We are pleased to introduce our new Upper School Humanities Teacher and Development Coordinator, Mrs. Lindsay Pattison! She has returned to us from a stint in New Hampshire where she recently sought to plant a Classical Christian school. Before her oldest was born, she taught 11th grade American Literature, both general and advanced classes, in […]

We are pleased to introduce our new Admissions coordinator, Mrs. Wanchen Villegas! She is a CDA mom and we are excited to have her on board. Mrs. Villegas and her family attend Chinese Community Church of Indianapolis. We caught up with Mrs. Villegas in order to help the community learn more about her. We hope […]

We are pleased to introduce our new 5th Grade Apprentice teacher, Mr. Zachary Bates! He is currently attending the CiRCE Institute’s Apprenticeship Program. He and his family attend Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Carmel. We caught up with Mr. Bates in order to help the community learn more about him. We hope you enjoy getting to […]

We are pleased to introduce our new Upper School Math and Science teacher, Mr. Wes Wells! He comes to us in his retirement from Institute for Excellence in Innovation where he was the CEO,  Chief Innovation Officer, and Chief AI Officer. He also taught physics with Wisdom Builders. He and his wife attend Bethel Lutheran […]

A look into our new Math curriculum.

You may have heard the term Science of Reading used often in educational settings or conversations. What researchers, educators and lawmakers are now confirming what classical educators have long known:  phonics is essential for learning to read.  Charlotte Mason wrote, “A child has not begun his education until he has acquired the habit of reading […]

As we continue to explore our school-wide theme of “Restful Minds, Restful Hearts,” I want to delve into a simple but profound principle that lies at the very heart of classical Christian education. It is a Latin phrase you will hear often in our halls: multum, non multa. It means, simply, “much, not many things.” […]

One of the many tools in the toolbox of classical pedagogy is the use of a classroom catechism. Historically, catechisms were used by the church to teach new Christians the contents of the Christian faith in a systematic way. Many of these catechisms had their own doctrinal distinctives, but they all shared three things in […]

Often when considering worship, we can easily fall into the trap of believing that worship is always and only the songs we sing at church on Sunday. The worship team has practiced and prepared. The instruments provide a beautiful accompaniment. The congregation is led in singing. Some congregants will come prepared to sing with their […]

We are pleased to introduce our newest 1st grade teacher, Ms. Suzanne Sears! She has spent the entirety of her career teaching in Christian schools in her home state of Iowa, in Illinois, and in Indiana. She has taught 2nd-4th grades. She is excited to embark on this new adventure of teaching 1st grade in […]

Listen here This article was originally delivered as an address at Parent Orientation on August 20th, 2025. As we stand at the threshold of another school year at Coram Deo Academy, we’ve chosen a theme that I believe speaks to a deep and often unspoken ache in our culture, in our homes, and in our […]

We are so excited to announce that Mrs. Lindsay Jensen has joined our faculty as an Academic Assistant! You might recognize her as she’s been a very active Parent Ambassador and volunteer. Also, the past nine years she’s had the absolute blessing and privilege of being a stay at home mom and homemaker.  She and […]

We are so excited to announce that Mr. Frank Vergara has joined our faculty as a our Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher! You might recognize the name as his wife is our Cross Country coach! He is retired from the US Army – Thank you for your service Mr. Vergara! He and his family […]

We are thrilled to announce that Mrs. Christine Szymczak has joined our faculty as one of our Junior Kindergarten teachers! You may have seen her around CDA already as she has been an academic assistant, subbing as needed, and working with teachers. Prior to her working at CDA, she has taught in a variety of […]

We are so excited to announce that Mrs. Joyce Vickery has joined our faculty as our K/1 Music Teacher! She is a Music Teacher at heart…first at The Master’s Study now CDA!  She and her family attend Faith Church Indy. With a new music teacher joining the team, we are excited to announce the launch […]

We are so excited to announce that Mrs. Abby Crawford has joined our faculty as a Junior Kindergarten teacher! Previously she was a Preschool teacher at Trinity Kidz Child Care in Westfield.  Abby and her family attend All Souls Anglican Church . We caught up with Mrs. Crawford in order to help the community learn […]

