One School has a deep history which you can read about below. The roots planted and prayers prayed by many teachers, parents, administrators and staff for decades have led the ministry at 817 N. Hamilton Rd. to where we are today. Without the contributions, sacrifices and dedication of those who came before us, we would not be where we are today.
1980 - The school began as Evangel Christian Academy as an outreach of Evangel Temple Assembly of God Church with 65 students, Kindergarten through sixth grade. Classes were held in the family life center at their current location. Stresses Values
1980 - 1981 - Joe Dupuis Administrator
1980 - 1983 - Glenda McMannis Administrator
1983 - 1986 - John Menken Administrator
1986 - 1989 - Mick Gross Administrator
1987 - A second building was built with a Gymnasium/sanctuary and additional classrooms for Middle School students.
1987 - 1989 - Sally Gross Preschool Director
1989 - 1991 - John Peck Administrator
1989 - 2004 - Alacia Bagley Preschool Director
1992 - 2008 - Lawrence Bates Superintendent
1994 - 1999 - Rebecca Rader Elementary Principal
1994 - 1995 - Lisa Russell Middle School Principal
1995 - 2002 - Odell Walters MS/HS Principal
1986 - High school was added starting with ninth grade.
1996 - MS Girls VolleyballLeague and COAL ChampionsTeam.
1996 - MS Boys Soccer League and COAL Champions
1996 - MS Girls Basketball League Champions
1997 - Additional facilities were constructed that added a science lab, computer lab, music and art rooms, locker rooms, restrooms, and five classrooms.
1997 - MS Boys Basketball COAL Tournament Champions
1998 - Modular classrooms were added to expand the preschool and provide Kindergarten classrooms.
1999 - 2000 - Scott Crites Elementary Principal
1999 - Fine Arts Department presented “Annie”
2000- 2009 - Scott Crites Middle/High School Principal
2000-2008 - Ruth Bischoff Elementary Principal
2000 - Fine Arts Department presented “Sound of Music”
2002 - First graduating class of 15 graduates who received over $250,000 in scholarships and grants to various colleges. First Commencement
2000 - Boys Basketball ACSI State Runner-up
2001 - MS Boys Soccer ACSI State, COAL League & Tournament Champions
2001 - HS Baseball League Champions
2001-2019 - MS/HS Music students participated in Solo & Ensemble Competitions
2002 - HS Baseball League Champions
2001 - 2019 - Marsha Hindman Preschool Director
2004 - The school name was changed to Gahanna Christian Academy.
2004 - MS Girls Volleyball League Champions
2004 - MS Girls Volleyball League Champions
2000- 2009 - Scott Crites Middle/High School Principal
2000-2008 - Ruth Bischoff Elementary Principal
2000 - Fine Arts Department presented “Sound of Music”
2002 - First graduating class of 15 graduates who received over $250,000 in scholarships and grants to various colleges. First Commencement
2000 - Boys Basketball ACSI State Runner-up
2001 - MS Boys Soccer ACSI State, COAL League & Tournament Champions
2001 - HS Baseball League Champions
2001-2019 - MS/HS Music students participated in Solo & Ensemble Competitions
2002 - HS Baseball League Champions
2001 - 2019 - Marsha Hindman Preschool Director
2004 - The school name was changed to Gahanna Christian Academy.
2004 - MS Girls Volleyball League Champions
2004 - MS Boys Basketball League Champions
2005 - First GCA annual Talent Show
2005 - Fine Arts Department presented “The Pilgrims Progress”
2006 - Students raised $12,900 in just four weeks to help purchase an electric wheelchair for their Middle school teacher, Karen Hartje
2007 - Families came together, made pledges and raised funds, to build additional facilities.
2007 - The GCA International School was founded out of a vision to foster diversity and share God’s love with every nation
2007 - The Eagles delivered a homecoming surprise. The High school basketball team defeated the Tree of Life Trojans, for the first time in eight years. It was the Trojans first league loss ever.
