Coram Deo Blog
Project Legacy 2.0: The Anatomy of Success with Rob Bush
by Dr. David Seibel Over three centuries ago, the founders of the United States saw that the possibility of a democratic government was dependent upon the presence of citizens who had strong minds, resolute hearts, and could win...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Doug Wilson
by Dr. David Seibel, Head of School “I want to help grow fruit on other people’s trees,” is the caption that belongs next to Doug Wilson’s picture. Doug Wilson has a broad business background and is now Executive Chairman of Monon...
read moreNew Staff Interview: Ms. Sophia King
We caught up with our new Academic Assistant and Teacher Apprentice Sophia King, who went to Coram Deo Academy as a student through 10th grade. These interview questions are intended to help us get to know her better. She teaches Latin, assists in various...
read moreNew Faculty Interview: Chris Miller
We caught up with Chris Miller, our new 6th grade and Upper School Spanish teacher, so that the community could get to know him better. 1. Are you married? Family? I am not married although I do live with my German Shepherd,...
read moreNew Faculty Interview: Jen Ringenberg
We caught up with Jen Ringenberg who is joining the faculty of Coram Deo Academy as 2nd Grade Instructor for the 2023-2024 school year. We wanted the community to be able to get to know her, so we asked her some interview questions. Here are her...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Terry Anker
by Dr. David Seibel, Head of School “I don’t start bonfires but I hand out matchbooks.” That’s just one of a handful of the quotes that Terry Anker enlightened me with in our recent Project Legacy 2.0 interview. Once or twice a month, I...
read moreEducation Is More Than Facts, Part 1: Charlotte Mason on Atmosphere, Discipline, Life
by Danielle Weirich, Upper School Omnibus and Latin Now, what I want is facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon facts: nothing else will ever be of any...
read moreBoard Member Interview: Dr. Jon Baer
We caught up with Dr. Jon Baer, who joined the Coram Deo Academy Board this last year, in order to learn more about him and his family. 1. What brought you to CDA? I became connected to Coram Deo Academy through my two former Wabash...
read moreHead of School or Heart of School?: A Summary of My Doctoral Dissertation on The School Lifecycle
by Dr. David Seibel, Head of School I was recently talking to another headmaster, and she said she thought her title should really be “Heart of School.” I am not entirely sure why she thinks this, but she struck me as a nurturing type who really sees herself as...
read moreThe Ideal Education: Why We Do Not Have One and What You Can Do About It
by Dr. David Seibel, Head of School This article was originally given at a Community Leaders Breakfast on February 15th, 2023. My title today is based upon a book that I studied for my doctoral dissertation: The Ideal Executive:...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Russ Pulliam, The Prehistoric Man
by Dr. David Seibel, Head of School Russ Pulliam has firm convictions, but he is not angry with those who oppose him as evidenced in his writings in the Indianapolis Star over the past three decades. For those with eyes to see, his Christian view of life...
read moreWinning the Culture War, Part 2: Create a Compelling Counter-Culture
By David Seibel, Head of School This article is the second and final part of a talk given at Grandparents Day on November 4, 2022. The first part of this talk considers the supply lines for our culture. Is Coram Deo Academy trying to win the culture...
read moreBoard Member Interview: Cameron Heasley
We caught up with Cameron Heasley, a Coram Deo dad and board member, to learn a little more about him and help our community get to know him better. 1. What brought you to CDA? My wife Becca heard of Coram Deo Academy through a friend at Bible Study...
read moreWinning the Culture War, Part 1
By David Seibel, Head of School This article is an adaptation of the talk given at Grandparents Day on November 4, 2022. Is Coram Deo Academy trying to win the culture war? Someone recently called me a culture warrior, and I did not really know how to...