We are so excited to announce that Ms. Christina Gibson has joined our faculty as a 2nd grade teacher! For the past several years, she had the joy of being a full-time homeschool mom—teaching, learning, and growing alongside her children. She says, “That season was a true gift, and I’m deeply grateful for the time […]

We are so excited to announce that Mrs. Esther Molin has joined our faculty as a Teacher Apprentice! You may have seen her around CDA already as she has been subbing, working with teachers, and getting to know students. She was also a substitute teacher for Centerville schools, a nanny, and a missionary! She and […]

Ava was in Mr. Saul’s Omnibus 3 class this past year. Below you’ll find the prompt Ava chose and a note from Mr. Saul. “What did I learn in Omnibus this year?” This was one of the prompts students could choose from for their Omnibus final. The Omnibus course covers theology, Bible, philosophy, history, and […]

We are so excited to announce that Mrs. Anne Essex has joined our faculty as an Office Administrative Assistant. Previously she worked for 22 years in payroll accounting, personal finance, insurance, and banking. Her and her family attend Life Church Noblesville. We caught up with Mrs. Essex in order to help the community learn more […]

It’s easy to find Missy Dharma perusing the CDA campus with a big smile and a camera, but she’s much more than a mom who likes taking pictures. Mrs. Dharma’s official title is the Social Media and Marketing Coordinator. She has been a part of the CDA faculty since October of 2024, and she does […]

Tennis is a beautifully versatile sport. From Wimbledon to friends on a neighborhood court, millions of people enjoy playing tennis. This sport has been brought to Coram Deo by Mrs. Dick, Mrs. Strickland, and Mr. Dharma. All three are CDA parents and passionately invested in our school. This year tennis club is every Monday from […]

Bullseye! The sport of archery has been around for a thousand years, satisfying each participant with the twang of the bow and the thud of an arrow well struck. This year, CDA has invested in this classical sport through Archery Club. Our PE teacher, Mrs. Hodges, has joyfully led the program this year, appreciating the […]

Winter Curriculum Night 2/24/25

We are so excited to announce that Mrs. Trish Sims has joined our faculty as the Art Teacher. Mrs. Sims has been teaching art in the area for 20 years. She and her husband, along with their two grown children, are members of Castleton Community Church. We caught up with Mrs. Sims in order to […]

A living, breathing story. This is the epitome of acting. In eighth grade and up, students  are given the option of participating in Journeyman Actors Guild, which this year, is performing  Little Women. Thirteen students have collaborated to make this story come to life. Over the past  five months, they have been coming to practices […]

In this episode, two hosts from “The Cover” podcast, Brett Wiggins and Marcus Manges, come alongside Faithful Learning host Dr. David Seibel to give their thoughts on the popular book “The Anxious Generation.” Together they discuss what they learned and how it applies to Christian parents working to help their children navigate an increasingly tech […]

Listen as Head of School David Seibel and Principal Jason Barney ask and answer five questions to determine if classical Christian education is right for your family: 1. Is your family committed to Christ? 2. Are you committed to well-behaved children? 3. Do you value challenging academics and a Christian work ethic? 4. Do you […]

How we work together to win & make friendships along the way

How we work together to win & make friendships along the way

How we work together to win & make friendships along the way

We are so excited to announce that Mrs. Amanda Mobley will be joining our faculty as 3rd Grade Teacher. She has had a varied career in teaching, including teaching 4th Grade in Lawrence Township, teaching at Heritage and at two other classical Christian educational environments in the area in 2nd-5th grades before joining the Coram […]

How we work together to win & make friendships along the way

Thank you for helping us love what lasts. A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.

Listen as Dr. Seibel and Aaron Renn discuss how Christian parents should raise their children now that Christians are in the moral minority.

How we work together to win & make friendships along the way

What are the three targets we should aim at during childhood that will go into adulthood?

I first heard the term “classical education ” two years ago. I didn’t immediately know what it meant; “fancy” came to mind. As a middle-class product of the public school system, I knew very little about private education in general, so a “classical” version was even more unfamiliar.  When I discovered Coram Deo Academy while […]

Listen as Dr. Seibel and Aaron Renn discuss how Christian parents should raise their children now that Christians are in the moral minority.

