Columbus Adventist School growing

During his first year at Columbus Adventist School, Cody Clifford was the lone teacher.

Laughing, he compared the experience to the "Little House on the Prairie."

The school, which teaches those in grades 1-8, only had 13 students.

While that number seems low, it was a sign of progress and accomplishment for Clifford, who is also principal. He said only six students attended the previous school year before his arrival.

On Wednesday, classes began at the institution that has been in business since 1915. Enrollment is up to 20.

"We are headed in the right direction," Clifford said. "I give credit to God."

There is even a second teacher now, his wife, Rachel. She teaches grades 1-4 while Clifford handles 5-8. He said there are no first- or eighth-graders currently enrolled and only two classrooms are used.

Coming to Columbus from New Mexico, Clifford has worked hard to increase the school's enrollment numbers. He said increased marketing has helped, but there is still more work needed.

The brick building that is home to the school sits next to Columbus First Seventh-day Adventist Church on 7880 Schomburg Road. The church owns 12 acres of land. Clifford said maybe three are being used.

He hopes to expand the school someday to include high schoolers and kindergartners. Perhaps a gymnasium could be in the future.

Garry Proctor and his wife, Carna, taught at the school several years ago when it was located on Macon Road. He said the school has always been good, but he never knew it to have a huge number of students, usually 18-24. He said he has seen the school's students go on to be successful in public high schools.

Carna said she was concerned when the enrollment got so low that the school might close.

"I always prayed it wouldn't," she said.

Both said Clifford and his wife seem to be making the school better.

Clifford hopes word of mouth about its quality program will help.

The school is open to anyone, not just those of the Seventh-day Adventist faith. There are children of different races and denominations.

Clifford said while there are Bible classes, there is "no forcing of beliefs."

The school's mission is to "educate children for future service to God and to build character for eternity."

"I think public schools can offer strong academics but at Columbus Adventist School we can provide an individualized academic education coupled with building character and teaching students how to share their faith," he said.

Clifford said with so many children these days being "raised by media," parents are looking for a place that will make a difference in their children's character and produce a well-balanced child. He said Columbus Adventist can provide that strong foundation.

Clifford said a plus is that the school's curriculum is not directed by standardized tests.

As for the low number of students, that is not always a curse.

"Parents like a low student-to-teacher ratio," he said.

Rachel Clifford said each child is taught at their level, but the younger students benefit from what is being taught to the older students.

"The younger child is hearing what is being taught to the older child in the room," she said. "The younger child may not understand it all, but some of it sinks in."

She explained that older students help the younger ones, and they all gain from that.

Children are required to do a lot of reading. The school does make use of modern technology, and students work on iPads.

"It is just one tool we use," she said. "What the students see fosters discussion. We do the teaching."

The principal said he once dreamed of being a pediatric dentist but he got the calling to teach his senior year in college. As a child, he attended a Seventh-day Adventist school and he and his wife taught at one in Taiwan. It is where they met.

The Oregon native said he had job offers in other southern cities but chose Columbus.

"I just felt it was the right fit," he said. "I saw the potential for real growth."

This story was originally published August 14, 2015 at 9:14 PM with the headline "Columbus Adventist School growing ."