CDA Collin County is a classical Christian school in Plano, established in 2004. The Collin County Campus currently serves over 520 students attending grades PreK through 12.
Students in grades PreK-4 are at the grammar stage of learning with a focus on breaking new concepts down to the required fundamental skills or facts and mastering them through memorizing jingles, chants, and songs. Read More..
Logic
Students in grades 5-8 are moving through the Logic stage of learning. During this stage, they study the relationship of facts they learned at the grammar stage and how they fit or work together. Read More..
Rhetoric
Students in grades 9-12 are striving to master the Rhetoric stage of learning. This stage requires students to articulate their learning through oral and written expression. Read More..
Chapel
Grammar, Logic and High School students and teachers have chapel services once a month. The purpose of chapel is to bring students together for a time of corporate worship and a message that focuses on the greatness of God and His work in our lives in a way that would be applicable to Coram Deo students. This time is designed to heighten our awareness of Christ and integrate Him more into our everyday lives.
Parent Community
In Collin County we have several ways for parents to be involved and build community with the teachers and each other. The best way to do this is through the PTF, Parent Teacher Fellowship. The PTF serves CDA in three primary ways. First, they serve as a volunteer base for many of the activities that happen in the classrooms, such as Room Moms, class parties, and Hot Lunch service. Secondly, they help equip the school through fundraising. They strive to make our fundraisers fun for the students, but also easy on the parents. Our most successful is the Hot Lunch program. We use caterers, like Chick-fil-A, that the children like, and the parents look forward to not having to make a lunch one day a week! Lastly, and most importantly, our PTF organizes a monthly prayer meeting to pray for the school – students, faculty and administrators. If you are an enrolled family at the Collin County campus, you are already a member of the PTF, so come and join us!
This week marks the beginning of festival ‘season’ in the life of the grammar school. The festivals, whether based in the students’ history, literature, or Bible lessons, are a hallmark of grammar education at CDA. Each year, the teachers and students work diligently to prepare for them by creating projects and honing speeches about the knowledge they gained in their own research. The students have an opportunity to present their projects and speeches to a wider audience, their parents and extended family.
In these festivals, all three aspects of the trivium are in action! Our students have read and researched a topic on their own, which is the way of grammar. They have worked with their parents to plan their projects and speeches, to find associations between what they have read and what they want to display - the way of logic. And finally, they present their new knowledge and ideas in a way that others will find interesting and winsome - the way of rhetoric.
This week our 4th graders celebrated early American history, but in the coming months, our other classes will have a time to participate. Consistently, our students express anticipation before their festivals and real pleasure afterwards. We value this event in the lives of our grammar students because it highlights the excitement our children experience in their own education.
Our Friday grammar art classes are especially popular with our students. The longer 90-minute classes offer our students an opportunity to learn about art and art techniques, and then apply them to their own creative projects.
Mrs. Nix and Mrs. Johnson spent time before the break teaching about the color wheel. Mrs. Johnson writes, "Both K-1 art classes taught students about Primary and Secondary colors. What better way than to mix paint and create a colorful popsicle and students finished with a review of the color wheel."
We hope you enjoy the art that our students create!
At CDA, we are Christ-centered, classical, and collaborative. As such, we believe that the culture of your home plays an important role in the learning of our students. The curriculum department has developed this series to support families in shaping the culture of your home to grow ethical servant leaders and wise thinkers for the glory of God.
This past summer, several grammar and logic teachers joined me as we read and discussed Karen Glass' book on Classical education, Consider This. We had such a thoughtful and eye-opening time that I wanted to offer it again to our grammar families. Several of you answered the call and we have been enjoying our discussions about CCE (Classical Christian education) and CDA.
As the end of the quarter is approaching and grades are being calculated, this is the time to remind ourselves of the purpose of CCE. Education is a hard word to define. Some might say it's passing knowledge or data from one person or place to someone. This, however, is a utilitarian view of education, and one possible reason we see such a decline in our public schools. Education is not just job training or skill development. We are not here to get your child on his or her way to the next step after 12+ years of school. The ancients who wrote on education were concerned not about a child's knowledge (scientia) or skill (ars), but about their virtue.
So, what is virtue? One might define it as the actions that result from acquiring wisdom. Children learn to read, to compute, and to write as disciplines that lead to wisdom; wisdom that guides how we treat ourselves, our environment, and each other. Ultimately, we want to see right and righteous action borne from that knowledge and wisdom. That is the goal of CCE.
As we finish this quarter and you reflect on your child's learning and grades, I ask that you also think about their virtue. A grade tells us some things about your child, but it does not tell the entire story. The mission of CDA is to train up wise thinkers and ethical-servant leaders. How does one measure that with a number or letter?
Robin Scott is a graduate of Texas Christian University with a B.B.A. in Marketing. While at TCU, she was very involved with Campus Crusade for Christ and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Upon graduation, Robin worked for Xerox for several years but during this tenure she realized her passion was working with kids, which is what she always thought she would do! After serving for several years as a special education teacher in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD and Plano ISD, she decided to return to school. Robin graduated with her M.Ed. In Educational Administration from Texas Women’s University in 2001.
