Heritage Christian School was founded by the late Ted Christman in 1984, starting with a kindergarten class of only 12 students. Originally started as a school for children at Heritage Baptist Church, HCS quickly grew in the following years and became a staple in private education for the community.
There are now roughly 200 students, with the school having expanded to Pre-K through 8th grade. To accommodate the higher enrollment, the school went from only using the original sanctuary and one classroom to adding a wing, several classrooms, and a gymnasium.
For those who know much about HCS, it’s hard to reflect on the school’s history without mentioning Tim Hoak. He started out as a 4th-grade teacher in 1988, teaching full-time for 4 years before serving as administrator for the next 33 years. Hoak was honored during an emotional retirement ceremony in April 2021.
Hoak’s long career isn’t unusual for staff at HCS, as there has been very little turnover. Many teachers will teach for 15 to 20 years before retiring.
Take Hoak’s replacement as an example: Tracy Ladd started teaching at Heritage in 1993. Ladd taught 5th grade for 7 years then stopped teaching to raise children. She then returned to teach part-time at the middle school for 14 years before being named the next administrator.
Both Hoak and Ladd said they are proud that Heritage has remained grounded in its faith-based approach to learning over the last four decades.
“Students should live boldly and humbly under the Lordship of Jesus Christ,” Hoak said. “Heritage wants students to focus on how God is in control and that He has a reason for everything.”
In a previous interview, Ladd said, “I desire to steer HCS in a similar path as it’s been on for the past 37 years, which means our students learn all their subjects through a Christian worldview, are ready after graduating to proceed to high school with a strong academic foundation, and have been shown the love of God inside and outside of the classroom which often results in life-long relationships.”
Hoak and Ladd also both stressed how the faculty and staff strive to build solid relationships not just with the students but also with the parents and families. Hoak said that helps Heritage feel less like a school and more like a family.
One family that can testify to that atmosphere is the Coles.
After their eldest was bullied at another school, Shelly and Carl Cole decided to send their children to HCS. They were worried about their financial situation but decided to have faith in God.
“It was an investment that we decided was worth it,” Carl Cole said.
They listed many benefits of Heritage, including passionate teachers, a family atmosphere, and strong Christian leadership.
“God rewarded our small adjustments by blessing us and our children through Heritage,” Shelly Cole said.
Last May, their youngest child graduated from Heritage, ending the Coles’ journey with the school, at least for now.
Many graduates from Heritage go on to send their children to the school because of the lasting impact it had on their lives. During the 2021 school year, about 20% of the students at Heritage Christian were the children of former students.
“That says volumes to me,” Hoak said at the time. “We’ve had former students who were not the best students when they were in school — they got in trouble a lot, they were challenging or difficult — then they grew up, got married and had kids and they want to send their kids back to us. That’s been extremely rewarding and just a testimony to God’s kindness to us.”
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Heritage is holding an event in the school this Saturday. The event will run from 5-8 p.m. and includes entertainment along with singing and speeches from former teachers. There will also be a giveaway of two tickets to an upcoming Crowder concert.
School officials ask that alumni visit the school (located at 3585 Thruston Dermont Road) to see what has changed and what hasn’t, with walkthroughs of the school available.
“We are able to celebrate 40 years because of God’s goodness,” Ladd said. “He’s been faithful to us.”