read more5 Cs for a Thriving Family Culture
This article is adapted from a talk given at CDA Fall Curriculum Night 2022, a time where the faculty and parents of Coram Deo Academy come together to learn and grow as we educate our students in partnership. By Jason Barney "House into Home:...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Sajan George
By David Seibel, Head of School I really wish I would have met Sajan George when I was in college, because he could have helped tear down the secular-sacred divide in my mind. The secular-sacred divide is the misguided notion that life is divided between...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Paul Estridge
By David Seibel, Head of School I recently sat down for Project Legacy with Central Indiana’s homebuilder, Paul Estridge, and various aspects of his perspective remind me of one of my heroes, Dr. Albert Mohler, the president of Southern...
read moreSowing the Seeds of Virtue, Part 4: Sowing Ideas
By Jason Barney, CDA Principal So far in this series on “Sowing the Seeds of Virtue” in our children, we discussed a couple crucial ways of helping our children grow in virtues. First, we discussed how Christians need to recover the language of virtue in our...
read moreSowing the Seeds of Virtue, Part 3: Training in Habits
By Jason Barney, CDA Principal In this series, we’re unpacking different ways of helping children and young adults grow in virtue both in the school and in the home. One of the lost goals of education, Christian education especially, is the cultivation...
read moreSowing the Seeds of Virtue, Part 2: Stocking the Memory
By Jason Barney, CDA PrincipalIn the opening to this series, I discussed the lamentable absence of virtue in our modern thinking about parenting and education. We looked at how the New Testament especially endorses virtue training as part and parcel of Christian...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Taylor University President D. Michael Lindsay
by David Seibel, Head of School Dr. Lindsay is the featured speaker at the Coram Deo Annual Banquet on October 28, 2022. We are grateful to have Dr. Lindsay join us to celebrate the 15th year of Coram Deo, the new building, and the...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Brian Schutt
by David Seibel, Head of School Conserving Community in the Age of Social Distancing “In a world that is slowly disintegrating, Christians are called to be integrators in that we, in Christ’s power, must pull together that which is falling apart.” Brian...
read moreNew Faculty Interview: Aaron Delph
Mr. Aaron Delph has joined the faculty at Coram Deo Academy as an Upper School instructor teaching 8th grade Omnibus (Integrated Bible, Literature, and History), Algebra 1 and 6th grade Science. Aaron Delph received his BA from Purdue...
read moreNew Faculty Interview: Jaima Kinsler
Mrs. Jaima Kinsler is joining the Coram Deo Academy faculty this year as one of our new 1st grade teachers. Jaima Kinsler has taught for 17 years in Kindergarten through 2nd grade positions in Texas, Indianapolis Public Schools and Westfield Washington...
read moreSowing the Seeds of Virtue, Part 1: Is Virtue Even Christian?
By Jason Barney, CDA PrincipalThis is the first installment in a series of short essays written by Principal Jason Barney. Jason Barney was awarded the Henry Salvatori Prize for Excellence in Teaching from Hillsdale College in 2012. He completed his MA in...
read moreAlumni Interview Series: Joanna Finley
Interview by Valerie Malabonga, CDA mom We caught up with Coram Deo Academy alumna Joanna Finley to find out what she's doing now and hear her reflections on her Coram Deo experience. 1. Where did you go to college and what are...
read moreDear Classical Christian Family, Don’t Waste Your Summer
by David Seibel, Head of School My title for today’s message is “Dear Classical Christian Family, Don’t Waste Your Summer" and our text is Genesis 1:11-12. Our theme this year, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” comes...
read moreNew Faculty Interview: Betsy Richmann
We're so excited to welcome Ms. Betsy Richmann to Coram Deo Academy next year. Many in our community know Betsy Richmann from her work as a student-teacher through Taylor's education department with Mrs. Warman in 3rd grade this last winter. Mr. Barney...
read moreNew Staff Member Interview: Linda Hoyt
We're so excited to announce Linda Hoyt as our new Office Assistant at Coram Deo Academy! Her warm and inviting presence will care for students, parents and teachers at that entryway into our school. This will enable Susan MacKay to focus more of her...
