When Zach and Emily Ihle transitioned their children from a hybrid homeschool to Christian Academy Schools two years ago, they hoped to find more than just a school. They were looking for community and a Christ-centered environment where their children could thrive. The transition exceeded their expectations.
“Going from our hybrid homeschooling situation to CAS was a very smooth transition for us,” Emily shared. “The class sizes being small made us feel better. June, our oldest, said she was welcomed with open arms very quickly. Part of that is her personality, because she jumps in and introduces herself, but all of our kids felt like there were people in class who immediately made them their friend. They all have great friends now.”
For Zach, one of the greatest benefits has been seeing his children find a place of belonging.
“The school is exactly what we were looking for,” he said. “When we moved here, we were praying for a tribe of friends and a place to belong for the kids. They definitely found that in their friend groups, extracurricular activities, sports, and theatre. If you’re looking for a tight-knit community that’s focused on Christ and a solid education, CAS is worth looking into.”
Emily also values the partnership between families and the school. She shared:
“If parents still want to play a role in their children’s education, this is a good place for it. At CAS, we’ve found the teachers and administration receptive to receptive to our input, which makes us feel valued. And Mr. Dray genuinely cares about the kids. He gets excited about what they are doing. And there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer where and when you want to.”
Zach and Emily volunteer in the Christian Academy community by leading worship for middle and high school chapels and helping to develop student worship teams. Their investment in students further strengthens the Christ-centered culture that first drew their family to Christian Academy.
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Zach Ihle is a Support Operations Manager for Planning Center, and Emily Ihle is a small business owner of Render Dwell and founder of Dwell House, a volunteer effort serving Shelby County. Kelinda Crawford served as interviewer for this article.
