Our Story

Carroll Christian Schools began in 1973 as Carroll Christian Academy, a ministry of Church of the Open Door. Its purpose was to provide a Christian alternative to the community’s educational options. The Academy opened its doors with 34 students in kindergarten through fourth grade. The school grew steadily, adding one grade per year until it graduated its first senior class in 1982. Shortly thereafter, a preschool program was started, and the school officially became known as Carroll Christian Schools in order to reflect the existence of multiple levels: preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high schools. Rapid growth prompted the construction of many new additions to the campus: the Boese Wing (1974-1976), portable classrooms (1980), an auditorium (1985), a high school building with gym (1994), a 2-classroom modular (1998), and an additional high school building with cafeteria, library, computer lab, and renovated science lab (2002).

Our Purpose

Here at Carroll Christian, faculty and staff strive to provide our students with academic and spiritual excellence through a family environment. Our mission is to partner with parents to prepare well-rounded young people to be ready to serve the Lord. Attention will be given to the mental, physical, and social development of our students. Our primary purpose is the preparation of graduates for post-secondary education. CCS is also dedicated to the evangelism of all children who have not accepted Christ as their personal Savior. Every effort will be made to promote spiritual growth and develop character so that students will be obedient to the Lord’s will and make wise decisions in life. It is our hope that they develop a biblical worldview and use their God-given gifts for the betterment of not only our school environment but society as a whole.

Our Profile

School Founded

First Graduating Class

Current Enrollment

Avg. Yrs. Teaching Experience

Carroll Christian offers a rigorous college-preparatory academic program, which includes classes leveled to meet varied abilities and nine honors courses. We are state approved to grant diplomas in Maryland. Our graduation requirements have always met or exceeded state credit and course mandates, and CCS graduates attend a variety of colleges and universities, both private and public. The average GPA for our 2017 graduates was 3.3, and 100% are matriculating to college.

In addition to a competitive academic program, Carroll Christian offers a fully developed fine arts program as well as multiple athletic opportunities. Students develop musical and artistic talents through choirs, bands, art classes, and participation in an annual Fine Arts Competition. Our sports program includes not only high school soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and cheerleading, but middle school teams and an instructional-level elementary sports program, as well.

Our Beliefs

It is our desire that our students know what they believe and why they believe it. We want for them to know how to defend, share, and grow in their beliefs. Therefore, we attempt to incorporate the Bible as a key part of every class.

Carroll Christian Schools adheres to the following beliefs:

The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the Christian’s final authority from God. (II Timothy 3:16)
The birth of Jesus Christ is evidence of His deity in that He was virgin born and was God in the flesh. (Matthew 1:20; I Timothy 3:16)
The blood of Christ shed on Calvary is the only atonement for man’s sin. (Hebrews 9:22; I Peter 1:18, 19; I John 1:7; Hebrews 10:12-20)
The Lord Jesus Christ was buried. He bodily arose from the tomb. He ascended into heaven. (I Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 1:11)
The forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life are bestowed upon any individual who will confess his sins and accept Christ as Savior. (Romans 10:13; John 3:16)
The body of Christ, which is called “The Church,” is that body composed of all believers who by faith have accepted Christ as Lord. (Ephesians 5)
The personal premillennial return of the Lord Jesus Christ is the blessed hope. (Titus 2:13; I Thessalonians 4:15-18)
The Godhead exists from all eternity as a trinity; three persons but one in substance, one in nature. (Matthew 28:18-19; John 1:14)
The believer’s call to a life of consecration as giving evidence to the world that the Lord Jesus saves, keeps, and satisfies. (Romans 12:1)

Administration

DR. NORRIS BELCHER
Pastor, Church of the Open Door
nbelcher@opendoorchurch.org

B.A. – Bible, Bob Jones University
M.A. – Bible, Bethany Theological Seminary
PhD – Bible, Bethany Theological Seminary
Honorary PhD – Berean Baptist College
Pastor, Church of the Open Door for 22 years

MR. MATTHEW REISBERG
Principal/Administrator
mreisberg@carrollchristian.com

B.A. – History & Coaching, Pensacola Christian College
M.A. – Christian Education Administration, Patriot University, Del Norte, CO
History Teacher & Coach for 21 years
School Administrator for 9 years
Years at CCS: 4 as Administrator; 12 as Teacher

