Canton Resident Takes Over as Director of Washtenaw Christian Academy

Canton resident Rev. Mark Moore was still "getting his feet wet" Thursday, when he attended the 's Summer Splash, a community carnival to kick off the school year.

Moore, the school's new director, has been in Christian education for more than 30 years and pastors a church in Canton. He and his wife of 39 years raised two children who graduated from the same school he oversaw.

He is familiar with WCA from playing them in basketball and volleyball. After a two-year break, the opportunity to lead the academy came to him recently and he was hired just a week ago.

“I am up to the challenge,” he said. “My concern was we were going to lose another generation. I am tired of going to meetings and I am the youngest one there. It shouldn’t be that way.”

His goal is to get his students excited about serving the church without expecting anything for it.

“I was raised that way; I raised my daughters that way,” he said.

He thought the reason for the decline in service stems from both parents working, but noted he and his wife have both worked for their entire marriage and were still able to impart such knowledge to their offspring. Both of his daughters have master’s degrees and one works in nursing.

For the upcoming school year, Moore is excited and looks forward to working with several staff members who worked with him in Canton.

“I worked at the other school for 32 years,” he said. “So I am not one to jump around.”

He quoted a Bible passage that those who are planted in the Lord shall flourish, and then expressed an eagerness to get rooted in the school community. His granddaughter will come to school with him every day to attend kindergarten.

He admitted it would be challenging trying to get acclimated so close to the start of the school year, but he said he is ready. He is looking forward to the in-service days next week so he can meet his entire staff.

“We are going to get it done,” he said. “We are going to motivate them.”

The focus for the school this year will be the “Fruit of the Spirit,” from the book of Galatians.

“We are looking forward to a good year.”

The school has more than 200 children registered, but is hoping for 250. Tuition is $7,165 for grades 1-6 and nearly $8,000 for grades 7-12.

That cost and sacrifice parents pay to send their children to a Christian school is not lost on Moore, but he uses his own experiences as an example for others. The rewards far outweigh the extra money spent, he said.

The Summer Splash featured a dunk tank, a slip and slide, capture the flag, a bouncy house and food. The Saline Lions Club brought an ice cream wagon.

For more information contact Washtenaw Christian Academy at 734-429-7733 or visit them on the internet at http://www.washtenawchristian.org