Teacher Spotlight: Seth Fogg

As an athletic director, Seth Fogg aims to engage all of his students while teaching about the importance of taking care of the mind and body.

“I have an advantage of only graduating high school seven years ago, so I remember what it was like and what I was interested in at that age,” Fogg said. “Because of that, I am able to make the learning experience relatable and interactive.“

When he was in school, Fogg always asked if he could go outside during long lectures. This helped shape him into the educator he is today. After his freshman year at Southern Adventist University, he discovered that being a teacher was his calling, and he later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, Health and Wellness. 

Outside of school, Fogg lives an active life. Aside from getting workouts in at the gym, he enjoys cycling and playing sports. When he isn’t working out, he enjoys game nights and experiencing new things with his family, including his dog Hoosier, and friends. If he’s spending time at home, he may be watching his favorite TV show, The Office, or his favorite movie, Avengers Endgame. Fogg also enjoys traveling and going to the beach. Of all the places Fogg has traveled to, his favorite was Hawaii, and he would like to one day visit Australia. 

As a child growing up in Indianapolis, Fogg had a few career options in mind. Possible paths he considered, like being a rockstar, professional chef or a pilot, have been a little different from what he has pursued so far. Other options, like becoming a pro athlete or a physical therapist, could have led him directly to where he is today. If he could have dinner with any three people, he would choose pro athlete Payton Manning, talk show host Ellen Degeneres, or his father when he was his age.

Once students have taken his classes, Fogg hopes they understand the importance of taking care of their bodies. He wants students to see PE and health classes as more than just places to learn how to play sports and eat healthy. These classes are meant to teach students to love taking care of their minds and bodies. 

While developing young minds is a reward on its own, Fogg finds the most rewarding part of his job is forming lifelong relationships with students, parents and colleagues. The traditional classroom format did not hold Fogg’s attention when he was in school, so he strives to find the best way to relate to his students. One way he does this is by tailoring his lectures to their interests.

“I have learned to not make my lectures long and boring, filled with facts that my students aren’t interested in,” Fogg said. “Instead, I have learned how to make my lectures short, yet effective and engaging in order to capture the attention of both the daydreamers and the straight A students.”

In addition to embracing the class material, Fogg hopes students leave his class understanding how to treat others with love and respect. 

Get to Know Seth Fogg

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Mind control.

What’s your favorite Bible verse? “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Pasta.

What’s your favorite book? Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would do? Invest! But also, go on a month-long vacation traveling around Europe.

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Bullying Prevention Program at NTCA

Bullying has lasting effects on all children: those who are bullied, those who bully, even those who witness bullying. It’s a complicated problem that requires community-based solutions. That’s where the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program at our Tampa private school comes into play. This research-based program helps make school a safer, more positive place to students by reducing bullying. It’s not a curriculum but a program that deals with bullying at every level of the school. 

Across the School

The bullying prevention program starts by training teachers and staff to deal with bullying problems. A schoolwide committee oversees the program, which starts with students filling out a questionnaire about the amount and types of bullying that take place. School staff watches over all the areas where bullying is likely to occur. When needed, the school holds schoolwide meetings for parents and events for parents and students. 

Additionally, students agree to follow four rules:

1. We will not bully others.

2. We will help others who are bullied.

3. We will try to include students who are left out.

4. If we know someone is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

In the Classroom 

Teachers start by informing students of the four anti-bullying rules. Then, they hold class meetings for students to talk about bullying. At these meetings, students learn why bullying shouldn’t happen and how to ask an adult for help if they witness or experience bullying. Teachers use positive reinforcement to encourage students to follow the rules. When the rules are broken, students face negative consequences. By enforcing the rules, teachers work to maintain a positive learning environment for their students. 

For the Students

Students who experience bullying on both sides benefit from the training school staff receives. The bullied students get support from the staff, who tell them what action will be taken to end the bullying. Students who bully others are given consequences as soon as possible, giving them the opportunity to learn from the experience. Teachers and other staff meet with both sets of parents in hopes that the bullying will not continue for either child. 

