An Answer to the Decline of Religious Private Schools in America

About 35 years ago, Roxana L. Wood was trying to make a decision. With only five years of experience in teaching, she did not think she was ready to become a principal. After thoughts and prayers, she nodded at the offer. Little did she know it was the nod with which she would live for the rest of her life.

Today, Wood is 71 and has spent more than half of her life teaching at Johnson Christian School in the small town of Colville, Washington. While religious education is declining in America, the proud Christian teacher has been committed to Christian education for 40 years and has not thought of retirement.

“It makes me happy to know that I am serving God and helping his children receive the education they deserve,” Wood says. “I will keep serving his school until he chooses the right person to take over my responsibilities.”

Wood is responsible for multiple roles. Not only has she been the principal there since 1986, but she has also taught English and Bible from elementary to high school levels. Wood enjoys her job as the elementary homeroom teacher as well.

Meanwhile, the reality of religious private schools in America seems inauspicious. Education researchers have found a continuous decline in enrollment from religious schools in accordance with the U.S. becoming an overall less religious society. Yet Wood remains adamant.

“[Teaching at a religious school] has never been a job for money-making,” Wood says. “[Rather], it is of faithfulness and belief that the words of God must live on.”

Wood believes the biblical learning system is more crucial in today’s propensity for liberalism and secularity. Biblical instruction not only provides young generations with necessary insights and skills but also trains students with moral standards to become citizens with exemplary characters, Wood explains.

As an employer, Wood receives high regard from her employees. Ana Reichenbach, a Spanish teacher, considers Wood a diligent and clever director who has admiration from all other teachers. Reichenbach says Wood has engaged in the school from the beginning and has been teaching many generations in the community, some of whom are now parents and have children attending the school. Both of Reichenbach’s children also went to the school, Reichenbach adds.

“You see students come and leave and teachers come and leave. But she is still here, in this school, doing what she has been doing,” Reichenbach comments on Wood’s faithfulness with Christian education.

As a teacher, Wood makes herself stand out by her humor and thoughtfulness. One of Wood’s students, Gabby Nicholson, says Wood always creates a pleasant learning ambiance in the classroom. Wood knows when to laugh and share a joke with the class and when to keep the students’ focus on the schoolwork, Nicholson says.

“Many of us have known her for a long time. We consider her a grandma in the family,” Nicholson adds. 

Since COVID-19 hit the community, Wood has had a challenging time operating the school. She said the enrollment capacity in the 2020-2021 school year was reduced to 50%. During a school day, all students, staff and visitors had to wear face coverings while inside the buildings. Students had a 10-minute outside recess after each period so that they could get some fresh air.

“Despite all regulations, we had such a blessed year, and I can’t be more thankful to God,” Wood says with gratitude filling her heart.

Wood is now busy with the new school year that started last week. This year will not be much different than last year except for a higher enrollment capacity of 75%. The enrollment only has a few spots left, and Wood is excited about that.

Just like that, for years, Wood has become the spirit of Johnson Christian School and an example of faithful living despite the future of American religious education.

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