DR. JOHN CAMPBELL
Financial Administrator
jcampbell@opendoorchurch.org

PhD – Ministry, Open Door Bible College
Years at COD/CCS: 35 years

MRS. DAWN WOODEN
Assistant to the Administrator
dwooden@carrollchristian.com

B.A. – Psychology, UMBC
M.A. – Education, Notre Dame of Md Univ.
Teacher for 17 years
Student-Teacher Supervisor for 5 years

Preschool

MRS. BETH RICHARDSON
Teacher K2
brichardson@carrollchristian.com

BA – English (University of Baltimore)
Years of Experience: 10
Years at CCS: 2
Life Verse: III John 4

MRS. VICKI MYERS
Preschool Teacher K3
vmyers@carrollchristian.com

BS-Education (Mt. St. Mary’s College)
Years of Experience: 9
Years at CCS: 7
Life Verse: Genesis 31:49

MRS. SUSAN CRAGO
Preschool Director/Preschool Teacher K4
scrago@carrollchristian.com

Years of Experience: 19
Years at CCS: 10
Life Verse: Joshua 23:8

MRS. DANETTE HOFFMAN
Preschool Aide
dhoffman@carrollchristian.com

Years of Experience: 9
Years at CCS: 5
Life Verse: Philippians 1:20-21

MRS. KAREN PAREKH
Preschool Aide
kparekh@carrollchristian.com

Years of Experience: 5
Years at CCS: 5
Life Verse: Lamentations 3:22-24

Elementary

MRS. SHUANA BASSLER
Kindergarten Teacher
shbassler@carrollchristian.com

BS (University of Tennessee)
MA – Teaching & Learning/Elem. Ed.
Years of Experience: 17
Years at CCS: 7
Life Verse: Philippians 2:13

MRS. KELLY HENDRA
Kindergarten Teacher
khendra@carrollchristian.com

BS (Bemidji State University)
Years of Experience: 13
Years at CCS: 2
Life Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6

MRS. DARLENE BEARD
First Grade Teacher
dbeard@carrollchristian.com

BA – Biblical Education
Years of Experience: 46
Years at CCS: 34
Life Verse: Jeremiah 33:3

MRS. PEGGY GOODWIN
Kindergarten & 1st Grade Aide
pgoodwin@carrollchristian.com

AS – Math Education (Glenville State College)
Years of Experience: 11
Years at CCS: 5
Life Verse: John 3:8

MISS KARA SACHS
Second Grade Teacher
ksachs@carrollchristian.com

BS – Elementary Education (Pensacola Christian College)
Years of Experience: 2
Years at CCS: 2
Life Verse: Psalm 34:8

MRS. BRENDA MCLAUGHLIN
Third Grade Teacher
bmclaughlin@carrollchristian.com

BS (Pensacola Christian College)
Years of Experience: 30
Years at CCS: 19
Life Verse: Psalm 17:15

DR. DAWN ECKARD
Fourth Grade Teacher
deckard@carrollchristian.com

BA, Masters, PhD – Christian Education
Years of Experience: 40
Years at CCS: 31
Life Verse: Philippians 1:6

MISS HANNAH CASTANEDA
Fifth Grade Teacher
hcastaneda@carrollchristian.com

Degree: Childhood management and development
Years of Experience: 1
Years at CCS: 1
Life verse: Psalms 16:1 and Proverbs 16: 1-3

MRS. LEIGHANN HAINES
Elementary Aide
lhaines@carrollchristian.com

BS – Exercise Science (Clearwater Christian College)
Associate’s Degree – Physical Therapy Assistant (Carroll Community College)
CCS Alumni – Class of 1999
Years of Experience: 1
Life Verse: Proverbs 3:5

Middle/High School

MR. JONATHAN ANDREWS
Science Teacher
jandews@carrollchristian.com

BA – Bible and Science (Pensacola Christian College)
Years of Experience: 3
Years at CCS: 3
Life Verse: Jude 22

