ABOUT

ABOUT CCS

The origin story of Canton Christian School is a clear demonstration of God’s faithfulness and providence in spite of adversity. Canton Christian School was started in the summer of 2024 by a group of parents and teachers who stepped out in faith to answer God’s call to what seemed like an impossible task from the outside.

Our four founding families, the Barlekamps, Fryans, Glasses, and Suplees, previously attended a local private school but troubles with the administration of the school resulted in an exodus of families and teachers in May 2024. The teachers who resigned were an integral part of our children’s educational journey and have over 120+ combined years of experience in innovative education methods.

In the wake of this event, other area schools became overwhelmed with enrollment inquiries. Our founding families and many other families were left with few options for a private, Christian education in the area. After several discussions amongst ourselves and much prayer, we realized that our large group of parents and children looking for a Christian school, plus highly qualified teachers that we know and love, provided the perfect opportunity to start our own authentically Christian, non-denominational school in central Stark County. We officially launched Canton Christian School as a non-profit in July 2024.

During the month of July 2024, we enrolled students and the outpouring of generosity from donors was so great that we were able to cover all of our start-up costs and more. During our search for a building, God’s providence was clear when we connected with the president of Malone University, Dr. Greg Miller. Malone University had a nearly empty building- Founders Hall- that fit our space needs perfectly and we started leasing the space that is now Canton Christian School in August 2024.

We officially hired five teachers from the previous school, and in three short weeks, they turned empty rooms and hallways into beautiful, carefully curated spaces designed to ignite curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of learning. Our first day of school was September 3, 2024 and our enrollment has continued to grow ever since.

Projects Room

Before After

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Before After

Despite the fact that our school was brand new, Canton Christian School has deep historical ties to Malone University. In fact, our beginning was actually a homecoming to several of our teachers and families.

In 1975, Jan Smith created an early childhood program for Malone, along with a preschool, so college students could gain first-hand experience in teaching best practices. Central to the school’s vision was adopting an innovative, experiential learning style at the preschool which was based on the latest research on how children learn. Malone welcomed the community onto its campus through the preschool, and it later expanded into kindergarten through third grade. One of our board members and three of our current teachers taught at this primary school, and another one of our board members attended preschool there in the late 1980s.

In 2013, Malone closed the primary school on its campus, but the story has come full circle back to the campus of Malone with the beginning of Canton Christian School. We have eight Malone alumni in our group of founding families and teachers. These alumni, and the teachers who previously taught at Malone’s primary school, are thrilled to once again collaborate with their beloved alma mater. Canton Christian School and Malone University are separate organizations, but connected by significant historical ties and God’s hand in the origin of Canton Christian School. Today, Canton Christian School is officially recognized by the Ohio Department of Education as a nonchartered, nonpublic school in Ohio that meets all state standards, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds!

A note from the President of the Board, Laura Fryan:

In June 2024, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling of “what if” after the unresolved issues at my kids’ previous school persisted and we had no other options for a private Christian school. Among our group of families in the same boat, we had an attorney (me), a graphic designer and website developer, a CPA, and a lot of experience in entrepreneurial ventures and business operations. Plus, we already had teachers looking for a job and a sizable group of students to start with. My “what if” became “why not” and one by one, the pieces fell into place in a way that can only be explained by God’s miraculous and providential hand. We launched Canton Christian School in my backyard on July 7, 2024, and in just sixty one days after that, we started our inaugural school year in a beautiful space at Malone University that our teachers transformed into a creative and fun learning environment. Canton Christian School has been our opportunity to re-imagine school and build a legacy of putting Christ first in education, combined with an out-of-the-box approach to learning.

Canton Christian School offers an unconventional and deeply engaging approach to education, free from traditional desks and rigid schedules. Instead, learning flows naturally in open, inviting spaces where students gather on rugs and couches, around communal tables, or even in outdoor settings under the open sky. The environment is alive with creative energy: children brainstorm in small groups, sketch ideas on giant whiteboards, and experiment with hands-on projects. Guided by teachers who tailor instruction to the children’s interests and abilities, this unique style nurtures critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving. Every day is an adventure, with opportunities to explore passions, tackle real-world challenges, and develop a love for learning that transcends the classroom walls.

Canton Christian School is the best lemons-to-lemonade story that I’ve ever been a part of. God’s faithfulness is stamped all over our story. I am excited to continue the expansion of Canton Christian School as we pursue God’s calling to this great endeavor.