The Sherwood Christian Academy campus was packed with soccer games and soccer fans on March 17 and 18 for the 15th Annual Tournament Under the Cross soccer tournament!
Photo by Brian Kelley.
There were 18 GAPPS, GISA and GHSA teams from across the state of Georgia competing all day Friday and Saturday in what has become one of the state’s largest soccer tournaments.
SCA varsity boys made it to the semifinals and lost 2-1 to Central Arts & Athletics. Varsity girls finished 3rd in their group, losing to Central Georgia Arts & Athletics and defeating Holy Spirit Preparatory School.
Photo by Kim Russell.
Several college coaches and scouts attended this year to evaluate potential recruits, from schools including Albany State University, ABAC, Georgia Military College, Toccoa Falls College, Andrew College.
Thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped with the soccer tournament!
Mrs. Tiffany Carter wears many hats at SCA: High School Upper Level Math Teacher (Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Advanced Placement Calculus), High School Student Council Sponsor, Senior Class Sponsor, Math Department Head, and Varsity Cheer Coach. She balances these duties well, and it’s highly likely that she has a smile on her face and is laughing with one of her students when you see her in the hallways or in her classroom.
Mrs. Carter’s AP Calculus students describe her as intelligent, hardworking, fun, and a compassionate teacher.
“Mrs. Carter makes math fun through her dry humor and funny remarks about the class,” said one of her Senior AP Calculus students. “I look forward to working on the hardest math with a teacher who is doing her best for us to succeed.”
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Math Education from Thomas University
AWARDS & HONORS: High School Salutatorian from Wilcox County High School Teacher of the Year in 2009 at Griffin Middle School in The Colony, Texas
YEARS LEADING IN EDUCATION: 19 years teaching; 8 at SCA
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS?: I love to teach high school because I get to pour into their lives every day. It is a joy to see them mature into strong followers of Christ.
FAVORITE FOOD: Mexican
FAVORITE HOBBIES: I’m a sports fanatic. I love the Dallas Cowboys and the Atlanta Braves!
AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?: Meteorologist
FAVORITE MOMENT AS A TEACHER AT SCA: Definitely the Revival in 2019 when over 100+ gave their life to Christ!
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT? A Christian education trains students to understand the truth in the Bible and then share their faith confidently with others. Learning how to defend their faith and effectively share the Gospel is what will allow people to change the world through Christ.
Thank you, Mrs. Carter, for all you do at Sherwood Christian Academy!
Sherwood Christian Academy is one of the first private schools in the nation to license and perform a Sight & Sound Theatre production!
You’re invited to step back into the biblical times of Ruth and Boaz! SCA High School Fine Arts will present an original Sight & Sound Theatre production Ruth on March 30 – April 1, 2023. This fully-staged musical drama will transport you into the life of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz with its Broadway-style music, a cast of lovable characters, and imaginative retelling of this scriptural story. Our students are excited to share this story with the Southwest Georgia community. You will not want to miss this amazing production!
SCA high school students are headed to State Mock Trial competition in Atlanta!
Sherwood Christian Academy’s first mock trial team finished the Region competition in February in first place and were named “champions” of the District Mock Trial Competition on March 4. The team and their coaches are headed to the Georgia State High School Mock Trial Competition at the Gwinnett County Justice and Administration Building in Atlanta on March 18-19.
The SCA team is comprised of witnesses, and plaintiff and defense teams: Hannah Albano, Henry Anderson, Kinsley Bynum, Kuba Cecil, Arabella Davidson, Connor Mathis, Will Moorhead, Mary Grace Piper, Cooper Powers, Ellie Jane Wright, Brody Brown, and Devin Sheppard. SCA’s School Sponsor is High School Guidance Counselor James Byrd. Students Malachi Jones and Rebekah NeSmith participated as Courtroom Sketch Artists at Region competition. Albany attorneys Sandra Satchell and Alfreda Sheppard are volunteer attorney coaches.
“This is SCA’s first year with a Mock Trial Team,” said James Byrd. “We were so excited to be a part of the competition put on by the State Bar of Georgia! Our team began practice later in the school year, but even with a truncated practice schedule, our students and attorney coaches put together a fierce and highly competitive team! None of this would have been possible without some incredibly bright and motivated students!”
We are excited to announce that Mr. Jonathan Dyal has accepted the position of High School/Middle School Principal at Sherwood Christian Academy beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. Mr. Dyal will begin his duties at SCA this July. He has served in education eleven years and has been an administrator for five of those years. He has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and will be completing his Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership this summer. Mr. Dyal has served as a math and social studies teacher, coach of multiple sports, athletic director, and most recently as assistant principal at Lee County Middle School West.