Beyond the Campus

There’s not a simple solution to end bullying in schools. It takes a community of caring adults and children who know what to do when bullying happens. Beyond the walls of the school, our leadership actively looks for ways to develop partnerships with community members to help carry the anti-bullying message to everyone who needs to hear it. Reducing the effects of bullying on our school community is a top priority. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Teacher Spotlight: Carianna Farfan

As a child growing up in Maine, our middle school humanities teacher Carianna Farfan had many possible career goals in mind: she would one day become a farmer, a doctor, a writer— or maybe even a teacher. 

By the time she started college, Ms. Farfan knew which path she wanted to pursue. She graduated from Atlantic Union College in Massachusetts with a double major in elementary education and psychology. While there wasn’t a single moment of inspiration she can pinpoint, it became clear early on that she wanted to teach others, which she has now been doing for 26 years.

“I don’t know if there was ever a definitive moment; perhaps it was more like a million little moments that just providentially brought me to my calling,” Ms. Farfan said.

The simpler aspects of life, such as the soothing waves of the ocean and warm sand on the beach, are what Ms. Farfan loves the most. She also enjoys going on nature walks with her family, but she sometimes prefers to take a canoe. Of all her travels, the most memorable was canoeing through Scandinavia, a place she considers to be absolutely beautiful. Someday, she would also like to visit Italy.

When Ms. Farfan has time to herself, she enjoys reading a good book with a hot cup of tea. Her favorite book is the Book of Psalms, with “The Secret Garden” as a very close second. If she was only able to eat one food for the rest of her life, she would go with another healthy option— salad. Not only would eating salad lead to a longer life; it can also be prepared in so many ways that she would never get bored of eating it. 

Teaching is Ms. Farfan’s passion, which shines through in her teaching philosophy. Within the last 10 years or so, she has worked to refine her process to create the best possible learning environment. Her classes consist of discussions where every student can share experiences and conversations. This allows for deeper and more meaningful learning. Outside of the classroom, she knows that these students often do not have enough opportunities to express themselves. At North Tampa Christian Academy, she finds it empowering to watch everyone work together to create an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere, especially in this strange and isolated time. 

While watching students express themselves intellectually inspires Ms. Farfan, what she finds most rewarding about her position is having the opportunity to pray with her students. During those moments when their heads are bowed and it’s just God, the teacher, and the students, she finds there is a great deal of power in the classroom. At the end of the day, she hopes her students feel empowered to make a difference in the world. 

“Each student has a story to tell, experiences to relate, and lessons to teach that are valuable and that others need to hear. I hope, with God’s help, they have the courage to share!”

Get to know Carianna Farfan

What is your favorite movie?

The Sound of Music

What is your favorite Bible verse? 

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Do you have any pets?

I have 2 dogs, a jack russell named Scottie and a papidoodle named Luna.

If you could have dinner with any three people, who would you choose?

Eleanor Roosevelt; Mary, the mother of Jesus; and David

If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would do?

I’d cry and pray for wisdom.

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

A New Partnership Paves the Way for Student Success

To Sarah Vande Berg, tennis was a way of life. Picking up her first racquet the age of 6, she became an outstanding tennis player committed to academic excellence and professional success. When she played tennis at USC Upstate, she observed that her teammates from other countries were often homesick. She invited them over on holidays to help them feel at home, uplifting them on and off the court. After a car accident tragically cut her life short, a developer from her hometown of Zephyrhills went to work constructing the Sarah Vande Berg (SVB) Tennis Center in her honor. The only tennis center of its kind, SVB carries on Sarah’s legacy of helping young players by providing lessons, leagues, socials, tournaments and more. 

Finding the Perfect Fit

The training center quickly gained international attention for the opportunities it provided to young players. In late 2020, the SVB foundation realized they needed help to expand their offerings. That’s when they started searching for a new partner who shared their philosophy, that hands-on education was crucial for youth development. They looked for a school that emphasized real-world education — that’s where we came in. When SVB asked us to collaborate, we knew it would be a great fit. We shared the same values and long-term goals of enriching children’s lives. 

