Kingdom Service: Answering the Call to Serve Students with Learning Needs – Liz Caddow

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Workshop Talk | | Teacher & Classroom

Summary

What is God’s charge to us as leaders of the classical, Christian education movement regarding serving students with learning needs? With the myriad of challenges facing independent, Christian schools, why is it important to consider and answer this question? Follow along with the Head of School at Trinity Classical Academy as she inspires you through her journey to serve the entire body of Christ while remaining true to Trinity’s mission to provide a challenging education, grounded in the Christian faith and the classical tradition, to produce young men and women of virtue, wisdom, purpose, and courage.

Speaker

Liz Caddow founded Trinity Classical Academy in 2001 in Santa Clarita, California with her husband, Wally Caddow. Today Trinity is in its 23rd year with 560 students in grades K–12th and has graduated 13 classes totaling over 400 students who have attended some of the finest universities and colleges in the United States.

Liz went on to teach public junior high for 8 years. Her experiences there began to strengthen a resolve that starting a new school was what God had planned for her. But what kind of school was worthwhile to start? Hearing the founder of the Logos School, Douglas Wilson, on James Dobson’s “Focus on the Family” radio program one morning gave her the answer. After months of research, reading, and consideration, Liz and Wally presented a survey to their local church congregation to gauge interest in beginning a classical, Christian school. A dozen families expressed interest and the dream of Trinity Classical Academy began a journey to reality.

Trinity has also pioneered the inclusion of special education into the classical school setting by opening the Imago Dei School (Latin for the Image of God) to serve students with developmental disabilities. The only classical school in the country to do so, and one of the few Christian schools to address this underserved population. Trinity now also serves 160 plus students in the independent learning community through Trinity’s Libertas Preparatory School.

Liz and Wally make their home in Santa Clarita, California. Their son, Ian, attended the United States Naval Academy and now serves as a 1st Lieutenant Logistics officer in the United States Marine Corps, married a Trinity alumna, and the Caddows were excited to celebrate their first grandchild this past fall. Their daughter, Hannah, graduated from Life-Pacific University this past spring with a masters in Leadership Development. Their youngest daughter, Lily, just completed her freshman year at Wheaton College, where she also plays on the Wheaton Thunder women’s basketball team.

wcaddow@trinityclassicalacademy.com

Additional Materials

The Association of Classical & Christian Schools presents Repairing the Ruins, the ACCS annual conference, copyright ACCS. You may make additional copies of this recording for use by your school but please do not sell any copies of the recording, or post it on the internet.