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Who We Are - 

In response to a growing need in the community for a Bible-based, college preparatory Christian school, Trinity Christian Academy opened its doors in 1993 with only 10 elementary students under the leadership of school founder and long-time chief administrator, Dr. Marsha Barber. A school board was established, and Trinity began the process of receiving accreditation through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).


A steadily growing enrollment marked the school's early years as did the addition of first-rate facilities. In the fall of 2000, TCA enrolled its first senior class (of only 4 students!), and on May 24, 2001, four students were presented with diplomas at the school's first high school commencement ceremony. They became the first of a growing body of TCA alumni.


Growth continued, and in the fall of 2006, the school board announced plans for a new secondary building to accommodate increased enrollment. After four years of hard work, including the school's first capital campaign, construction began on the new secondary building in 2010.  On August 26, 2011, middle and high school students walked through the doors of a new secondary building!  Later that same school year, Barber Gym was completed in spring 2012. In January of that same semester, Dr. Barber retired and secondary principal Michael Skaggs assumed the role of Head of School. 


In the Spring of 2022, Dr. Steve Newby became the Interim Head of School with the Board making him Head of School in July of that year. Dr. Newby became only the third Head of School in the history of the school.


The TCA Board determined in 2018, with the blessing of 83 acres across from the Bankhead Highway, to begin with a new campaign designed to provide an athletic complex for the school. The Grounded in Faith, Growing in Excellence Campaign has raised $5.3 million of the total $8.6 million planned for completion of the first phase which is the TCA Football Stadium at the Ludwig Family Athletic Complex. The Campaign is continuing as the Board and the school is committed to a debt-free building program.


In June 2014, the TCA school board approved the school's first five-year strategic plan, providing an even stronger foundation for generations of Eagles yet to come. Again in 2018, the school board launched into a new strategic plan initiative to plan for the explosive growth of Trinity Christian and Parker County, 


During the 2015/16 school year, Trinity Christian Academy earned dual re-accreditation through ACSI and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement, making it one of the few private schools in our area to maintain dual accreditation and the only one with this particularly rigorous level of accreditation. In 2023, TCA is again up for accreditation renewal and will continue the tradition of excellence in all of its programs.


TCA school leadership continues to work tirelessly to provide our students of all ages with an outstanding college-preparatory Christian education. As an institution that bears the name of Christ, the highest standards of programmatic excellence and student discipleship are our goals in all we do.
 

Dr. Marilyn Dardenne has had a long and successful career in teaching and education leadership that spans higher education and K-12 education. She started her professional teaching career as a lecturer in the Communications department at Texas A&M University. Her role in K-12 education has included technology teacher, technology coordinator, assistant principal, principal and head of school. Dr. Dardenne's educational research and her experience as a school evaluator have included schools and education systems around the world and across the United States. She is a firm believer that no education is whole or complete unless it is based on a Christ-centered, biblical worldview.

In Dr. Dardenne’s role as Director of Academic Innovation at TCA, she will take a comprehensive look at our teaching and learning practices, identify areas of strength for us to continue, as well as areas for growth and propose new academic initiatives to continue moving us forward with best teaching and learning practices in order to optimize the student academic experience. This opportunity for Dr. Dardenne and for TCA is made possible by a generous grant from a local education support foundation.

Dr. Dardenne says that this opportunity at TCA is very special to her because it enables her to keep learning and to share the valuable lessons she has learned over 30-plus years as a Christian educator. “I am so grateful for the leadership team here and for the exceptional dedication of our teachers. I look forward to seeing how the Lord grows us now and leads us into the future.”

Dr. Dardenne is married to Tom, is a mother of four, and a grandmother of six. She enjoys competitive trail riding with her equine partner, Ranger;  hiking with her favorite canine, Hank; and gardening when she is not at work.