Joining Forces with SVB Tennis Center

Our school’s project-based approach to learning and SVB’s passion for athletic excellence are a perfect match. Through this partnership, students pursue fitness goals while receiving an excellent education. At SVB, children learn sports like tennis and padel from the best coaches in the country. In the near future, athletic leaders from other sports will be joining the SVB team, and the facility will be expanded to include more programs. 

Fostering Excellence in Athletics and Education

With a flexible educational approach, this world-class sports destination gives children a chance to shine in a family environment. Students can register for lessons at SVB during the school year or enroll in a summer camp session catered to their unique skill sets. Several of our students play sports in this facility alongside students from abroad. We are proud to join forces with SVB to start an athletic educational movement.

Titan Teacher Network

When student athletes require flexible learning options, the Titan Teacher Network brings the classroom experience to them, wherever they are. This partnership gives students the ability to train and go to school in a fully integrated program. With on-campus interactive live-classroom instruction, online interactive live-classroom instruction, and on-demand recorded classroom instruction, students receive the best in education without missing a beat. 

Children in these programs succeed academically while they build confidence, learn healthy habits and discover what it takes to be a pro athlete. At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, our service-oriented approach builds Christian leaders who think deeply, choose wisely, create beauty, and use their dreams to solve problems. Want to learn more? Contact us today.

Principal Spotlight: Sherrie Warren

Academic Principal Sherrie Warren’s prolific academic career has taught her that, now more than ever, listening to students is the most important way to support their success.

“I feel that I have learned how to be a good listener throughout my years of teaching, and today’s students really need someone to listen to them,” Principal Warren said.

Principal Warren’s path to becoming a principal at NTCA began in 1988 when she started teaching for the Seventh-Day Adventist education system. She earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Oklahoma State University, then a master’s in administration and leadership from Capella University. Since then, she has worked at boarding academies, junior academies and K-12 schools. In the early 2000s, Principal Warren had her first foray into administration as an interim principal. Later on, at Thunderbird Academy, she worked as the vice principal of academics, registrar, student recruiter and alumni relations coordinator. 

Working in education brought Principal Warren a welcome variety that she wouldn’t otherwise experience, as well as a solid background for her current role. In recognition of her achievements in education, she earned a Tom and Violet Zapara Excellence in Teaching Award. 

Education allows Principal Warren to make a positive impact on the lives of students and their families. She loves to watch students learn about Jesus and choose to become dedicated followers. 

At NTCA, Principal Warren feels empowered to collaborate with her coworkers to help students prepare for their goals. If students take anything away from working with her, she hopes they learn behavioral, leadership and emotional skills, not just academic ones, to become positive, caring, service-driven citizens. The most rewarding part of her career is the moment when a student finally understands a concept after struggling with it.

“I love seeing my students have an ‘AHA’ moment when the light bulb goes on and they have comprehended a challenging concept,” Principal Warren said.

While helping students is her passion, Principal Warren also makes the most of life outside of school. She enjoys walking her two mini Daschund dogs, Casey and Jax, traveling to new places, taking road trips and going to the beach. Her favorite she’s traveled to is the island of Kalaui, Hawaii. Most of her hobbies involve being outside, but she enjoys spending some of her time off indoors, too. She likes to watch shows like Downton Abbey, which she says is the best series ever, but she especially enjoys reading.

“My favorite book is whatever I’m currently reading,” Principal Warren said. “I love to read and love each book I read.”

Get to Know Principal Sherrie Warren

1. Where did you grow up? I was born in southern California and lived there until I was 13 years old, then my family moved to south Oregon. 

2. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chocolate!

3. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Clone myself so more can get accomplished. 

4. What did you want to be when you were little? A teacher, then a doctor, then an airline pilot. 

5. What’s your favorite Bible verse or passage? 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 ”According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, the faculty, staff, and families work as a team. Our service-oriented approach builds Christian leaders who think deeply, choose wisely, create beauty, and use their dreams to solve problems. Want to learn more about what makes us different? Contact us today.