The Craft family joined our school community this year in many different ways. Dr. Joseph Craft is a professor in the College of Education at Columbia International University. Mrs. Rachel Craft is our new 6th-grade math and science teacher. One of the Craft children is in 4th grade at our MR campus and the other two attend our SAR campus. Read below to see what Dr. Craft had to say about our school and his family’s Ben Lippen experience thus far.
What do you feel your children get at Ben Lippen School that they would not get somewhere else? If we are comparing Ben Lippen to public schools, without giving disservice to the men and women who dedicate their lives to teaching in the secular, there is no comparison. Our children are excelling academically as well as spiritually. They are growing in their faith and are encouraged to express it in their relationships (both personal and professionally). Ben Lippen is more than just a place to learn, it’s a place to grow and mature. We also appreciate the school’s attention to extra-curricular activities and programs. We know that our kids will not miss out on what they are passionate about (mainly cheer and football) because Ben Lippen has those sports and so much more! Ben Lippen is where it’s at!
Which campus do your children attend and what makes that campus unique and special to your family? We have three children. Caleb, age 9, attends fourth grade at the Monticello Road campus. From our first tour of the MR campus, Caleb was blown away by the facilities, class sizes, technology, and warm/welcoming environment. He enjoys school and is excited to go each day. Lilianne, 2nd grade, and Emmett, Pre-K3, attend the Saint Andrews Road (SAR) Campus. Both children love riding the bus in the mornings and afternoons. The school is warm and welcoming and Lilianne and Emmett both like the set-up of their classrooms. They can’t wait to get out the door in the morning and go to school.
Our theme for this year is Thrive. How has Ben Lippen School helped your children THRIVE? Academically, for our two oldest, they feel challenged. Spiritually though, all three of our children are growing in their ability to memorize and recite Scripture and to apply it in their everyday relationships with us and others. Both school campuses are very personable but professional. Both make our kids feel loved and in turn encourage them to love others while also preparing them for a professional life of mission and service.
How would you share with others the value of the sacrifices your family has made for your children to attend Ben Lippen? No amount of money or excess of funds compares to our children receiving a quality, gospel-centered, safe education. It is a sacrifice but it is a sacrifice worth making. Our children’s faith in Christ is worth investing in. For us, the choice was easy and the sacrifice worth it.
What advice would you give families who are considering Ben Lippen School? Do it! Enroll! Don’t waste another minute looking elsewhere. Ben Lippen has provided our children a safe and thriving academic environment. It has provided my wife (6th-grade teacher) a place to fulfill her calling. It has provided us a renewed excitement and continued hope in Christian education. You will not be disappointed. Choose Ben Lippen!