read moreBoard Member Interview: Marcus Manges
We caught up with Marcus Manges, a Coram Deo dad and board member, to learn a little more about him and help our community get to know him better. 1. What brought you to CDA? I have known Dave Seibel for about a decade. He reconnected with me in the fall...
read moreFour New Elevator Pitches for CCE
by David Seibel, Head of School A few years ago, I wrote an elevator pitch for explaining to people what classical Christian education is. Although I still hold to what I wrote there, my ideas about classical Christian education have expanded in size and...
read moreNew Faculty Interview: Tori Hickok
We are so excited to welcome Mrs. Tori Hickok to the Upper School faculty of Coram Deo Academy as Math and Science Instructor, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year! Tori Hickok graduated from Maranatha Baptist University with a B.S. in Secondary...
read moreBoard Member Interview: Tara Tang
Tara Tang is one of our Board members at Coram Deo Academy. We caught up with her to help new families get to know her and her family. 1. What brought you to CDA? Our family has been a part of the CDA community since 2012. We searched for the right...
read moreNew Faculty Interview: Amy Ashley
We are excited to announce that we have hired Amy Ashley as one of our 1st Grade teachers for the 2022-23 at Coram Deo Academy. She and her husband were a part of the Coram Deo community many years ago and are so happy to return with their twins! She has...
read moreBoard Member Interview: Matt Simpson
What brought you to CDA? Some good friends of ours invited us to join them at the CDA annual banquet when our oldest daughter was in preschool. They had done extensive research into various educational options and we trusted their process and...
read moreHow to Survive an Apocalypse, or Make Reality More Meaningful
By Jen Hutson, CDA mom Be sure to read the first two articles in the Common Arts series!Dead Things: Lessons of a Novice Taxidermist and NaturalistFind A Lost World in Two Square Feet Also, check out the slides from Jen's "Common Arts, Transformed Hearts"...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Rob Eyler
by David Seibel, Head of School In Project Legacy 2.0, I sit down with influencers that are seeking the truth and care about the inheritance that we are leaving our children. You can see previous Project Legacy 2.0 articles of Dave Neff,...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Blair Dowden
by David Seibel, Head of School In the winter of 2017, I went from being totally committed to teaching high schoolers to being keenly interested in institutional leadership because of one person’s example as an interim head of school, Dr. Blair Dowden. I...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Mayor Cook
by David Seibel, Head of School After speaking with Mayor Cook on two separate occasions, he seems to be someone who understands the distinct yet complementary roles that economics, education, and politics play in forming a civilization. He is also...
read moreNew Faculty Interview: Mr. Vince Cutrona
Last week we shared the exciting news that we hired Vince Cutrona as Upper School teacher. Mr. Vince Cutrona previously served as the Upper School Dean of Students and Humanities teacher at Highlands Latin School of Indianapolis. He embodies...
read moreDead Things: Lessons of a Novice Taxidermist and Naturalist
by Jen Hutson, CDA mom First Blush with Death I was standing at the great white barn on my grandparents’ property when I first witnessed death. Many a lucky spider found a home where the barn’s clapboard siding met the grass. One hot afternoon in...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Should Christians Be Political? Micah Beckwith
by David Seibel, Head of School He wears skinny jeans, rides a motorcycle, likes rock n’ roll, and is a Christian pastor who ran for Congress in 2020. You could find him on his Facebook preaching against the ‘snake oil of socialism’ or telling the...
read moreFind A Lost World in Two Square Feet
by Jen Hutson, CDA mom The Common But Lost ArtsYour yard is a treasure of lost arts and loves.If you have two square feet of dirt, you can introduce your child to one of these lost arts.Classical educator Christopher Hall explains common arts and the...
read moreNew Teacher Interview: Kendall Hinton
We’re so excited to be welcoming Kendall Hinton to Coram Deo Academy staff as our Pre-K teacher! Even though she's been in the community for years as a mom of CDA students, we thought we would catch up with her and ask her a few questions about...
read moreNew Faculty Interview: Julie Kilmer
In this faculty interview Julie Kilmer, a new Kindergarten teacher, tells about her life and interests.