MR. GARY BEARD
English Teacher
gbeard@carrollchristian.com

BA – Biblical Education
Years of Experience: 46
Years at CCS: 34
Life Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

MRS. BARBARA BECKER
Math Teacher
bbecker@carrollchristian.com

BS – Mathematics and Economics (University of Delaware)
Years of Experience: 22
Years at CCS: 3
Life Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6

MRS. JENNIFER BROWN
English Teacher
jbrown@carrollchristian.com

BS – Health and Science (Liberty University)
Years of Experience: 14
Years at CCS: 9
Life Verse: Galatians 2:20

MISS NOEMI CASTANEDA
Spanish Teacher
ncastaneda@carrollchristian.com

BA – Spanish
Years of Experience: 2
Years at CCS: 2
Life Verse: Psalm 37:4-5

MISS JENNIFER CARTER
Math Teacher
jcarter@carrollchristian.com

BA – Elementary Education-Endorsement in Middle School Mathematics (Shepherd College)
MA – Teaching & Learning Mathematics (Kaplan University)
Bible Diploma (Faith Bible Institute)
Years of Experience: 13
Years at CCS: 1
Life Verse: Joshua 1:8

MR. JOSHUA COLLINS
Bible Teacher
jcollins@carrollchristian.com

BA – Pastor Ministries with a Minor in Biblical Languages (Pensacola Christian College)
Master of Divinity (Pensacola theological Seminary)
Years of Experience: 1
Years at CCS: 1
Life Verse: Galatians 2:20

DR. HAROLD FRIED
History Teacher
hfried@carrollchristian.com

BS (Lancaster Bible College)
MA (San Diego Seminary)
PhD (Trinity Theological Seminary
Years of Experience: 22
Years at CCS: 19
Life Verse: Philippians 4:10

MR. DAN MCLAUGHLIN
Math/Science Teacher
dmclaughlin@carrollchristian.com

BS in Math/Science Education (Pensacola Christian College)
Years of Experience: 32
Years at CCS: 20
Life Verse: Psalm 20:7

MR. JAMES SKIDMORE
History Teacher
jskidmore@carrollchristian.com

CCS Alumni
BA – History/English (Pensacola Christian College)
Years of Experience: 11
Years at CCS: 4
Life Verse: Philippians 4:6

MR. NATHAN SZCZEPANIK
Bible Teacher
nszczepanik@carrollchristian.com

CCS Alumni
BS – Bible and History (Bob Jones University)
Masters – Cultural Ministries (Bob Jones University)
Years of Experience: 5
Years at CCS: 3
Life Verse: Philippians 1:21

MR. YONNATHAN VARELA
Science Teacher
yvarela@carrollchristian.com

BA – Secondary Education/Science and PE (Pensacola Christian College)
Years of Experience: 1
Years at CCS: 1
Life Verse: Romans 8:38-39

MR. DAVID WRIGHT
IT Manager/Computer Science Teacher
dwright@carrollchristian.com

BA – Bible (West Coast Baptist College)
Years of Experience: 3
Years at CCS: 3
Life Verse: II Corinthians 5:7

MRS. LEEANNE ZABLOSKY
Math Teacher
lzablosky@carrollchristian.com

BS – Business Management (Binghamton University)
MS – Education (Pace University)
Years of Experience: 21
Years at CCS: 5
Life Verse: Romans 5:8

Support Staff

MRS. KAREN ALBAUGH
Home Economics, Yearbook, Art
kalbaugh@carrollchristian.com

Frederick Community College/Liberty
Years of Experience: 28
Years at CCS: 28
Life Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6 and 1 John 5:13

MRS. LINDA BEDNARSKI
Elementary Spanish
lbednarski@carrollchristian.com

Years of Experience: 25
Life Verse: Psalms 126:6

MRS. NANCY BITTMAN
Art Teacher
nbittman@carrollchristian.com

Training (Kodak, Creo, 20th Century Fox, Printing Industries of MD, LCNI)
Continuing Education – Art Technologies (Catonsville & Carroll Community Colleges)
Teaching Certification (Carroll Community College)
Years of Experience: 37
Years at CCS: 5
Life Verse: Romans 8:18