THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF CORAM DEO ACADEMY SUMMER 2018 God bless your next steps Class of 2018 Training ethical servant- leaders & wise thinkers who will shape culture for the glory of God COMMENCEMENT EDITION 2018 Commitment to Excellence From the Office of the President, Coram Deo Academy oram Deo Academy’s mission is to train ethical servant- Cleaders and wise thinkers who will shape culture for the glory of God. This edition of The Forum is all about measuring how well we accomplish that mission. We document how academically well prepared our students are for college and beyond with our ACT, SAT, and ACT Aspire testing results. The Vision & Legacy pages help showcase the lasting legacy of Coram Deo Academy while our 2018 valedictorians and salutatorians from both our Collin County and Flower Mound campuses share their fresh perspective. A quick review of the accolades and future plans of the Class of 2018 will confirm how well the collaborative classical Christian model works and really is “the best way to educate a child.” The remainder of this issue covers information on our outstanding commencement speakers, the excitement and servant focus of our House System, the phenomenal progress at our Dallas Nolan, Kendra, Alan, and Joshua Marshall campus, and snapshots from the grand opening of our new Flower Mound multi-purpose building. In the end, this edition Everything we do to train ethical servant-leaders and wise of The Forum documents our values and success in achieving thinkers comes out in the lives of our graduates. The futures our mission. of our graduates are shaped by the values they have developed at home, at school, and in their church. With this said, Coram Deo partners with parents to complete what I call the Values Triangle collaborative values triangle. Cultural influences push at our children from all directions. The collaborative values triangle has three vertices comprised of the family, the church, and the school. Notice that if any one of these vertices is weak or compromised, then external cultural influences have Family CLTRE a direct path to the hearts and minds of our children. By strengthening the values triangle, parents provide the very best environment for their children to develop into mature, CLTRE independent thinkers who know what they believe and can defend their beliefs with confidence. In the classroom, Child on the athletic field, and in the fine arts arena, Coram Deo students build confidence by demonstrating a commitment to excellence while simultaneously modeling Christian values. Church School Coram Deo graduates will have a profound influence on those around them and will shape culture for the glory of God! Thank you for sharing in our mission, CLTRE J. Alan Marshall, PhD President, Coram Deo Academy 2 By the Numbers Compar ative Scores ACT Composite Comparison 30 The success of CDA students as seen in the national 27.7 27.5 standardized test results below (ACT, SAT, and the ACT Aspire) is a result of our faculty’s emphasis 21.0 20.7 on teaching critical thinking skills and challenging 20 students to pursue excellence. The Class of 2018 scored above the national and state 10 average in each subset of the ACT. ACT Subtest Comparison 30 29.2 29 28.8 28.7 26.8 26.8 0 25.6 25.3 Class of 2018 21.4 CDA Class of 2018 21.1 21 20.9 20.7 20.7 The Class of 2018 scored 20.3 CDA 5-Yr. Avg. 20 19.5 CDA 5-Yr. Avg. Nat’l 5-Yr. Avg. in the top 11% nationally on Nat’l 5-Yr. Avg. Texas 5-Yr. Avg. the ACT test. Texas 5-Yr. Avg. 10 SAT Composite Comparison 0 1,273 1,270 English Reading Math Science 1,081 1,041 1,000 ACT Aspire results highlight the increasing gap between national averages trending down and CDA averages trending up. ACT Aspire Composite Scores 91 86 85 82 80 79 80 78 77 77 75 75 75 73 72 71 71 71 2016 CDA % Ready 70 70 68 68 0 64 2017 CDA % Ready 61 61 60 58 2018 CDA % Ready 56 55 54 CDA Class of 2018 51 2018 Nat’l % Ready The SAT scores for the CDA 5-Yr. Avg. 44 40 Nat’l 5-Yr. Avg. Class of 2018 were in the 35 Texas 5-Yr. Avg. top 15% nationally. “so that the servant of God may be 0 thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th GRADE 2 Timothy 3:17 3 VISION& Alumni perspective from steps in the past and LEGACY steps in the future Ryan Vera CDA–Flower Mound, Class of 2008 University of North Texas Bachelor of Science: Counseling, Rehabilitation Studies with minors in Counseling and Addictions Master of Science: Counseling Occupation: Adjunct Professor at UNT and Youth and Family Counselor