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Scott Eckart
by David Seibel, Head of School Robert Greenleaf wrote, “If serving is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you.” Scott Eckart is committed to choosing service over self-interest. At the classical Christian school I serve, we like to say, “Leave...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Dave Neff
This Project Legacy interview highlights Dave Neff’s advice to seek to understand first and build relationship second.
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Jon Laster
by David Seibel, Head of School St. Paul wrote, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think...
read moreAlumni Interview Series: Anna Delp-Justus
Read this interview of CDA alumna Anna Delp-Justus
read moreA Summer Playbook
by Jen Hutson, CDA mom The Proverbial Summer What does a good summer require? Some of us can answer instantly, drawing from the nostalgia of our own childhood. (For the writer - videotaping homemade dramas with your best friend.) Perhaps...
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Dr. Nicholas Piotrowski
by David Seibel, Head of School “As a leader, he’s the right type of inclusive. He’s local-church centered and exercises a wonderful godly pragmatism.” So says pastor and author Dane Ortlund in a recent interview with Dr. Nicholas...
read moreA Classical Christian Manifesto: The Why Behind the Way from Hebrews 12:1-2
by David Seibel, Head of School This post is a transcript of a chapel talk Mr. Seibel gave on April 29th, 2021. Watch the chapel yourself below. In Hebrews 12:1-2, our theme verses for the 2020-2021 school year, we find a big picture why for classical...
read moreStories: May Your Eye See Truth
This post explores the power of stories and their importance from a Christian perspective for education.
read more5 Lessons from My First Three Years as a School Leader
by David Seibel, Head of School I am nearing the end of my third year serving as a school leader and would like to offer my own Top Five personal lessons. I am far from qualified to speak authoritatively on the subject of organizational leadership, but I...
read moreAlumni Interview Series: Alison Clodgo
This interview catches up with CDA alumna Alison Clodgo from the class of 2018.
read moreA Primer on Ancient Prayer
A Primer on Ancient Prayer introduces you to prayers from past Christian leaders and traditions, in addition to prayers in scripture itself, to help families and individuals find rich sources for their own prayer life.
read moreProject Legacy 2.0: Doug Endicott
This Project Legacy interview of Doug Endicott highlights a mission greater than money and a retirement beyond relaxion.
read moreAlumni Interview Series: Marta Ritz
Read this alumni interview of Marta Ritz, class of 2016, as she shares how her education at Coram Deo prepared her for lifelong learning and being a legacy leader in social work.
read moreClassical U at Coram Deo: Education Is a Discipline
Enjoy this video recording of the talk “Education Is a Discipline” from Classical U Feb 2021 at Coram Deo Academy, a K-8 Christian classical school in Carmel, IN.
read moreMeaningful Movies for Dark Winter Nights
Revive family movie night with these great ideas!
read moreProject Legacy: Two Years
While formal schooling may only last until age 18, education is an ongoing process that never ends. In the winter of 2019, I launched Project Legacy where I started interviewing leaders who I thought were skillful in their work and were...
read moreAlumni Interview Series: Joshua Williamson
Interview by Valerie Malabonga, CDA parent 1. Could you tell us about your time at Coram Deo Academy: In what grade did you start? How long were you there? What year did you graduate? I started in 9th grade and I was there for four years and graduated...
read moreInvitation to Share about CDA!
