PCA Podcasts

Teachers at the Heart: How PCA Shapes Students for Life

This episode is a heartfelt address from Mike Runey about the central role teachers play in a Christian school community. There are no external guests — it’s a solo message that reflects on memorable teachers, the daily influence of educators, and why investing in teachers matters for students’ formation.
Topics covered include the personal attention teachers give students, the importance of challenging students to grow, and the five key ingredients of great teaching: deep subject knowledge, clear expectations, thoughtful feedback, real relationships, and a faith that informs classroom life. The episode emphasizes that many pivotal learning moments don’t appear on a transcript but shape who students become.
The episode also explores how Christian education links faith, learning, character, and calling — showing that faith is not an add-on but a shaping perspective for teaching and learning. It highlights teachers as shepherds of classroom communities where each student both receives and contributes, and describes how strong classroom culture helps students learn to think, listen, speak, and serve together.
Practical initiatives are discussed, including PCA’s intentional teacher development and coaching program, efforts to retain and support faculty, and encouraging retention statistics (average teacher tenure rising from about six to just over eight years even as the faculty grew from ~45 to nearly 60). The speaker names several teachers as examples of those beginning, sustaining, and advancing their careers at PCA.
The episode closes with gratitude for teachers and parents, a call to continue building a school where teachers can flourish, and a rallying cry for the next 1,000 graduates — underscoring the conviction that when teachers grow, students flourish in spirit, mind, and body.

Where Our Graduates Go: College, Career & Calling — PCA Outcomes Revealed

Hey, PCA families. This is Mike and it's Monday and you and I should all be on vacation by the time you're hearing this. I'm here with Jordan Heckelmann, our upper school principal. In this episode Mike and Jordan close out a deep dive from the State of the School series and focus on what our recent graduates are doing and how PCA is preparing the next 1,000 grads.
We review data from the classes of 2023–2025: over 100 seniors from the accepted to over 200 colleges and matriculated to over 50 different two‑ and four‑year institutions. Nine of ten of these graduates pursued immediate post‑secondary education — well above the national average — while other alumni have faithfully entered trades, military service, careers, and mission work.
Key themes include discerning the right fit (academic, spiritual, social, athletic, and financial), the difference between selectivity and quality, and how PCA helps students apply intentionally rather than scattershotting. Jordan and Mike discuss selectivity bands and how acceptance rates line up with students' profiles, the growing importance of SAT/ACT preparation (now built into the junior program), and how standardized tests remain influential in admissions decisions.
Faith formation after graduation is a major focus: many alumni continue in Christian settings, others join vibrant ministries on secular campuses, and PCA encourages all graduates to plug into church and small groups as soon as possible. The episode highlights stories of alumni leading Bible studies, serving as RAs, organizing worship events, and staying connected to PCA mentors during difficult seasons.
Practical takeaways for families: begin thinking early about fit and finances; invest in meaningful test and college preparation; partner with PCA's college & career guidance team for discernment; and know that trades, missions, and immediate workforce entry are honored and supported pathways. The school’s mission and vision — to honor God and produce Christ‑centered graduates who impact the world for good — remain central as PCA walks with families through each student's faithful next step.
To wrap up, Mike and Jordan offer encouragement that PCA will continue to support students toward the right next steps for them and their families, celebrating a variety of post‑graduation paths and the ongoing spiritual and relational formation that enables alumni to impact the world for good.

Data as a Flashlight: How PCA Uses Assessments to Guide Growth

In this State of the School follow-up episode recorded around President's Day 2026, the host sits down with Dr. Carrie Booth, Lower School Principal, to explain how Providence Christian Academy uses assessment data to inform instruction without letting numbers define students. They frame data as a “flashlight” — a focused tool that illuminates where learners are at a moment in time and guides next instructional steps.The conversation covers the primary assessment tools PCA relies on: the NWEA MAP (referred to on campus as NEWA) for reading and math and its RIT scoring system, DIBELS for K–2 foundational literacy, and how adaptive testing reveals readiness for specific skills. Dr. Booth and the host give concrete classroom examples — from third-grade small-group planning to shifting the sequence of math curriculum — showing how teachers analyze trends to tailor instruction and support growth.They also describe how data is used across the whole program: benchmark tracking in preschool through Teaching Strategies Gold, participation and programmatic measures in athletics and fine arts, and upper-school indicators like AP exam results, PSAT/SAT scores, online and dual-enrollment performance. The hosts emphasize longitudinal tracking and team conversations at grade, subject, and administrative levels to spot patterns and inform program decisions.Key takeaways for listeners are clear: assessments are snapshots, not labels; the priority is student growth and whole-child formation; and PCA aims to partner with parents in interpreting results. The episode closes with encouragement to view reports as one piece of information, a reminder that each data point represents a child the school is committed to shepherding, and a note that the next episode will feature Mr. Jordan Hackleman discussing recent PCA graduate outcomes.