Resides in Denton, TX, with his wife, Stacha How did CDA help form your worldview? Critical thinking was woven into every class. The injunction to explain academic propositions, cite sources, and define terms meant that no matter what I thought, it could never be groundless. This bred a style of thought that has served me well ever since. Also, the many disciplines of history, literature, philosophy, science, music, and art gave me a foundation for interpreting the world. When Solomon said there was nothing new under the sun, it wasn’t just his wisdom but the eternal word of God. How have you impacted culture around you for the glory of God? I believe that I have positively impacted culture by being a faithful witness of God’s love in the mental health field. There have been many moments of alleviating suffering and promoting human flourishing, and there are even moments of sharing my faith. In the university setting, many students and faculty have no idea what Christians are like or what they believe. I often get to dispel myths and introduce people to Christ. What advice from your CDA experience would you give to help future CDA graduates? I would encourage everyone at CDA to soak it in. Enjoy your CDA experience as much as you can and appreciate all that is offered there. Keep your mind open to what college, career, and people the Lord may lead you to. I have been amazed at how He has worked the more He opens my life to His will. When the sovereign, holy, loving God of the universe is at the helm, you will NEVER be bored. 4 David Neal, MD CDA–Flower Mound, Class of 2008 Texas Christian University Bachelor of Science: Biology UT Southwestern Medical School Doctor of Medicine Occupation: Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Physician at John Peter Smith Hospital Resides in Fort Worth, TX, with his wife, Holly How did CDA help form your How have you impacted culture What advice from your CDA worldview? around you for the glory of God? experience would you give to help CDA was instrumental in forming a Starting at CDA and continuing future CDA graduates? foundation for my life rooted in faith. The throughout college, medical school, my Rely on the Lord, pray, work hard, majesty of God was made evident in all residency, and my marriage to Holly, I try stretch yourself by participating in areas of study from classes like theology to live my life in a way that brings honor extracurricular activities, and build and apologetics, to learning God’s design to others and to the Lord. I am intentional lasting friendships – my best friend in biology, chemistry, and physics. CDA about surrounding myself with other today is someone I met as a 7th grader also helped bring my faith to life through Christians to encourage and support me at CDA. Establish your faith as your practical application in the classroom, on and who can speak truth into my life. In own, and utilize the many talents of the athletic field, and in my interactions my work at the hospital, I do my best to the teachers and families that make with others. In addition to emphasizing treat medical needs and deliver hope that CDA so special! hard work, character, and perseverance, transcends modern medicine. CDA encouraged reliance on the Lord. How did CDA help form your Although I can’t say exactly how I have worldview? impacted the culture around me in each of these situations, I hope that everyone My education at CDA taught me how to I have encountered has seen more of formulate, articulate, and defend my beliefs. All of my teachers trained me Christ in me because of my responses. how to think for myself, and showed What advice from your CDA me how to measure all of my beliefs experience would you give to help against Scripture. I feel that CDA gave future CDA graduates? me the necessary tools to enter college Always strive to do your best and honor with a solid worldview. Even though I and glorify God in every situation. As graduated from a Baptist university, my pastor says, “Walk a little slower. most of the people I interacted with did Talk a little less. Listen a little better. not have this solid foundation, and I am Think a little deeper.” so thankful for all that my teachers at Catherine Patterson CDA did for me. CDA–Collin County, Class of 2014 How have you impacted culture around you for the glory of God? Dallas Baptist University There have been many circumstances Bachelor of Music Education in college in which I had to stand for Occupation: Elementary Music my beliefs in the face of opposition.