After graduating, Robin joined Frisco ISD where she served as an assistant principal for four years and for the next 17, as a principal; she opened Stafford Middle School in 2008 as the head principal.
After having served almost three decades in public education, Robin is extremely excited to join CDA and to share her passion for growing ethical servant leaders of all ages.
Mrs. Scott and her husband, Joel, have been married for 31 years and love living close to their 26-year-old triplets. Robin also enjoys watching sports, working outside, and traveling. Robin and Joel attend Denton Bible Church.
Stephanie Garland has been a parent at CDA since 2003, a teacher since 2007, and an administrator since 2013. After her eldest daughter had a particularly difficult year in public school, God directed her and her husband to Coram Deo Academy through, of all things, a nationally syndicated radio program. They enrolled their children at CDA and have never looked back!
Before teaching at CDA, Stephanie was a stay-at-home mom for thirteen years, which followed five years of teaching English and French in public high school. She attended the University of North Texas, where she received her bachelor's and master's degrees in Secondary Education.
Stephanie lives in Carrollton with her husband Greg, and they have three daughters.
Nathan Hudler is a graduate of Sam Houston State University with a degree in Mathematics and Education. He was involved as a small group leader with the campus ministry Chi Alpha. After two years teaching Geometry in the public school system, Nathan decided to attend Dallas Theological Seminary, and graduated with a Master of Theology with a focus in Christian Education in 2013.
While finishing his degree, Nathan joined the Coram Deo faculty in the fall of 2012. The following school year, Mr. Hudler became a full-time faculty member, and has taught a variety of classes over the years including Physics, AP Chem, Physical Science, Life Science, Theology, and Theology 2. In addition, Nathan also serves as the Dean of Students, the senior class advisor, and faculty advisor for the House of Newton.
Nathan married his wife, Angela, in 2006. They have 3 children- Owen, Dylan, and Logan. Owen and Dylan attend have both attended Coram Deo since Pre-K. The family attends Providence Village Church where Nathan is finishing his preparation to become an elder.
Mr. Stults graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature and Language. He was very involved in the College Ministry at Indiana Ave Baptist Church in Lubbock as well as Campus Crusade for Christ. After graduation, Mr. Stults was accepted to George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University to pursue an advanced degree to continue serving in College Ministry. During this time Mr. Stults joined the Strickland Scholars program at Baylor University and began working toward a Master of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction which he completed in May 2001. In the following years Mr. Stults taught Junior and Senior English, served as an assistant Golf Coach, and joined the Coram Deo Academy team in 2008.
Mr. Stults has been involved in Education for 20 years, 13 of which have been with Coram Deo Academy. Mr. Stults has taught various levels and courses to include 5th Grade, 6th Grade English, Algebra I, Geometry, AP US History, and American Literature. also coached various levels of basketball at the school for 8 years. Mr. Stults currently teaches Medieval and Renaissance Literature and AP European History. Additionally, he currently serves as a technology liaison, House Leader (ARC), and College Guidance Counselor.
Mr. Stults is married to Amanda, and they will celebrate their 13th anniversary this year. They have two children, Piper (10) and Drake (6), both of whom will attend Coram Deo Academy. The Stults family attends Denton Bible Church where Mr. Stults is involved in Discipleship and AWANA.
Joda Crow
Collin County Admissions Coordinator
Joshua Nokes
Collin County Athletic Director & Football Program Director
Josh Nokes joined Coram Deo in 2018 by way of Savannah, GA, where he served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Savannah Christian Preparatory School. Additionally, he coached football and wrestling while teaching Advanced Placement United States History and oversaw the consolidation and integration of the middle school athletic program within the SCPS Athletic Department. During his time there, the school had the highest-ranking athletic department in Savannah.
Josh is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in Secondary Education and a master's in business administration. After college, Josh spent several years in discipleship ministry with K-Life Ministries in Fort Worth before beginning his teaching career in Carrollton. At Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco, he developed an Advanced Placement American History program that saw a pass rate increase from 5% to 82%. He was simultaneously working as an assistant football coach with the team who made two state championship appearances and as head coach to the softball team who appeared in the semifinals. At The Covenant School of Dallas, he was the Athletic and Facilities Coordinator and was charged with preparing the football program to move from 6-man to 11-man football. In 2013, he had the privilege of being a part of the staff that won the TAPPS state championship in 6-man football. In addition, he served as the head baseball coach at Covenant, taking the team to the playoffs in his final year at the school.
Outside of a love of sports and developing young men and women for Christ, Josh is passionate about spending time with his wife, Jessica, and their young team of boys -- Beckett, Tate, Archer, Wilder and Silas -- trailed closely by their sister, Staley. Other interests include cycling, reading, fly fishing, the great outdoors, and serving with his wife at Mercy Presbyterian Church.
Rhonda Messick
Collin County Administrative Assistant
Jennifer Dickinson
Collin County Administrative Assistant
Drew Armstrong
Collin County Dean of Students; Rhetoric English, Theology & Electives
Crystal Summers
Collin County Dean of Students; English Asst. Chair; Logic/Rhetoric English & Electives