As an academy, we think it’s so critical to partner together well, as we work together to spread a love for what lasts to the next generation. “Love what lasts” is our theme for this year. I’d like to address that broader idea with one of our key teaching methods in mind, the teaching tool […]

Listen as Head of School David Seibel and Principal Jason Barney conclude discussing how the mental health crisis affects everyone. School-age students, even those in Christian families and schools, are not immune! In this podcast, Dr. Seibel and Mr. Barney, from a private classical Christian school in Carmel, Indiana, discuss ideas on how Christians should […]

Listen as Head of School David Seibel and Principal Jason Barney discuss how the mental health crisis affects everyone. School-age students, even those in Christian families and schools, are not immune! In this podcast, Dr. Seibel and Mr. Barney, from a private classical Christian school in Carmel, Indiana, discuss ideas on how Christians should think […]

From a second grader picking out notes on a guitar to a fifth grader composing their ownpiano piece, Coram Deo is invested in a well-rounded music studio. Over the past four years,Mrs. Foss has led the music studio and this year, she gets to lead 5 teachers and over 40 studentsin pursuit of musical excellence. […]

What would it be like if parents and teachers were fundamentally allies, were partners in the great work of education?

‘Experience is the best teacher,’ they say, but what about the experiences of the past several months? Do these almost unforeseeable times have something to teach us? And can they teach our children?  Not all experiences automatically make us or our children wiser and more virtuous. So we must  be attentive and help our children […]

We caught up with our new Music Teacher and one of our new Music Studio teachers, Mr. Nathan Perry, in order to help the community learn more about him. 1) Are you married? Kids? My wife and I will soon celebrate 31 years of marriage. We have three boys.  One is getting married this month! […]

We caught up with our new Upper School Choir Director and one of our new Music Studio teachers, Mrs. Leslie Camara, in order to help the community learn more about her. 1) Are you married? Kids? I’ve been married to my best friend for 37 years and I have 10 children. Yes, they are all […]

Over the past few years, I have learned that every child can be a great fit for classical Christian education. These are the five marks of a classical Christian family. In this mercifully short post, see if these marks define your family.   Question #1: Is your family committed to Christ and the Scriptures?  CDA families […]

Written by David Seibel | 1.13.2020 Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) said, “The only difference between my mind and the minds of others consists solely in having more patience.” This quote is remarkable considering the genius of Newton’s three great discoveries: the principles of calculus, the composition of white light, and the law of universal gravitation. […]

Written by David Seibel | 1.29.20 Here are four short elevator pitches answering the question, “What is Classical Christian education?” They are a distillation of a blog by Joshua Gibbs with the Circe Institute found here. For this post, I took the heart of his points and labeled them. #1. Holistic Education You can earn all […]

Written by DeeDee Feeney | 3.31.20 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 […]

Written by DeeDee Feeney | 4.10.20 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 […]

Written by DeeDee Feeney | 4.14.20 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 […]

Written by DeeDee Feeney | 4.23.20 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 […]

Written by DeeDee Feeney | 4.28.20 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. This is the last in a series on these habits. Read the Introduction to […]

By Jason Barney, Principal   If you are a parent or student in the Coram Deo community, you are no doubt aware of some changes at school from previous years. One of those changes is the use of narration as a learning exercise in the classroom.    Socratic discussions, guided questioning, the inspirational or informational lecture, writing […]

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 enhanced in clarity. Classical Christian education has one mission with three […]

By Jason Barney, CDA Principal This 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 Biblical Exegesis at Wheaton College, where he received The Tenney Award in […]

By Jason Barney, CDA Principal In 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 discipleship. In 1 Peter we are told to “make every effort” to supplement […]

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 respond to that. Part of me was confused […]

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 war? Someone recently called me a culture warrior, and I […]

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: Why You Cannot Be One and What to Do About It. The author, Ichak Adizes, dismantles the […]

We caught up with one of our new Upper School Teachers, Mr. Garrett Saul, in order to help the community learn more about him. 1. Are you married? Family?   I will have been married to Andrea for ten years on August 9th, 2024! We have five kids together: Irena , Theodore , Quinton , […]

We caught up with one of our new Upper School Teachers, Mr. Brad Payne, in order to help the community learn more about him.

We caught up with our new Lower School Teacher, Ms. Helen Park, in order to help the community learn more about her. 1) Are you married? Kids?I am not married, and I do not have kids. 2) Where did you go to school?I graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Elementary and Special Education(Mild […]