Prepared for Impact

Equipping students uncommonlywell for life beyond high school at North Cobb Christian School.

By Kate Hartley

In middle school, Cole Carden was struggling. It’s not an uncommon story: boy gets to middle school, starts questioning authority, gets in a bit of trouble, and doesn’t find God very relevant. What was uncommon about Cole’s story is what happened next. Cole had started attending North Cobb Christian School (NCCS) in fifth grade, and he knew the middle school principal, Craig Konchak. In fact, they had butted heads. But rather than dole out detentions, Mr. Konchak issued an invitation.

“I was getting into a little bit of trouble after transitioning to a new school, and I was struggling with my faith. Mr. Konchak noticed that,” shares Cole. “He called me into his office once a month to have lunch with him. At first it was against my will, but he said, ‘You’re coming to lunch with me, and we’re going to talk.’ He showed me compassion and modeled what it looks like to live out your faith in an authentic way. He took time to invest in me, and to this day, that bond has greatly impacted my walk with God.”

Ready to Launch

This spring, Cole will graduate from North Cobb Christian School and head to the United States Coast Guard Academy, where he has been recruited to swim for the school’s elite swimming and diving team. Cole says he feels very prepared for this next journey, largely because of the investment of the administrators and teachers at NCCS. “The school is very transparent. They don’t sugar coat discipline issues, and they don’t dodge social issues. Instead, they try to resonate with kids and show them how to address issues head-on,” explains Cole. “For example, Mr. Shaffer, my Bible teacher, leads us in debating real ethical issues you hear about in the news, but with the Bible as the authority.”

The Myth of the “Christian School Bubble”

Countering the thought that Christian schools are a “bubble” that keeps students from the real world, Cole says, “Our school is definitely not a bubble. Inside our school, we have all the same issues teenagers have at any school. I think the issues breed more in other schools where they can’t address them how we do, though. At NCCS, we can attack the issue and get to the root of the problem through the lens of God’s truth.”

Christina Surcey, a junior at NCCS who transferred from another school her sophomore year, agrees with Cole. “I wanted to come to NCCS because my previous school was becoming very unsafe with a lot of gun and bomb threats. Seven police officers had to show up one day. I felt instantly safer at NCCS because it’s fully gated, and there’s a guardhouse and a security team -- but it’s the teachers that really make this school feel safe,” shares Christina. “The teachers here are absolutely amazing. They’re challenging -- my classes are harder here -- but they really care and give students a safe space to process life.”

Standing for Truth in a Fallen World

Christina remembers coming to NCCS on the first day and being amazed that another student held the door for her, her teachers asked how she was doing, and everyone stood for the pledge to the flag. “When they said to stand for the pledge and everyone in the class did it without question, I felt such a flood of relief,” says Christina. “Here, there’s just a foundation of respect being built in us. There’s an emphasis on God that pervades everything. It’s awesome that we can talk about Jesus, worship during chapel, and all come together and pray. Coming from a public school, I am so grateful.”

Head of School Todd Clingman, who has led NCCS since 2007, says that the school’s mission is to help students navigate a world where truth is eroding. “Our children face so many attacks on their identity,” he says. “We aren’t only equipping students to get into college. We’re giving them a firm foundation in Christ, so they’re equipped to stand for truth in a fallen world.”

Cole Carden echoes this mission: “NCCS is not a bubble that keeps kids from the real world. It’s a training ground that equips kids for the real world. I know I’m ready.”