Tell your friends and neighbors about Coram Deo Academy, a K-8 Christian school in Carmel, IN, this February and March! Open Houses every month and personal tours on request!
read moreLearn by Telling: The Power of Narration
Narration helps students learn by telling and is supported by brain science and the classical principle of imitation.
read moreChapel: Jesus Is the True and Final Priest of a Better Covenant
In this blog we invite the community in to chapel to sing with us a few hymns and watch or read the chapel message on Jesus as the true and final priest of a better covenant.
read moreProject Legacy: Dr. Mark Eckel
by David Seibel, Head of SchoolThis post is the seventeenth in Project Legacy, a series of interviews that aim to learn from leaders outside of education to influence those inside education. See our most popular posts in Project Legacy on Mayor James...
read moreAlumni Interview Series: John Finley
Read this interview of CDA 2017 alumnus John Finley.
read moreProject Legacy: Dr. Jim Brandyberry
In this Project Legacy series article, David Seibel reflects on the passing of his son and lessons for life from church historian Dr. Jim Brandyberry.
read moreClassical U at Coram Deo: Education Is an Atmosphere
At Coram Deo Academy our mission is "to assist parents in their duty of biblically training their children by offering academic instruction that is distinctly and consistently Christ-centered and classical." One way we're seeking to do that better is...
read moreAlumni Interview Series: Leah Bobbitt-Rischar and Luke Rischar
Read the alumni interview of Leah Bobbitt-Rischar and Luke Rischar highlighting the value of a Coram Deo education.
read moreProject Legacy: Whitley Yates
In this Project Legacy article Dave shares lessons learned from Whitley Yates about the importance of life, rhetoric and relationship.
read moreZombies vs. Saints: Is Halloween More Heaven or Hell?
Learn about the background of Halloween in pagan celebrations and the Christian All Saints Day and how to redeem it from a Christian perspective as well.
read moreProject Legacy: Marcus Schrader
In this Project Legacy Interview we learn three lessons about children, that they imitate their parents, are a blessing and need friendships.
read moreProject Legacy: Reverend David Greene
This Project Legacy interview of Reverend David Greene discusses two lessons: there is one savior but many types of service in many spaces, and we must remember the have-nots.
read moreAlumni Interview Series: Kelsey Yoder
Read this interview of Coram Deo Alumna Kelsey Yoder, who is now a nursing major at Lee University and plays on the women’s soccer team.
read moreThird Place – Creating a Place of Connection During COVID
Have you lost your family’s third place away from work or home? Learn some practical strategies for creating places of connection in a post-COVID world.
read moreBeyond COVID Slogans: Review of Coronavirus and Christ by John Piper
Learn how John Piper’s book can help encourage your heart to trust in Christ in the midst of this troubling season with the new coronavirus pandemic.
read moreBuilding a Great Partnership with Your Child’s Teacher: 4 Tips for Forging an Alliance Aimed at Your Child’s Growth
Learn 4 tips for fostering an ideal relationship with your child’s teacher so that you can have a great year of celebrating growth and allying together.
read moreProject Legacy: Dountonia Batts
This Project Legacy interview of Dountonia Batts shares how adversity is an advantage and about the importance of keeping a focus on mission for our children.
read moreProject Legacy: David Bell
This Project Legacy interview of David Bell shares about finding common ground to do common good and embodying grace and truth in our leadership and work for the Kingdom.
read moreAdversity: Sowing Fruit in Your Child’s Garden
Learn how adversity is a necessary part of the growth in character for your children along with a list of practical ways to let the natural bumps of life develop resilience in your children.
read moreExperience Is the Best Teacher: Making the Most of Current Events in Our Parenting
Parents can help their children learn from their experiences through incorporating reflection and guidance into their day. Learn how to help your children process current events and make experience the best teacher
read moreInterview of New 4th Grade Teacher: 10 Questions for Daniel Racke
Daniel Racke is joining Coram Deo Academy faculty as 4th grade teacher. Here is an interview to help families get to know him better.
read moreInterview of New Principal: 10 Questions for Jason Barney
A new principal is a big deal. And while many of us may have had a chance to meet Mr. Barney, we thought it would be a great idea to sit down with him (virtually) and ask him a number of questions, so that we can all get to know him better. So here are ten questions I (Susan) came up with and Mr. Barney’s answers to them.
read moreInvest Your Privilege
I would like to provide some biblical thought with the aim of promoting biblical living as it relates to privilege. First, I will provide a general background on privilege and then present a twofold offensive strategy: community-awareness and intentional privilege investment.
