The Caraway Christian Academy closed last year, but its doors won’t stay shuttered long if Julia Miller has her way.
The location at 730 CR 1330 will re-open in mid-August as the Chickasha campus of Cornerstone Christian Academy. By operating under the credentials of the already established campus in south Oklahoma City, Miller can launch Cornerstone in Chickasha almost 18 months sooner, she said.
“I’m really the founder of this school,” Miller said. “But they’re calling me the principal for the accreditation.
Father and son team Ron and Colin Yocum operate the Oklahoma City campus. They’ve been a wealth of knowledge and assistance to Miller.
“I really feel like they’re a huge blessing,” Miller said. “Accreditation would have take so long (without them).”
The Yocums have been operating their school for the past five years using tax credits for Oklahoma parents who are seeking alternatives to public schools.
And while the tax credits don’t pay all of the costs associated with some private schools, Miller says parents of her students won’t have to pay out of pocket in almost all cases. The tax credits will cover the entire tuition, including curriculum costs.
In addition, Cornerstone will be a not-for-profit. All income will go toward education.
Miller was a teacher at the former Caraway school before it closed. She just finished her master’s degree, a requirement for a principal. She has been an educator for 18 years in both public and Christian schools, which also includes extensive missionary work.
“My heart is just for kids to be disciples, not just students,” she said. “I feel like if they can serve God now when they’re younger, they can serve him better as adults.”
Miller is making the rounds of area churches to recruit students for the new school. She’s also looking for teachers. Their number will depend on the number of students, she said. Cornerstone will accept students K-12.
“I was going to wait a year to do it, but God was telling me there are parents out there who need this,” Miller said, noting that Cornerstone will be the only Christian school in the area as far as Lawton.
She can be contacted at (405) 596-0406 or julia.miller@cornerstonechristian.academy to answer questions or discuss donations.