Mrs. Christina Harrell is a woman of many talents. Not many teachers can say they write worship songs, perform as a ventriloquist, and can spin a basketball on their finger. SCA’s elementary music teacher brings both joy and creativity to music class and chapel services.
In her first year at SCA, she has already made a meaningful impact. She introduced “Scotty,” a puppet created to resemble her brother, and quickly made him a favorite among students. She has worked with each Pre-K and elementary class to write original lyrics to worship songs, taught third graders how to play the recorder, and directed a musical for fourth and fifth grade students.
Mrs. Harrell shared, “I grew up in Virginia Beach and have spent my adulthood teaching and serving in churches in St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands), Ohio, and Virginia. We moved to Georgia last summer to work with the youth and families at First Free Will Baptist Church of Albany. We absolutely love it here and have felt so welcomed!”
Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Harrell, her family, and Scotty to Sherwood Christian Academy. We are grateful for the enthusiasm and heart for worship she brings to our school.
EDUCATION: Bachelors in Christian Secondary Education (English) from Gateway Christian College
Master’s of Education (Teaching and Learning) from Liberty University
YEARS LEADING IN EDUCATION: 10 years total: 5th-6th grade all subjects; 7th-10th grade mix of English, history, Bible, and PE; and Elementary Music
FAVORITE THING ABOUT TEACHING ELEMENTARY STUDENTS: I love how excited, joyful, and welcoming elementary students usually are about learning something new or practicing something they’ve already learned.
HIDDEN TALENT: Not-so-hidden “talents” = puppetry/ventriloquism, spinning a basketball on my finger
FAVORITE HOBBY: Introducing my daughters to new places or experiences
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Ireland, specifically Northern Ireland’s “Giant’s Causeway”
FAVORITE BOOK: “Little Women” and “Pride and Prejudice” (the books and movies)
FAVORITE SNACK: Popcorn
AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? I had high hopes for ALL of these! — archaeologist, comic writer/artist, and professional basketball player
WHY DO YOU THINK CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT AND SPECIAL? Christian education provides stability and preparation in a way that matters ETERNALLY. I love working at and sending my daughters to a school that I can trust to point children and families toward Truth, not just in words but in example and overall philosophy. Christian education is one of the several worthwhile components in “training up a child in the way he or she should go.” (Proverbs 22:6)
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY AT SCA? I have loved hearing back from students or their family members about songs or testimonies that they’ve remembered from Music class and have shared at home. Also, seeing young people and teachers lift their hands, close their eyes, and even kneel during worship songs always blesses my heart. I pray that this outward sign of praise translates to following Christ genuinely beyond just Chapel and Music Class.