read moreProject Legacy: Greg Enas
With his collective experience, Dr. Enas can teach educators to minimize risk, enhance value, and accelerate high-impact solutions. These are the lessons I have learned from Dr. Enas during our meetings in 2018-2020.
read moreThe Habits of the Heart in the Home: Responsibility
After God gave Adam and Eve the command to “be fruitful and multiply,” He then gave them dominion over all of His creation. That’s a great deal of responsibility on all of us. We need to teach our children that God has given us the job to take care of what He has given us.
read moreThe Habits of the Heart in the Home: Respect
We all desire for our children to act respectfully, especially when we are out in public. How many times have we expected our children to act a certain way in front of strangers, but we have not necessarily taught them the correct way to behave?
read moreProject Legacy: Ron Brumbarger
The Great Conversation is the ongoing process where today’s students refine and innovate upon the great minds of the past– ultimately, Ron has showed me that this should be done in a community with a great mentors, great tools and great partners.
read moreThe Habits of the Heart in the Home: Obedience
Training your child in the habit of obedience is one of the most important jobs you have as a parent. Remember, good habits are formed by slow, methodical training – encouraging appropriate behavior and discouraging inappropriate behavior. You have been equipped by God to do this job.
read moreThe Habits of the Heart in the Home: Attention
The evidence that we are practicing attention is our actions afterward. If we act on what we are told or respond to what we have read or heard, then there is evidence that we have been practicing attention. All other habits need the habit of attention to be formed first.
read moreThe Habits of the Heart in the Home: Introduction
At Coram Deo Academy, we help our students practice habits that will benefit them for life, not just for school. Rather than using behavior modification, we focus on character by helping our students practice Attention, Obedience, Respect, and Responsibility. Over the next few weeks, I will share with you ways you can continue to use these habits in your home.
read moreMaking Vision a Reality with Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard
Mayor Brainard’s 20+ years of leadership in Carmel have yielded undeniable results. As he states, “Carmel has been one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation during the last decade. We take pride in the fact that we have stayed ahead of that growth.”
read moreA Musical Classical Education
In this article, I hope to demonstrate that our belief as a Classical Christian school is to educate our students by drawing out potential, creating enlightening experiences, and helping conform them to the image of Christ. So what does this have to do with music?
read moreThe Value of Music in Education
Plato once admitted, “Education in music is most sovereign, because more than anything else, rhythm and harmony find their way to the inmost soul and take strongest hold upon it, bringing with them and imparting grace, if one is rightly trained, and otherwise the contrary.” This leads to the main question I hope to answer this week: Why is music a valuable and necessary part of education, and what is its role?
read moreThe Benefits of Music
Musical training offers undeniable skills and proficiencies, which can be transferred to other meaningful areas of life. This begs the following questions: How is it that the elements of music affect the innermost being of an individual? And how does music benefit one’s personal growth and development?
read moreThe Biblical Significance of Music
My goal over these next few weeks is to explain the importance of a musical foundation for young ones from the worldview of a Classical Christian Educator. One must first and foremost understand the biblical significance of a subject before attempting to understand it from a classical or educational approach. Hence, in this first post, I will begin with a reflection on music from a biblical perspective.
read moreNo Goodbyes
This was originally shared with staff and parents the week after Miss Emily Hall’s tragic passing on February 3, 2019. We share again today in honor of her precious life.
read moreNever Stop Learning: Lessons from Steve Clark
Steve is always searching for someone who has already solved the challenges he faces in his world. He looks to those beyond him to cast a bigger vision for what he could be and how he could better serve people.
read morePeople & Processes: Lessons from Chuck Frary
After months of digging through filing cabinets, reviewing books, and interviewing employees, the nervous graduate students compiled their reports. Chuck asked, “Well, what is the problem?” One of the business students tentatively responded, “The problem is you, Mr. Frary.”
read more