Mr. Dyal has been married to his wife Claire for almost eleven years. Jonathan and Claire have five children (Iris 9, David 6, Camille 4, Adah 3, and Reynolds 1). Iris and David will join their dad at SCA next year as they enter second and fourth grades. The Dyals spent two years serving on mission at Kyiv Christian Academy in Kyiv, Ukraine 2015-2017. Their time in Ukraine deepened their passion for foreign missions and their desire to share Christ’s love with lost and hopeless people they encountered there. We are thankful God has brought their heart for missions abroad to SCA. The Dyals prayer for their family is to focus on things that are of eternal value, to glorify God in all they do, know and love God deeply, and to let that love for God drive their love for others.
Mrs. Deborah Holman is the queen of her classroom and her second grade worker bees adore her! Filled with vibrant bee motif, Mrs. Holman has created a buzzing environment of learning, growing, and care for her students in their beehive. Her approach to teaching is fresh, unique, fun, and tailored to each student’s needs. Her incentive ticket system and Fun Fridays encourage her students to aspire to be quick to learn and listen, and it’s a fun way to end each eventful week. Mrs. Holman provides special ways for parents and grandparents to be involved with their student in the classroom by hosting events like the Gingerbread House Decorating Party and Super Fun Fridays filled with board games and laughter between parents and their second grader.
EDUCATION: B.S. Elementary Education from Clarks Summit University (formerly known as Baptist Bible College) M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from American College of Education Ph.D. in Educational Leadership Policy from Texas Tech University- Expected Graduation: December 2024
AWARDS & HONORS: Graduated Cum Laude, Clarks Summit University Graduated Summa Cum Laude, American College of Education Alpha Gamma Epsilon Honor Society, Clarks Summit University Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, American College of Education Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Texas Tech University Albany 40 Under 40, Nonprofit Category Finalist
YEARS LEADING IN EDUCATION: This is my tenth year of teaching and my fifth year at SCA.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT TEACHING?: Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” I truly believe that this is one of the most fruitful ages for sharing the gospel. There is such a purity and faith in the heart of a Child towards the things of God. While there are many exciting things about teaching elementary students, my favorite is teaching the Bible, sharing the gospel, and discipling students in their relationship with Christ. This is what has eternal value.
FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN SWGA: I love seafood and enjoy going to Jonah’s Fish and Grits in Thomasville.
FAVORITE HOBBIES: I enjoy traveling, going out to eat, cooking, sewing, and watching movies with my husband.
FAVORITE BOOKS:Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot and Knowing God by J.I. Packer
FAVORITE MOMENT AS A TEACHER AT SCA: One of the most cherished moments that I’ve experienced at SCA was the 2019 student body revival. It was such a powerful and precious opportunity to see so many students give their lives to Christ and testify boldly for Him.
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT?: I believe that Christian Education is important because it is a tool to help set a strong spiritual foundation for a child. At SCA we have the freedom to teach from a Biblical worldview, share the gospel, and incorporate Biblical principals in all that we do. SCA is a safe space for children to learn and grow.
We’re grateful for Mrs. Holman and the joy she brings to Sherwood Christian Academy. We’re cheering her on as she reaches the homestretch of her doctoral studies!
What do app designs, artificial intelligence, and teamwork have in common? One thing – Sherwood Christian Academy’s Introduction to Digital Technology class.
Ninth grade students in Mrs. Vicki Davis’ Introduction to Digital Technology class designed an app about digital ethics and safety as it relates to artificial intelligence using the Figma web and app design tool.
Designed like a business project, the app project was peer-led with students taking various roles such as project manager, researcher, production manager, and graphic designers.
Freshman Kyra Bevel, project manager of the app design project, put her leadership skills to the test as she took the lead on the app this semester.
“One skill that I learned while working on this project was a leadership technique,” said Kyra. “I learned that when you lead, you must encourage others. When people think they are unimportant, they don’t feel like they are needed, so they don’t feel the need to work and contribute to a bigger cause. Being a leader requires many qualities, but the most important one is encouragement.”
Project Assistant Manager Olivia Keith contributed to the app this semester by writing copy, providing graphic design and videography, editing, and extending positive advice when deemed necessary. Her education went beyond design and the project — she learned more about operating as a team.
“By collaborating as a team to successfully achieve the final app through Figma, I grasped the true meaning of effective communication,” said Olivia. “Being up-front about work, specific tasks, and skill sets were vital to the progression of this project. Ensuring each individual person worked on their task and were able to execute their expected job was honestly the main struggle. Engaging those in a work-stimulated environment could discourage some, however, providing support for those in need was prioritized for the benefit of us all as a whole.”
