Finding TCA: Sara Furlich

On today’s podcast episode, we have educational consultant and TCA parent Sara Furlich talking about why she and her husband Mike chose TCA for their eighth-grade daughter who is new to TCA this year.

Sara is an educational consultant who helps families find the right school by weighing their pros and cons to find a community that they can connect to and where their children can thrive. Sara specializes in helping students with learning differences but helps all types of students and knows a lot about the schools in the area and what they offer.

Sara’s daughter was previously spending many hours in the gym as a competitive gymnast and was in a university model school. When it came time for them to look at a traditional school setting, they knew they wanted a school with high academic expectations and rigor, but they also wanted a school that offered more social opportunities and balanced life.

 

TCA has sought to allow its students to have balanced lives. While there is a fair amount of homework, you do see kids choosing to be involved in various activities, which tells Sara the students are not overwhelmed. She wanted to see her daughter’s vivacious personality be preserved and not dampened. She was also looking for a welcoming culture where students are welcomed at various grade levels.

 

From the beginning TCA seemed to fit from a personality standpoint; they know she could feel and be herself here. It was hard to consider not graduating from the public school where her sisters went to school, but in a post-COVID world, our public schools are having to deal with new issues, teachers are worn out, and their particular school area was dealing with some overcrowding.

 

As a professional, when Sara takes school administrators to visit TCA, they consistently make comments about the energy of the teachers and how engaged they are as well as how kind and respectful the student body genuinely is. They see joyfulness in the classroom. Her husband mentioned how impressed he was at Mini School Night and how teachers teacher were able to articulate their educational philosophy and why they choose to invest in TCA.

From the curriculum side and her “mom” perspective, the Middle School has a built-in study hall that has been amazing! Her daughter is also in the Learning Lab which allows her to have accommodations.

As an educator, Sara loves that TCA integrates history and English as well as a focus on writing, which requires much vertical planning on how to build these skills from kindergarten on up. By the time kids get through Upper School, they are ready for college.

Literature was also an influential factor, as she wants to see students reading whole books, not abridged versions. The conversations that happen in class, the integration of a Biblical world view and the Middle School Latin curriculum also impacted their decision.

TCA has multiple paths for math to allow students to choose options.  TCA has a long history of providing accommodations through the Learning Lab, and there is a culture where it is embraced.

 

TCA has been very intentional about reaching out to new families, and communication has been amazing. The school let them know right away about different tryouts and other ways to get connected.

Sara’s advice for those looking at a private school is to pick a community that is a good fit. Students will always do better when they are thriving socially and emotionally first. There are times you may want something for your child, but you need to consider how God has wired them. Pick a school where the philosophy and message resonate with you.