For our first Family Spotlight feature of the new decade, we’re so excited to introduce you to the Parker family! Dad Stewart works as a Multimedia Graphic Artist at Computer Training Systems, while mom Jennifer is a manager at Capitol Federal. Stewart has two older sons, 23-year-old twins Kyle and Kory, who are both proudly serving our country in the United States Air Force. Kory, currently deployed in Okinawa, Japan, is married and has a one-year-old son, Landon, while Kyle is stationed much closer to home at McConnell AFB. Stewart and Jennifer have been married 15 years and have a daughter, Ella, who’s a kindergartener at Faith Academy.
“Ella enjoys all things and is always on the go; she’s very adventurous and will give anything a try once,” Jennifer says. “She loves using her imagination and is very creative.” Ella has played soccer in the past and has taken gymnastics for about a year. Although she frequently changes her mind on what she’d like to be when she grows up, Ella currently says she’d like to be a teacher.
The Parker family loves to spend time together with trips to the park, bike rides, family game and movie nights, and participating in volunteer and service opportunities. They also enjoy taking family vacations each year as time allows. The Parkers are actively involved at Riverlawn Christian Church, where they volunteer with the kids’ ministry and First Impressions Team as well as lead a weekly small group.
The Parkers first discovered Faith Academy during online research and prayer as they prepared to send Ella to kindergarten. “I started following Faith Academy on Facebook and saw they were going to have an open house, and Ella’s preschool program had sent home a flyer about the same event,” Jennifer says. “After meeting the kindergarten teacher, the amazing PTO, and Deanna herself, we knew almost immediately that Faith Academy was where we wanted to send Ella.”
The Parkers are thrilled with their experience at Faith Academy. “Ella is doing so well academically, and we’ve seen her grow so much this school year,” Stewart says. “We love that she comes home and tells us—in great detail—about her Bible lessons from the day, and all the fun songs she learns to go along with those lessons.” What’s more, the Parkers say Faith Academy feels like not just a school, but a family. “With this being our first year, we were immediately welcomed and could tell the amount of love that the teachers and staff have for our kids,” Jennifer says. “We tell everyone we know about Faith Academy!”
We’re thrilled to have the Parkers join the Faith Academy family, and we’re glad Ella has adjusted to kindergarten so quickly! Say hi to the Parkers next time you see them, and stay tuned for more Faith Academy Family Spotlights!