 

How do you incorporate technology and innovation and what initiatives are being put in place to guarantee students are equipped with necessary skills? 

I don’t know a school in our area that is doing what we are doing in the digital media space. Students now are designing, making their own podcasts and creating their own brands online. We are also capable of 3D printing, so students here are already getting exposed to tools and concepts ahead of college. 

Overall, we see technology as a tool. Our younger kids have access to iPads and laptops in every classroom. We have a huge 75-inch touch screens in every classroom used for group collaboration and as an instructional tool for our teachers. We will never integrate as much as we should because technology is always growing and changing, but it is a tool to support learning. Something we are also doing is finding ways that AI and ChatGPT can integrate with teaching and can be used as a learning resource. 

Are there any programs that foster leadership? 

We have Student Government, Student Council and we also have the National Honor Society. Those are all clubs within the school that give students experience in leadership. I would say a distinctive feature at TCA is our service-learning projects. HS students must do community service hours as part of graduation requirements, but we have a service-learning component. When you are doing a project in the community, we want it to be connected to some kind of learning. There is a lot of leadership learned through serving, so we like to see our students in the community doing things they’ve never done before. In these projects students learn what they are good at, and similar to academics, what they do and do not enjoy through exposure.