| Heritage Academy | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
2900 Barberry Avenue | |
| Coordinates | 38°57′37″N 92°20′51″W / 38.9603°N 92.3476°W / 38.9603; -92.3476 |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 2002 |
| Faculty | 26 |
| Grades | K to 12 |
| Enrollment | 115 (2010) |
| Color(s) | Navy Blue and Maroon |
| Mascot | Warrior |
| Website | www.heritageacademyofcolumbia.com |
Heritage Academy is a private, coeducational Christian schoolinColumbia, Missouri which employs the University-Model approach to education and is certified by the National Association of University-Model Schools (NAUMS).[1] The University-Model approach seeks to combine the strengths of the home with professional instruction. It also provides a larger community for students that may be unavailable in a purely homeschooling environment. Students at Heritage Academy attend classes on campus from one to three days each week. On the other days, they complete assignments under the supervision of a parent or parents.
The mission statement of Heritage Academy is "to partner with Christian parents to prepare college-worthy character witnesses for Jesus Christ." [2]
Heritage Academy was founded in 2002. For most of its history, it was housed in Karis Church (formerly Calvary Baptist) on Ridgeway Avenue in Columbia. The school moved to its current location in 2019.
Heritage Academy is a K–12 school with a Fall 2010 enrollment of 115.[1] Students are grouped into three levels: Primary (K–2), Elementary (3–6), and Secondary (7–12).[3]
Administration
The current head of school is Thomas Ragsdell. [4] He is supported by a team of staff members, who are as follows, according to the website of Heritage Academy:
Erv Bales, Bookkeeper
Tammy Hawkins, IAT Coorinator and SCI Lab Coordinator
Chris Moser, Academic Coordinator
Kelly Boggiano, EC Coordinator
Ruth Jorden, Enrichment Coordinator
Pam Tamerius, Student Success Center
Rebecca Reed, Administrative Assistant
Laura Gutwein, Academic Advisor
Ricky Nix, Athletic Director
Mary Ramsey, Director of Community Life [5]
Faculty
During the 2021-2022 school year, Heritage Academy employed 26 faculty members, of whom 38% held advanced degrees. [6]
Notable Faculty:
-Dr. Chris Gadsden, professor of Philosophy at the University of Missouri[7] who taught Philisophy, Ethics, and Logic at Heritage Academy from 2012-2014 and from 2017-2020. Gadsden holds an M.A. in Philosophy of Religion & Ethics Biola University, a M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Missouri, and a PhD in Philisophy from the University of Missouri. [8]
-Dr. Marshall Robb, former professor at William Woods University and current Associate Pastor of Student Ministries at Compass Church in Columbia. In 1985, Robb graduated from the University of Tulsa with an M.A. in Recreation Administration and from the University of Missouri with a PhD in Health and Physical Education in 2005. At Heritage, Dr. Robb taught in the spring of 2014 and from 2017-2020. [9]
-Thomas Ragsdell, Head of School, has taught several classes at Heritage Academy between 2018 and 2022, including Leadership, Strength and Conditioning, Biblical Worldview, Bible Study Methods, Old Testament, and New Testament. Ragsdell holds and M.Div from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (1998) and an LL.M. from the University of Missouri School of Law (2012). Ragsdell has served as an instructor at MidAmerica Nazarene University, Northpoint Bible College, and Evangel University. Additionally, Ragsdell served for a decade as pastor at New Life Community Church in Columbia and as a missionary in Ukraine. He is the author of two books. [10] [11] [12] [13]
-Dr. Laurie Wallace began at Heritage Academy in 2002 and taught several classes throught her career of more than a decade at the school, including Chemistry, Biology, and College Biology. Wallace received her Master of Veterinary Science from the University of Saskatchewan and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University. She is an adjunct Associate Teaching Professor in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery and Director of Undergraduate Biomedical Education at the University of Missouri. [14] [15] [16]
-Dr. Tom Algiere, former Physical Science teacher at Heritage, holds an M.A. in Industrial Education and a Ph.D. in Industrial Technology Education, both from the University of Missouri. [17]
Offerings
Athletic opportunities are provided for both boys and girls. Typically, fall sports consist of boys' soccer and girls' volleyball. Boys' basketball is offered in the winter, and girl's soccer plays in the spring. [18]
In the past, Heritage has sponsored boys' baseball[19] and girls' basketball,[20] but these sports are no longer offered.
Elligibility
Participation on a Heritage team is generally open to any 7th-12th grader at Heritage and homeschooled students who meet the eligibility requirements. To remain in good standing with an athletic team, participants must maintain a minimum of 70% in each class in which they are currently enrolled at heritage, home, or any other institution.[21]
Structure
Though the competition levels of teams offered vary by year, Heritage has sponsored Vasity, Junior Varsity, and Junior High teams in the past. While the Varsity teams have a competitive focus, the lower teams "focus more on skill and team development."[22]
The school's mascot is the Warrior[23] and colors are navy blue and maroon.[24] The school's athletic director is Ricky Nix, who assumed the role in January 2020.[25] The teams mainly compete against local private schools which are comparable in size and religious affiliation, including Christian Fellowship School in Columbia, Lighthouse Preparatory Academy in Jefferson City, and North County Christian SchoolinFlorissant.[26]
Home soccer games are generally held at Cosmo Park in Columbia. [27]
Collegiate Atheletes
Though Heritage does not have the resources or student population of a typical high school, it has nonetheless produced several college atheletes. These include Myya Maxwell, a Heritage soccer standout who played went on to play for York College in Nebraska (NAIA Division II)[28], John Stannard, a Heritage basketball player[29] who now plays for Westminster College in Fulton, MO (NCAA Division III),[30] and Silas Acuff, who played soccer for Hannibal-LaGrange University (NAIA Division I).[31]
Other collegiate atheletes did not graduate from Heritage but participated for at least one season within the Heritage Athletics program. These include Michaela Wright, who plaed volleyball for Heritage[32] before participating at Tolton High School. Wright went on to play volleyball at University of Texas-Arlington and Middle Tennessee State University. Jevon Porter, a Father Tolton standout committed to Pepperdine[33] played a season of basketball for Heritage.
Currently, Heritage Academy is co-located with Higher Ground Church at 2900 Barberry Avenue, Columbia, MO 65202,[34] although the school itself has no denominational affiliation.[35]
![[22]](https://www.heritageacademyofcolumbia.com/uploads/3/9/4/0/39403479/ricky_nix_announcement.jpeg){kind=link}