Basketball Coaches Rodney Belcher and John Price
Let's Talk TCA Podcast
TCA’s varsity basketball coaches, Rodney Belcher and John Price, both join the podcast for this episode. This is Coach Belcher’s first year at TCA after years spent coaching at both the high school and college levels. Coach Price is in his fourth year at TCA and 26th year coaching overall. The coaches talk about their families, their faith and their coaching careers. Listen to hear how they leverage the lessons of winning and losing to prepare students for future successes and failures.
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Cindi Di Iorio and Craig Wilson
Let's Talk TCA Podcast
TCA’s Head of Middle School Cindi Di Iorio and Head of Upper School Craig Wilson join the podcast to talk about where they come from and what brought them to TCA. Get to know our new heads of schools better as they share about their families, their faith and their hearts for helping educate children.
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Let's Talk Turf
Let's Talk TCA Podcast
This summer, Tom Landry Stadium had new state-of-the-art turf installed that is arguably the best playing surface at any school, anywhere. In this episode, Steve Hayes, TCA’s football head coach and newly appointed athletic director, talks about the new playing field and other recent improvements to the athletics facilities. He is joined by TCA alum and former football player Jason Delph ’07, the co-founder (along with fellow ’07 classmate Nick Pavey) of ForeverLawn Texas, as well as ForeverLawn’s Director of Marketing Derek Taylor and Installation Support Team Leader Aaron Gressel....
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Building Healthy Phone Habits with Joey Odom
Let's Talk TCA Podcast
Are you addicted to your phone? As parents, how should we be thinking about smartphone use? In this episode, host Cynthia Yanof talks with Joey Odom, co-founder of technology company Aro, about how to build a healthy relationship with your smartphone. Many of us often find ourselves distracted by our phones, focused on social media or other apps instead of interacting with the people around us. Phones can take our attention away from being present with our spouse or kids, and our kids themselves run the danger of being the first generation to die with more of other people’s memories than...
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College Prep at Any Age with Tracy Bartholomew
Let's Talk TCA Podcast
TCA is a college preparatory school, and that preparation begins long before college applications are filled out. In this episode, Tracy Bartholomew, part of TCA’s college counseling team, discusses how parents can help their children start thinking about the future and taking their first steps towards college and career decisions. Tracy and host Cynthia Yanof talk about: How parents can help their children discover God’s calling for their lives. How students can begin exploring different interests and fields of study. How TCA’s college counselors help students each year along the way....
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10 Great Things Happening at TCA
Let's Talk TCA Podcast
In this episode, host Cynthia Yanof talks with people all over TCA to get the scoop on some new things that have happened or will happen soon. This top 10 list includes: An increased emphasis and investment in biblical worldview The addition of a full-time athletics chaplain Upgrades to the baseball and softball fields The addition of a new preK section and a new playground New dining options in the cafeterias Invisible security upgrades to the campus Adjusting the cell phone policy to improve student well-being An upcoming month of prayer on the TCA campus The first class of senior...
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Life Is Messy, God Is Good with Cynthia Yanof
Let's Talk TCA Podcast
In this episode of Let’s Talk TCA, the tables are turned as our regular host, Cynthia Yanof, becomes a guest on the podcast. TCA student Ella Eubanks interviews Cynthia about her new book, “Life Is Messy, God Is Good,” and her experiences as a podcaster, a foster mom, and a TCA parent. Life is hard, and it often goes “off script.” Cynthia talks about having a theology that lines up with reality and finding God at work in the middle of our messes. She shares “messy truths” from her book, heartwarming stories from the TCA community, and insights from being “the oldest...
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Growing Leaders with Dr. Tim Elmore
Let's Talk TCA Podcast
Dr. Tim Elmore joins the podcast to talk about cultivating leadership in our children and equipping them to be future leaders. Dr. Elmore is the founder of the global nonprofit and has written more than 35 books, including “Habititudes,” “Generation Z Unfiltered” and “12 Huge Mistakes Parents Can Avoid.” An expert on leadership and the younger generations, he believes that the problems we face today will be solved by kids who are now in school. In this episode, Tim Elmore and host Cynthia Yanof discuss: How Generation Z and Generation Alpha are defined, and how they are...
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Love and Life with Bob Goff
Let's Talk TCA Podcast
Bob Goff, the bestselling author of “” and “,” joins the podcast to discuss loving people, dreaming big, and living an undistracted life. Answering questions submitted by TCA students, Bob talks about: His work building schools in 13 countries The difference between teachers and educators How to love people who are difficult to love Using your platform or influence to make a lasting difference How to deal with distractions Making plans for life versus going with the flow How students can take leadership in building a better, more loving world The phone number you can use...
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Athletics Q&A with Tonja King
Let's Talk TCA Podcast
In this episode, host Cynthia Yanof talks all things athletics with Chief Administrative Officer Tonja King. Tonja and Cynthia cover a range of topics, including: The mission and philosophy of TCA athletics How TCA measures success in athletics Recent coaching hires The new position of athletic chaplain Athletic department leadership Changes in the strength and conditioning program TAPPS’ and TCA’s policy on recruiting Improving athletic facilities How you can help If you would like to learn more about opportunities to support TCA athletics financially, please...
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On today’s podcast episode, we have our Head of School, Dr. Jeff Williams. He talks with our host Cynthia Yanof
about the new prefect system, junior leadership inauguration, curriculum updates, new coaching staff, and parent survey results. We are so glad to have Dr. Williams on the podcast to
update us on everything happening at TCA.
Dr. Williams tells us about April's Junior Leadership Inauguration for our TCA juniors. It is a program designed to call students into the school's leadership for the following year at the end of their junior year. We ask parents to come to a ceremony and to come alongside them. We are calling students to be the best that they can be, where they can influence and impact the student body at TCA. We give the student a medallion with the TCA logo and this scripture on the back. (To whom much is given, much will be required. Luke 12:48). Parents stand and pray a blessing over them to lead well the following year.
The prefect system is also a new program for the upper school next year. This program came from the Oxford Educational System. This program gives students more
ownership and voice in the culture and daily life of the school. Dr. Williams thinks students must have a voice – they impact morale and school spirit. Dr. Williams has used this system at the last two schools he has led, and its influence on school culture is impressive.
Dr. Williams met with the junior class in February to introduce the program based on character demonstrated through leadership. Seven prefects will oversee seven
different areas of the school. Each prefect will have a faculty mentor for the year and a committee of students. This program allows upper school students to be involved in
leadership through these committees. Thirty-nine juniors applied for the seven positions and were interviewed by a selection committee of nine, including five faculty selected by the junior class. Prefects will be announced after the junior leadership inauguration.
Another new program beginning next year is the Biblical Immersion and Worldview Initiative, headed by Bob Dyer. We want to ensure our students are equipped to enter the world.
We want our students to know what the scriptures say and how to apply it to the decisions and choices they are making in life. Practically this will help to equip and train our faculty to be more intentional.
The results of the parent survey were emailed out to parents. The email talks about areas where parents believe TCA is doing well and those areas that need improvement. The results have been circulated to the board of trustees, school heads, and department heads.
We will be doing a homework survey for middle and upper school students. We will be intentional about change and only change what needs focus to use our energies wisely.
Here are a few more updates:
- Tonja King has been hired as the new volleyball coach and dance coach.
- Fran Legband introduced a new Humanities Core Curriculum in a video a few weeks ago.
- Jon Millet introduced new art courses in a video that makes our art program accessible
to more students.