Middle School as the Bridge: Faith, Formation & Growth with Lois Blatchley

In this episode host Mike sits down with Lois Blatchley, PCA's middle school principal, to explore the school’s educational vision for grades 6–8 and how whole-child formation shows up in daily life. Lois — who has served as dean of women in the upper school, a board chair, and a long-time leader in Christian education — brings a wide perspective on guiding students through the pivotal middle school years.
Mike and Lois discuss why middle school matters: it’s not merely a phase to get through but a bridge where students develop emotionally, socially, academically, and spiritually. They talk about leadership emerging in unexpected ways, the testing of influence and boundaries, and how teachers and staff help students find voice and accountability during adolescence.
The conversation dives into faith formation at this age. Lois explains that middle schoolers begin to make faith their own — asking deeper questions and learning to internalize beliefs rather than perform them. Practical practices that support this growth include Bible homerooms, weekly chapel, prayer and reflection times, and faith modeled authentically by teachers and staff. The episode also highlights the role of school chaplain David Moore, who works closely with teachers and students to answer questions and support formation.
Class communities and cohorts are another central theme. Lois and Mike describe how consistent routines, shared expectations, and strong adult mentorship help sixth- through eighth-graders grow together, learn conflict resolution, develop empathy, and practice responsibility. They note the balance PCA strikes between being large enough for individuality and small enough that students are truly known.
Looking ahead, Lois describes how intentional middle-school formation prepares students for upper school freedom and responsibility: strong academic habits, spiritual awareness, time-management skills, and confidence. Using the metaphor of a bridge under construction, she emphasizes that patient, daily formation equips students not just for the next grade but for faithful, purposeful adult lives.
The episode closes with gratitude for the middle-school team and a pointer to the school’s educational vision in the show notes. Mike also previews next week’s episode with Dr. Carrie Abood on using data wisely to inform growth without letting it define students.

Slow Down, Love Your Neighbor: PCA Winter Driving & Campus Safety

Join host Mike and guest Steve Howe, PCA's Chief Operating Officer, for a candid conversation about campus safety during winter months. This episode frames safety as a posture, not a checklist, and focuses on the everyday choices that keep children, staff, and neighbors safe as families arrive, park, and depart.
Topics covered include on-campus speed limits (10 MPH on Seabourn Drive, 5 MPH in lots), the particular risks of speeding and distracted driving, reduced visibility from snowbanks, icy parking lots due to limited salt and sand, and unsafe shortcuts during busy pick-up and drop-off times. Mike and Steve describe problem areas on campus (lower school loop, middle school pickup zones, and straightaways where drivers tend to speed) and remind listeners about obeying one-way streets, stop signs, and crosswalks.
The episode also explains PCA's parking and student-driver policies: paid/assigned parking spots, handicapped spot etiquette, registration and parking permits for upper-school student drivers, and how violations are handled. Steve clarifies that parking-related fines feed the upper-school student activity fund and why vehicle registration helps maintain campus security.
Listeners learn about Eagle Watch, the volunteer layer of campus security—what volunteers do (observe and report), how they’re vetted and equipped, and the ways the community can support through volunteering or serving as crossing guards to free faculty for instruction. Mike and Steve emphasize a gracious, Christian-minded approach to one another during busy times and remind the community that safety extends beyond campus to nearby roads where PCA drivers affect the school's reputation.
Key takeaways: safety is shared stewardship; slow down and follow established traffic patterns; respect parking rules and permits; register student vehicles; treat Eagle Watch volunteers with gratitude; and consider volunteering to support arrival and dismissal. The episode closes with an invitation to Mike’s annual State of the School meeting and a final appeal for patience, care, and cooperation through the rest of the winter.

Be the Light: PCA Auction — Unite, Give, Transform

Ready to join PCA’s biggest community event on March 21? This Saturday morning gathering brings neighbors, families, and staff together to celebrate, connect, and raise vital support for our variable tuition program. Admission is free; breakfast tickets and tables are available for purchase.
The funds raised directly support families with varying financial needs so students can access a Christ-centered education. Nearly half of PCA families receive some form of variable tuition, and this auction helps ensure every child feels welcomed and valued.
Attend to bid on exciting items and experiences, donate goods or services, sponsor the event, or volunteer — from set-up to traffic control and student helpers. Teacher-hosted experiences and the emotional sponsor-child moment are highlights that demonstrate the community’s generosity and impact.
Please pray for the event, invite others, and visit the PCA website or contact the school to learn how to get involved, donate items, buy breakfast tickets, purchase a table, or become a sponsor. Come be the light with us.

