Qualified teachers and administration make a lasting difference in the lives of students, families, and school communities. Covenant Christian Academy is blessed to have Amy Pryor leading as the High School Principal. She is a native Texan with a B.A. in History and Elementary Education and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington. Amy spent almost twenty years in public education as a teacher, interventionist, administrator, and consultant. She began at CCA as a 7th and 8th-grade English teacher. She has also served as English Department Chair. Amy started in her role as High School Principal at CCA in 2021. She understands teenagers and is an outstanding guide to students and parents as they navigate the complexities of high school.

Here are some parent questions she recently answered about high school.  

Question: Can you give us a glimpse into CCA’s High School culture? Is there unity between students in different grade levels, sports, and fine arts?

Answer: One of the great things about CCA’s High School is that students across grade levels work together in their Houses, academics, sports, and fine arts. The House system is a key component in building unity, camaraderie, and a place of belonging for high school students. Click here to learn more about the House System.

Upperclassmen serve as role models and leaders to underclassmen. At the Senior retreat, seniors name a senior from past years who impacted them and then describe what kind of leader and role model they want to be during their senior year.

Question: What are your favorite CCA traditions from our high school?

Answer: This is a tough question because CCA has so many great traditions. But I will narrow it down to three of my favorites:

• Powder Puff Football—At the end of the spring semester, our House Council sponsors a powder puff football tournament. Everyone takes a break from studying for finals. We gather on the football field, and the girls play football while the boys coach. There are hamburgers, snow cones, and memorable halftime cheerleading performances from the boys. It is a great way to celebrate the end of the school year.
• Senior Thesis - Nothing is better than seeing our seniors present their theses each year. All the years of their Covenant education come together as they eloquently and skillfully present their arguments. They are thought-provoking, confident, and inspiring in their presentations. If you have never seen one, plan on catching one this year. They are quite impressive.
• Senior Dinner—The night before graduation, we hold a special dinner where seniors choose someone to honor as their robe sponsor. They write a tribute to that person, and it is read as they put on their graduation robes. It is such a special time and a way to honor those our students hold most dear.

Question: Is there an assignment or class in the high school curriculum where students write a “Statement of Faith” or present a profession of their faith (different from the Senior Thesis)?

Answer: Throughout HS, teachers help students process hard, faith-building questions from a Christian perspective. Bible class is an academic approach to reading & understanding the Bible, apologetics, & how world religions compare to Christianity. As sophomores, students write a Creed/statement of their faith and beliefs. As Seniors, they study the book of Job & grapple with questions like, “Why does a good God allow suffering?” Students write a Theodicy, a defense of God’s goodness in the presence of evil, which forces students to think about what they believe and why. In weekly chapel, students may present the message to their peers.

Question: Is it harder to get into specific colleges or receive scholarships coming from CCA compared to public schools?

Answer: Unequivocally, CCA students are better prepared for college and life than students coming from public schools. There is a theoretical benefit limited to Texas public colleges (primarily UT & A&M) who take the top 6-10% automatically simply because there is a larger number of students in a class overall; however, being a top student in public school is also highly competitive, and CCA students are generally successful in getting into their college of choice and far better prepared when they get there. Unlike large public high schools, CCA students receive strong academics & opportunities to participate in multiple extracurricular activities.

Question: I know this is probably a case-by-case scenario, but if a student has the interest and desire to do so, is it really possible for an average academic student to be a strong member of an athletic team and actively participate in the Fine Arts at the same time?

Answer: We love that our students don’t have to specialize in one thing but can participate in multiple sports and develop their artistic talents. Students can play on the football or volleyball team and be in the school musical. But it’s all about balance. While it is possible to participate in multiple sports and fine arts activities, it requires good time management skills. Students who manage this successfully use their tutorial time and weekends to get ahead on homework or reading to devote more time to their activities in the evenings. You have to know your student, be able to set boundaries and have good organizational skills to make it work.

Question: What is the biggest challenge facing high school students – specifically at CCA and generally?

Answer: In general, I would say the biggest challenge facing high school students is social isolation and anxiety. A 2023 study by GGP followed more than 18,000 high school students and tracked their social media use. They could find NO POSITIVE correlation in any student group related to the use of social media. There is not one positive correlation. Kids are more connected than ever but have never felt more alone. Our CCA students face the same challenges. The good news is we have a God who sets the lonely into families (Psalm 68:6), who is near the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and takes our anxiety when we cast our cares on him (1 Peter 5:7). We have the great privilege of communicating this truth to students each week in chapel and each day in their classes.

Question: What do you want parents to know about CCA high school students and how to best partner with the school and each other to raise them in the way they should go?

Answer: High school is a fantastic experience. There will be times when your kids will be on the highest mountain tops. They will score the winning goal, get the lead in the school play, or ace that test, and we will be cheering the loudest for them as we celebrate their success. Other times, they will be in the depths of despair because someone hurts them, a class will be hard, or they will be disappointed in themselves. And we will sit beside them as they cry and encourage them in the way they should go. It’s all part of the high school experience. When the hard times come, talk to us. Communication is key. Seek to understand. Communicate truth in love. And remember, we have the same goal as you: pointing your child towards Christ in all we say and do. It is a responsibility we do not take lightly and a great privilege to spend our days with your children. Thank you for entrusting them to us.

I believe God has placed me here, and I am passionate about communicating his truth to the students he entrusts to us. I am honored to have the opportunity to educate them well while pointing them to Christ. My door is always open to answer student or parent questions.