The students’ hard work paid off and design professionals took notice. Adobe-owned Figma employees discovered the project when SCA Teacher and Instructional Technology Director Mrs. Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher on Twitter) tweeted about the students using the design tool to create their app. The Figma representatives scheduled a time to Zoom with the class and the students professionally presented their apps, shared their workflow, and provided feedback on Figma’s design tool with company employees on February 13.
This was more than just an assignment for some students. Brody Brown, project manager for the fall semester class and icon designer, said the project showed him three things about himself.
“This project lit a passion for graphic design in me,” said Brody. “I learned how to manage my time and better communicate with others.”
In addition to writing about artificial intelligence, they are using the artificial intelligence built into ChatGPT from Open.ai to write portions of the app as they do their research. All of the uses of ChatGPT are clearly cited in their app and quoted as a source and it is helping students more effectively understand artificial intelligence. While many are openly criticizing the use of tools like ChatGPT, this class is learning how to ethically use AI as a research partner in creating content.
Designing the app became more than a class project — it was a lesson in leadership, communication, professionalism, and refining the skills that God has placed in each of these ninth grade students.
If you’ve been around SCA since the mid 1990s, there’s a good chance you know James Byrd. You may know him from his years as a student then, or you know him now as a leader in academics and athletics. A 12-year student at SCA, Mr. Byrd graduated from SCA in 2006 and left Albany for the University of Mobile in Mobile, Alabama. After double majoring and graduating, he returned to Sherwood Christian Academy in 2011—but, this time, to lead from the front of the classroom. Many of his former teachers became his co-workers. In 2022, Mr. Byrd moved into the role of Guidance Counselor after 10 years of teaching high school history, where he can continue to impact the lives of juniors and seniors, as they make some of the most important decisions of their lives.
EDUCATION: BA in Political Science and BA in History from the University of Mobile Master’s in Secondary Education from Georgia SouthernUniversity
YEARS LEADING IN EDUCATION: I have been serving here at SCA for 11 years – 10 of those years in the classroom.
CAREER AWARDS: Two time STAR Teacher – 2021 and 2022 Two time GAPPS Coach of the Year – Track and Field – 2018 and 2022 Coach of Six State Championships at SCA: • 1 in Football (2015) • 2 in Track and Field (2018 & 2022) • 2 in Chess (2019 & 2021) • 1 in Cross Country (2018)
Photo by Dan Mingo.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT GUIDING SENIORS IN THEIR NEXT SEASON AFTER GRADUATION: I enjoy breaking down the process of what comes next after high school for seniors into small and much less stressful pieces. It can be easy to be overwhelmed as a senior when they begin to look at all that lies before them. I encourage our seniors to continue to move forward in God’s will – they don’t have to have all the answers yet, they just need to be willing to say, “Yes!” to what God will call them to as they continue to be faithful to Him.
FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN SWGA: My wife’s cooking! Was that the right answer? But public restaurants? Longhorns for a good steak or Los Vaqueros.
FAVORITE BOOKS:Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian and Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien are both very special to me. Although growing up, I read every single Hardy Boys book! I’m now looking forward to reading them with my son, Joshua one day.
FAVORITE MOMENT AS A STUDENT AT SCA: There are many special moments from my years here as a student, almost impossible to narrow down to just one! From four years of high school musical theater with Mrs. Terri Catt; running track and field and cross country in many Region and State Meets; being elected as the Student Council President and giving the morning announcements over the intercom each morning (I had a joke of the day that very few people would laugh at)… I obviously loved my time here because I came back!
It’s safe to say that Mr. James Byrd is woven into the history and future of Sherwood Christian Academy.
Coach Kenny Roberts has been selected by the Albany Herald as the “Coach of the Year” for his leadership in the Eagles’ State Championship winning year. Coach Roberts was Interim Football Head Coach for the 2022 football season.
Photo by Dan Mingo.
Several SCA varsity athletes were honored in the Albany Herald for the 2022 high school football season and named to the Albany Herald’s “All-Albany Football Team”:
First Team Offense | Easton Enfinger
Second Team Offense | Tripp Roberts
Second Team Offense | Jude Peavy
Second Team Offense | William Price
Second Team Defense | Maddox Powers
Congratulations to Coach Roberts and the entire SCA varsity football team for a great season and this special recognition!
SCA Athletic Director Jay Flynt recognized Coach Roberts and these athletes this morning in front of their peers.
Congratulations to SCA’s Head Track Coach James Byrd for being awarded the Georgia Track & Field/Cross Country Association “Girls GAPPS Head Coach of the Year” on January 20, 2023!
Coach Byrd serves as cross country head coach, track head coach, and guidance counselor at SCA. The 2021-2022 SCA Girls Track Team won the GAPPS State Championship last season!