Nate Hasty: How PCA Helps Discern Calling, College, Career for Your Children

 
In this episode Mike talks with Nate Hasty, PCA’s Director of College & Career Guidance, about how the school helps students discern their next steps—not just where they can get admitted, but where God may be calling them to serve and grow. Nate brings a background in student ministry and higher-education admissions and explains how those experiences shape his approach to guiding students and families.
Key topics include the difference between a prestige- or resume-driven process and a calling-centered approach, how PCA balances high academic expectations with spiritual and personal formation, and the team’s efforts to begin discernment early by engaging underclassmen in questions about identity, interests, and gifting.
Mike and Nate discuss practical aspects of guidance: when the department begins working with students (junior year into senior year), how they help students identify strengths and gaps, and how PCA uses honors, advanced coursework, and DAP classes to prepare students for college-level work. They emphasize honest, sometimes challenging conversations that point students toward appropriate pathways rather than lowering standards.
The episode also shares outcomes data: roughly 90% of recent PCA graduates enroll in two- or four-year postsecondary programs, while the remainder pursue meaningful vocational, service, or mission pathways. Alumni testimony—brought into campus panels—reinforces that PCA’s holistic preparation (academic, spiritual, and personal) equips graduates to engage confidently in college and other next steps.
For families with younger students Nate offers clear counsel: focus on forming habits of effort, curiosity, responsibility, and joy in learning. These habits keep options open and make later discernment possible. Parents are encouraged to walk alongside children with compassion and to prioritize long-term faithfulness over short-term performance.
The conversation covers alternate pathways as well—community college, vocational training, service, and mission work—and stresses that there are multiple legitimate routes to reach a student’s goals. Nate highlights the guidance team’s willingness to be creative and prayerful in helping students find the right fit.
As college decisions for the class of 2026 roll in (January through March), Mike and Nate invite the PCA community to pray for discernment and to remember that admissions outcomes are not a verdict on worth. This episode offers encouragement and practical next steps for seniors, families, and younger students as PCA continues to walk with students toward faithful, well-prepared next steps.

Challenge and Hope: How Korea Forged an Integrated Army

As our nation marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day and looks ahead to America’s 250th year, this episode tells a lesser-known story from the Korean War—one that reveals both the promise and the pain of our national journey.
Mike sits down with his father, retired U.S. Army Colonel Dennis Runey, to reflect on the Army’s first full integration in combat. Through the story of a fellow soldier who lived it firsthand, we hear how Black and White soldiers learned to fight, trust, and live as brothers under fire—only to face the sobering reality of re-segregation upon returning home.
This conversation does not rush to resolution. Instead, it invites us to remember honestly, reflect faithfully, and consider what it means to love our neighbor as individuals made in the image of God.

Mid‑Year Momentum: Growth, Mastery, and Excellence at PCA

On this episode of Mondays with Mike, Nate and Mike Runey lead a timely mid‑year review as the first semester closes. They explore three central ideas for PCA families—growth, mastery, and excellence—and explain why now is a good time to reflect on a child’s academic trajectory.
They define growth as the measurable trajectory a student makes over time, mastery as grade‑level competence (when skills like multiplication facts move into long‑term memory), and excellence as the discipline to pursue constant improvement rather than mere comparison with others.
The hosts discuss how curriculum and rigor work together: curriculum is the course your child runs (teacher, material, sequence) and rigor is built into that course. Growth shows where students are on the course; mastery is assessed on a continuum (needs support, proficient, exceeding, exceptional).
Practical examples across grade levels are given: early grades focus on language and motor fluency, upper elementary emphasizes revision and stamina, middle school builds workload management and independence, and upper school demonstrates mastery through honors, AP, and dual‑enrollment work and capstone projects.
They also describe supports and interventions (like Mosaic) for students who need help and options for challenging those who are ahead, emphasizing the importance of getting the order right—cultivating growth and character first so mastery and achievement follow without exhausting the student.
Finally, Nate and Mike underscore that all of this takes place in a Christ‑centered environment: PCA aims to prepare students academically and spiritually for the next step in their calling, helping families and teachers walk alongside each child toward flourishing and readiness for future challenges.

Winter Roots: Midyear Growth at PCA

Good afternoon, PCA community. In this episode Nate Paul and Head of School Mike Runey discuss returning from winter break and the important academic season ahead. They explain how the winter months—though quieter on the surface—are a powerful period of deep, rooted academic growth and development for students.
Mike highlights PCA’s educational vision (the five “lanes” or pentathlon approach) and emphasizes that midyear is an ideal time for parents and teachers to assess progress, embrace healthy academic challenge, and encourage revision, perseverance, and cross-disciplinary thinking. He reassures families that struggle can signal real growth and that teachers are intentionally guiding students through this stretch.
Looking ahead, Nate and Mike describe how steady work through Q2 builds momentum into Q3, where students consolidate skills, complete deeper projects, and gain confidence that leads into a fruitful spring quarter. They also connect this seasonal rhythm to PCA’s long-term goals for stable, generational growth and invite families to upcoming midyear updates and a state-of-the-school presentation in early February.
The episode closes with gratitude for teachers, parents, and students, and a reminder that winter at PCA is a season of faithful, steady growth academically, spiritually, and personally.