This Statement of Faith adopted by Trinity Classical Academy is limited to primary Christian doctrine. Primary Christian doctrine is that which is central to all Christian churches and sets Christianity apart from other faiths. We teach primary Christian doctrine only, directing students to Scripture, their parents, and history for guidance in forming secondary beliefs.

• We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. By His own pleasure, God created, sustains, and rules all things. All creation exists for and attests to His glory.

• We believe that God has revealed himself and his truth in both nature and in Scripture, which mutually interpret one another. We believe the Bible alone to be the word of God, the ultimate and infallible authority for faith and practice.

• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

• We believe that all human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, and that for the salvation of lost and sinful humans, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary.

• We believe that salvation is by grace through faith alone in Christ alone, and that faith without works is dead.

• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

• We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the primacy of the local church as the place where believers should live out this unity.

• We believe that God created us male and female in His image; that gender identity may not be detached from the biological sex of the human body; that marriage or matrimony is a covenantal, procreative union of one man and one woman; and that God intends for children to be raised and nurtured in an environment that honors these distinctions. We believe that sexual union is to be exclusive to covenantal, heterosexual marriage.

• We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: they that are saved to the resurrection of life, and they that are lost to the resurrection of damnation.

TYLER ANDERSON

Tyler moved to Omaha in 2014 with his wife Abby, a native of the area. He grew up in Ohio, where he graduated from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy and subsequently attended Wheaton College and earned a degree in Business and Economics. Tyler and Abby have been involved with TCA since its founding, are passionate about the mission to deliver an excellent, classical, Christian education grounded in the liberal arts, and now have three children who attend the school. Tyler is the President and co-founder of Mint Hill Wealth Management, a financial services firm with offices in Omaha and Charlotte, NC. In his spare time, Tyler enjoys playing basketball, reading and serving in his local church.

PHIL BELIN

Phil is a native of southern California who has called Omaha home for almost 20 years. He received his undergraduate degree from Princeton and his law degree from SMU. An attorney by training, Phil has been active in educational policy issues. He and his wife, a medical doctor, have partnered to educate their four children using a classical homeschooling approach. Phil is a co-founder of TCA and is currently pursuing an additional graduate degree in classical education leadership.

SARA BREETZKE

Sara is a native of Omaha and a graduate of Vanderbilt University. She was raised in a family of educators and spent 8 years teaching high school English. From TCA’s founding in 2016 until 2021, Sara served as the Head of School, growing the academy from its humble beginnings into a K-8 program serving over 350 students. Sara and her husband Michael have two children.

STEPHANIE DEXTER

Stephanie studied mathematics in college and now works in the software industry. She loves the collaborative aspect of TCA, partnering with other parents and staff to educate her children. Stephanie is a critical thinker, a creative, and a thoughtful introvert. She enjoys practicing gospel hospitality, spending time with family, getting outside, and connecting with others over a cup of coffee. Stephanie and her husband Brad have lived in Omaha for all of their adult lives and their children are currently students at TCA.

SHERI GREENE

Sheri has lived all over the U.S. and is happy to call Omaha home as of 2019. She received an undergraduate degree in Economics from Seattle University and worked overseas for the federal government for 12 years, and then in healthcare management and administration for another 20 years. Sheri is happy to participate in furthering classical Christian education in Omaha and beyond.

BOB THUNE

Bob is the founding pastor of Coram Deo Church and one of the initial founders of TCA. He grew up in Omaha, graduated from Millard North High School, and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma and a master's degree from Reformed Theological Seminary. Bob and his wife Leigh have four children, the youngest of whom is a student at TCA. All four have been educated using a classical paradigm.

ADVISORS TO THE BOARD

• Cannon Allen

• John Batcher

• Anna Little (co-founder)

WHAT DOES IT COST?

• TCA's 2024-25 tuition rate is $4,190 per student per year for grades K-6, $4,990 per student per year for grades 7-12, plus a non-refundable deposit of $200 per student. We have a small number of Pre-K spots available to new families each year. Pre-K tuition is $2,950 per student. There is a 10% tuition discount for additional students from the same family.

• Families should also budget for uniforms and books (cost will vary depending on grade).

• As a comparison, collaborative-model programs in similar markets throughout the Midwest have tuition rates between $2900 and $6000.

• Our Board is committed to keeping costs low, making TCA accessible for as many families as possible.

• We have secured commitments from donors to help provide financial aid to those who need it. Financial aid funds are dispersed as available in accordance with need, based on a third-party application & screening process.

WHEN DO I PAY?

• A $250 non-refundable deposit must be submitted at the time of application. This fee is refunded only if there is no space available for student to attend or if TCA determines through the application process that the student or family is not a good fit.

• Tuition for each academic year is due in advance. If your child is accepted, you will choose to pay tuition fees in one, two, or four installments. The first tuition payment is due in May for the upcoming academic year. The remaining payments are spaced throughout the academic year.

