The new head of school at K-12 Faith Christian School in southwest Roanoke County came from a “Classical Christian” school in Memphis – Westminster Academy – to replace Samuel Cox in late August. Cox shepherded Faith Christian through some big changes – including a move to its own campus on Buck Mountain Road after starting out in shared spaces at several local churches. Cox has moved on to another opportunity in Greensboro.
Baur said it isn’t unusual for a Head of School to move on to new challenges after they feel their work is done – think of restless football coaches eager to climb new mountains perhaps. But at 56 he can envision himself at Faith Christian well into a retirement age. “I was looking for other opportunities in classical Christian education,” said Baur (Bower) about his move over the summer to the Roanoke Valley. “Faith has a great reputation. [I was] extremely impressed with the people, the school and what’s going on here.”
Baur said the classical Christian model of education is a traditional one that dates back many centuries. “It’s a method of education that was basically employed for 1500 years. It was an education that produced some of the finest thinkers, theologians, adventurers, composers, artists – an education geared towards learning how students learn.”
Faith Christian teaches the art of logic: “kids like to argue, so we thought we’d take advantage of that,” said Baur; “we teach them how to argue well.” Bringing out that love of learning, that natural curiosity and the ability to reason is what Faith Christian tries to nurture, according to Baur. It’s a “Socratic” education he notes, leading students to come up with the right answers rather than asking them to memorize information.
You can look it up: statistically speaking said Baur, students at classical Christian schools like Faith Christian score higher on standardized tests “across the board.” They also do well at events like mock trials and debate competitions. “I do believe there is a significant difference.”
There are about 270 students in grades K-12 at Faith Christian now; capacity is 400, said Baur. Tuition costs are a factor for parents that already support public schools with their tax dollars. “What you need to do is give evidence that the cost is borne out in the [final] product. The greatest challenge is making the school affordable. We work very hard to do that through a tuition assistance program.”
Faith Christian has a somewhat limited athletic program, depending in part on how many students want to get involved. Baur said the “quality of the coaches” and their experience makes it a worthy program overall. The school’s cross country and volleyball teams “have done exceptionally well,” added Baur. He also expects the boys basketball team to do well this winter – anchored by a 7-foot tall sophomore who is already drawing interest from numerous college programs.
He calls the annual “Project Faith” day of community service every spring “one of the most exciting things” the school does every year, enlisting every grade as they head out to paint a non-profit building, clean up a park, maintain trails or perform other tasks for grateful recipients. “[They] make a significant difference in the community,” said Baur. It’s also a very significant fundraiser as students go out and ask for funding from sponsors. Project Faith raised more than $150,000 last year.
Baur said that in the short term he has started out in the listening mode, “finding out what makes this place unique…and whom we can serve.” In the long term Baur said he wants the school to become “one of the finest Christian classical schools in the United States. That means really understanding what it means to provide a high quality [education]. To really move forward in terms of contributing to the valley in a significant way.”
By Gene Marrano
