When my daughter, Leah, started sixth grade at New Hope Christian School, we came with a heavy heart.

She had previously attended another Christian school where, sadly, our experience was very different. Leah is a bright student who genuinely loves learning. She won first place in the Florida Spelling Bee and has always been excited to participate in class. Instead of encouraging her gifts, there were times when she was told, “Not your turn, Leah. Let someone else answer.” Over time, rather than celebrating her love for learning, she began feeling like she needed to hide it.

For more than two years, she was bullied by classmates without telling me. When I finally learned what had been happening, I reached out to teachers and school leadership, hoping for help. Unfortunately, nothing changed. My daughter became so discouraged that she intentionally lowered her grades because she believed getting the right answers only made her stand out in the wrong way. As a mother, watching her lose confidence was heartbreaking.

Everything changed when she came to New Hope.

One day she told me something I will never forget:

“Mom, this school isn’t 100% perfect because only Jesus is perfect, but this is a real Christian school.”

Those words, coming from a 12-year-old, meant everything to me.

At New Hope, she found friends. She found teachers who listen with both their ears and their hearts. She found people who encourage her strengths while patiently helping her in the areas where she struggles. Instead of feeling like she has to hide who she is, she is free to grow academically, socially, and spiritually.

She is no longer the extremely shy little girl she once was. She participates, smiles, talks about her day, enjoys learning again, and genuinely looks forward to going to school.

No school is perfect because only Christ is perfect. But what has impressed me most is that every teacher and staff member at New Hope genuinely strives to reflect the love, grace, truth, and character of Jesus. You can see it in the way they teach, serve, and care for each child.

As a single mother, one of the greatest gifts New Hope has given me is peace. Every morning I know my daughter is entering a place where she is loved, valued, protected, and encouraged to become the young woman God created her to be.

Thank you to every teacher, administrator, and staff member for investing in Leah’s future. Your work is making an eternal difference, and our family will always be grateful

 Tatiane Dias, parent of Leah (Class of 2031)