Maranatha Christian Academy

2 Meaningful Community Makes the Difference Getting to Know Interim Secondary Principal Susan Hanson A BreAth of fresh Air—the Knight fAmily's Journey to mCA T he Knight family—Rob, Angela, Blake (junior), Will (sophomore), Audrey (freshman), and Tess (fifth grade)—started their journey toward Maranatha before the kids were even born. Growing up in the Kansas City area, Angela attended a local Christian high school that competed against Maranatha in sports. Angela couldn't help but notice the Maranatha students' good sportsmanship and open passion for the Lord. "Once, at a basketball game, one of Maranatha's players was injured," said Angela. "Their players cleared the bench, went onto the court, and surrounded her in prayer. They lived out their faith in practical ways, which was refreshing for teenagers and hopefully added to their long-term relationship with the Lord." Angela and Rob grew up in the same church, but moved away from Kansas while Rob completed medical school. When they returned to Kansas City 14 years ago, they intentionally found a house close to MCA, despite the fact that Rob was working in Lawrence. The kids attended public school for part of elementary school, always with an eye to transition to MCA. "I have always been drawn to Christian education, asking myself, 'Who and what agenda is speaking into my kids' minds and hearts 40 hours a week?' From my own experience in high school, I knew that a Christian school could be a breath of fresh air from the daily exposure to ungodly talk and actions and I wanted that experience for my kids, too. "When it comes to Christian schooling, a strong, faith-based curriculum is essential. But what sets Maranatha apart is the teachers who faithfully speak those truths into my kids every day." The Knights have deepened their engagement with the school through the Maranatha Association of Parents (MAP), with Angela serving as the lead parent volunteer. The group of parent volunteers provides fun activities where Maranatha families can connect, serve, and build friendships while working toward a greater goal of blessing others. This year, Angela and the MAP volunteers will work to ignite fun, energy, and school spirit at each event. All events will take place after school and work hours so that everyone can be included. "Deep and meaningful friendships are easily formed when you serve alongside families with a common goal—serving Christ and having fun," said Angela. "I've experienced and seen that if a person is operating in the natural gifts God has put inside each of us, it will not seem like work, but will fall easily into place." If you would like to participate in MAP, please contact Angela at knight0778@ma-kc.org. I nterim Secondary Principal Susan Hanson still thanks God for the opportunity that was extended to her 10 years ago to join Maranatha Christian Academy. Since that time, she's become an integral leader at the school, and an advocate for the distinctive experience only MCA can provide. "The Maranatha community extends beyond the classrooms, halls, and sporting fields. Families of our students choose to share in this body in ways I have never seen before. Is it perfect? No, but the desire for inclusivity—that not one would feel exempt—is very much at the heart of the school's unwritten mission." As a new school year is underway, Susan is focused on her 2016-17 goals, some of which include developing a shared vision around standards and success for all students and helping define and promote high expectations for instruction and learning. At the heart of Susan's life experience is the lesson to cultivate collaboration and build community, whether personal or professional. She witnesses this moral in practice through her role at MCA. "To see individual believers developing in their strengths come together as a body and catch a vision for the furtherance of Christ's kingdom, and then work together to see the vision through to fruition, is a reward beyond description." Susan and her husband of 47 years, Dale, live in Leavenworth, Kan. They have four married children, 11 grandchildren, and three great- grandchildren. Their youngest son graduated from Maranatha in 2006, one grandson graduated from MCA in 2013, and two grandchildren are enrolled in ninth and 10th grades at MCA currently.

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