2007 - Mrs. Reliford’s 3rd grade class adopted a soldier stationed in Afghanistan. They wrote letters and sent care packages to him throughout the school year. During the summer of 2007 several of the students were able to meet their pen-pal soldier
2008 - New facilities were opened, which included a state of the art gymnasium, preschool wing, several offices, additional high school classrooms, restrooms and a concession area
2008-2014 - Genie Coss Elementary Principal
2009-2014 - Ruth Bischoff Superintendent
2009 - MS Girls Volleyball League Champions
2009 - MS Girls Basketball League Champions
2009-2010 - Dr. Daniel Ford MSHS Principal
2009-2017 - Every two years the Music Department traveled to New York City or Chicago. They attended Broadway Plays and visited many musical and historical sites.
2009 - Fine Arts Department presented "You're a Good Man, Charlies Brown”
2008-2018 - Ruth Bischoff Superintendent
2010- 2014 - Chris Joseph MSHS Principal
2010 - MS Girls Basketball League Champions
2010 - MS Boys Basketball League Champions
2010 - Fine Arts Department presented “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”
2011 - GCA and the Music department presented " Cinderella" as a benefit for Myah Sue Knect who was a 4 year old granddaughter of teachers, Paul and Karen Hartje. Myah Sue had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.
2011 - Cpl. Jacob Tate, GCA graduate 2007, killed in Afghanistan while leading an operation in Helmund Province. The students lined Hamilton Rd. to honor him during the funeral procession.
2011 - HS Varsity Soccer team made it to the district semifinals in the OHSAA state tournament
2011 - 1st year for Track and Field Team
2012 - HS GIrls Basketball League Champions
2012 - HS Boys Basketball team advanced to the district semifinals
2012 - HS Girls Basketball team advanced to the district semifinals
2012-2013 - Golf team
2013 - HS Soccer League Champions
2013 - HS Boys Basketball League Champions
2013 - HS Boys Mocal Track & Field League Champions and Team
2013 - Fine Arts Department presented "Giving God What He Wants"
2014-2017 - Michael Fluhart Principal
2014-2016 - Gary Johnson Superintendent
2014 - MS Boys Basketball League Champions
2014 - MS Track and Field League Champions
2015-2016 - First year of Winterguard
2015 - MS Girls Basketball League & COAL Champions
2015 - HS Boys Basketball League Champions
2015 - MS Boys Basketball League Champions
2009 - MS Track and Field League ChampionsTeam
2015 - Fine Arts Department presented "A Place to Hide"
2016-Present - Dr. Domine Superintendent
2016 - Fine Arts Department presented "Pilgrim's Progress”
2016 - HS Boys Basketball League Champions
2016 - MS Girls Basketball League Champions
2016 - MS Boys Basketball League Champions
2016 - GCA was awarded the "Wild School Site"” by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. For having demonstrated informed, constructive action to benefit people, wildlife and the environment on the school grounds.
2016 - First annual Spring splash and color run for GCA and the community
2017 - GCA launched a new approach to learning with a focus on project based learning and design thinking in the elementary and middle school and Reggio Emilia inspired instruction in early childhood.
2017 - GCA introduced an infant and toddler program to the Early Childhood Center. The school served students from 6 weeks to 12th grade.
2017 - Boys HS Basketball Mocal & Section Champions
2017 - Film Screening of “Most Likely to Succeed” for GCA and community
2017 - Fine Arts Department presented "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown"
2017-2019 - Anitra Simmons Principal
2018 - Fine Arts Department presented "Ramona Quimby"
2018 - GCA Band and Choir received Excellent ratings at “Music in the Park” held at Cedar Point.
2019 - GCA honors the final graduating class of 2019
2010- 2014 - Mary White Principal
2010 - GCA changed its name to One School and aligned its mission and vision with the mission and vision of One Church: “to ignite the power in every child to change the world” with the intention of reaching more kids in more schools as the school looks to multiplying to new sites in the future.
*This highlight timeline is only the beginning - if you have highlights you would like to add please submit them below. Thank you to Pam Parsons, Cheryll Haugen and Becky Grubich for your hours of research and effort to compile this historical timeline of the ministry of Evangel Christian Academy, Gahanna Christian Academy and One School.
