Center for Research on Adventist Education (CRAE) Webinar

April 24, 2013

Atlanta Adventist Academy

AdvanceED/SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools)

Middle States Accrediting Association Adventist Accrediting Association

Accreditation

Atlanta Adventist Academy

144 students• approximately 2/3 in Metro campuses and 1/3 in

partner campuses• 83.3% are baptized• 45 (Gr. 9), 43 (Gr. 10), 33 (Gr. 11), 23 (Gr. 12)

Atlanta Adventist Academy

About our students . . .

In 1979 parents of students enrolled in metropolitan Atlanta Junior Academies met

They decided to combine these Junior Academies and form Atlanta Adventist Academy

History of Atlanta Adventist Academy

Dr. Bruce Bergherm and Harry Haugen, Sr, were two of the driving forces behind this project

3 founding faculty members worked at AAA retiring in the late 2000’s:

Aline Travis Robert Geach Lettie Maye Bragg

Georgia-Cumberland Conference Members Initated AAA

AAA was established in 1979 on the campus of the vibrant Cascade Road SDA Church property

AAA shared space with the Cascade Road SDA Elementary School

Metropolitan Atlanta demographics changed

The Cascade Road property was in need of major renovation

A single Metropolitan campus environment was no longer working

Changes

The Cascade Road SDA Church relocated to Powder Springs and later to Lakeview

The Cascade Road Elementary School closed after the 2000-2001 school year

Enrollment at AAA began to decline from a 1990’s high of 147 to a 2005 low of 70

Challenges Arise

The Cascade Road property was sold – a decision was made to develop a multi-campus school with a busing program

AAA classes began meeting in rented space at the Vineyard Church for the 2006-2007 school year

3 metropolitan campus were being under construction

2006 - 2007

Duluth site was the first completed site on the campus of the Duluth SDA Church◦ The uncompleted upper floor of Duluth Adventist

Christian School was finished to become the a seven classroom and administrative center for AAA

Peach Tree City site was completed on the campus of the Peach Tree City SDA Church

Marietta site was completed on the campus of the Marietta SDA Church

Since 2007 – 3 metro campuses

◦ Greeneville, TN◦ Augusta, GA◦ Jellico, TN◦ Macon, GA◦ Tri-Cities, TN◦ Jasper, TN◦ Hoover, AL◦ Maryville, TN

Partner Campuses added:

The 3 metro campuses were smaller so all metro campus students could be bussed to the main campus in Duluth on Tuesday and Thursday for:

Face-to-face style presentations Socialization Science labs Athletic team practices Choir, bell choir, and Drama team

rehearsal

Metro Distance Education Model includes:

To make high school level Adventist Christian Education available and affordable in Metro Atlanta

To make high school level Adventist Christian Education available and affordable across the Georgia-Cumberland Conference for parents who want to keep their students in a home environment

Goal of AAA Model

Telepresence Live two-way interactive One-to-one computing Only technology mix providing a sense of

community and a connection with the world church

AAA Technology means:

In 2010, AAA principal LaRonda Forsey, was invited to speak at the U.S. Department of Education

One question which still remains unanswered: Is there a limit as to how far you can take this program?

History & Development of the Distance Program

The Lord for providing a church membership with a vision for Adventist Christian Education

Principals who led AAA on this journey:◦ David Denton, LaRonda Forsey, Justin Okimi, Matt

Jones Previous and current GCC administration who

have continued to support this journey:◦ Ed Wright, Kevin Costello, Cynthia Gettys, Kurt

Allen, Kevin Kossick Southern Adventist University for connecting

us for this webinar

A Special Thank You to:

Atlanta Adventist Academy

Thank you!