MR. KEVIN JOHNSON

Kevin Johnson is an Omaha native and a graduate of Northwestern College (B.S. in Mathematics Education) and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (M.S. in Educational Administration). His 20+ year career in education includes stints as a high school math teacher; as Dean of Students and Assistant Athletic Director at Benson High; as hiring director serving under the Assistant Superintendent of Schools; and as TCA Head of School.

When it came time to make decisions about educating his own children, Kevin became convinced that a Christian, classical education was the best choice. And as he watched his own children thrive at TCA, he sensed a growing desire to apply his own leadership skills in a classical Christian environment. In 2021, he interviewed and was hired as TCA’s second Head of School. In Mr. Johnson’s own words: “As the Head of School at TCA, I have the opportunity to align the purpose and vision of my work with my own convictions, continuing the vision of developing new scholars and leaders through a Christian, classical, and collaborative education.”

Kevin’s deep roots in Omaha, his strong connections to the broader educational community, his leadership experience, and his Christian convictions make him a natural leader for a program like TCA.

I’m not familiar with this “collaborative” or “university” model. How does it work?

Please see the home page to read more about our classical, Christian, collaborative model.

What does an average week look like?

Students attend classes 2 days a week (Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs) from 8:40 am to 3:45 pm. Beginning in Grade 7, students come to campus on Fridays as well. At-home instruction takes place on the other days.

What does it cost?

For 2024-25, TCA's tuition rate is $4190 per student per year for grades K-6, and $4990 per student per year for grades 7-12, plus a non-refundable deposit of $200 per student. Pre-K tuition is $2950 per student. There is a 10% tuition discount for additional students from the same family.

Families will also want to budget for uniforms and books (cost will vary depending on grade). Our Board is committed to keeping costs low, making TCA accessible for as many families as possible.

How many students make up the student body?

For the 2023-24 academic year, we have a student body of 437 students in grades pre-K through 11. Our student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1.

How is TCA different from home schooling?

In homeschooling, parents bear responsibility for the entire educational process: choosing curriculum, planning lessons, teaching, grading, recordkeeping, etc. In a university-style academy, the curriculum, lesson-planning, teaching, and grading are handled by the school, leaving parents free to participate in the most enjoyable part of education: co-teaching. Students receive a top-quality classical education using the best curriculum and practices, and parents get the joy of facilitating learning without having to manage the entire educational process.

Is financial aid available?

Yes! Thanks to some generous donors, we have funds available to provide need-based financial aid. All families desiring financial assistance must first apply for admission to TCA. Once admitted, families desiring financial assistance will fill out a third-party financial aid application, and aid will be awarded to families who demonstrate financial need.

Where is the Trinity Classical Academy located?

Our on-campus days take place at the TCA Campus located at 800 N. Front St, Waterloo, NE 68069.

Is Trinity Classical Academy accredited by the State of Nebraska?

No. The academy operates as an “exempt school” under Rule 13 of the Nebraska Administrative Code, which allows private, denominational, and parochial schools to be exempt from accreditation requirements that would violate the sincerely held religious beliefs of parents. The reason for this exemption is twofold: 1) State accreditation comes with specific mandates that we feel interfere with parent-directed Christian education; and 2) the State of Nebraska’s accreditation process does not include a category for “part-time” university-style educational models that combine classroom instruction with parental co-teaching. Because of this exemption, TCA works with parents to file Rule 13 forms with the State of Nebraska each summer, gathering and submitting the appropriate information on parents' behalf.

Does TCA offer pre-kindergarten?

Yes, our Pre-K program is intended for children who are preparing for kindergarten at TCA. Pre-K students must be 4 years old by July 31 to start Pre-K in August of the same calendar year.

Is TCA only an elementary program?

No. We are currently serve students in grades K-11, and we add a new grade every year, with the aim of becoming a full K-12 academy.

Who else is doing this?

These types of programs are flourishing in larger cities all over the nation. For some comparative examples, check out:

Trinity Classical Houston

Austin Classical

Who oversees Trinity Classical Academy?

The Board of Trustees broadly oversees the TCA’s affairs; the Head of School is in charge of daily operations.

Who should I contact with further questions?

Feel free to direct any additional questions to info@tcaomaha.com. Even better, attend one of our informational meetings to hear more in person!

CLASSICAL EDUCATION READING & RESOURCES:

• "An Introduction to Classical Education" by Dr. Chris Perrin, Courtesy of Classical Academic Press

• "The Lost Tools of Learning" by Dorothy Sayers (1947 Oxford lecture)

• "What is Classical Education?" by Susan Wise Bauer

• Subscribe to our email list to receive a free copy of “Top 10 Reasons to Consider a Classical Christian Education”

EMAIL INQUIRIES:

info@tcaomaha.com

PHONE:

402-934-0090

MAILING ADDRESS:

Trinity Classical Academy

800 N Front Street

Waterloo, NE 68069