Dover First Dedicates New School, Commissions Teacher

Dover First Dedicates New School, Commissions Teacher
Story and photos by Samantha Young

The late Ralph and Hildegarde Johnson, longtime members of the Dover First church in Dover, Del., would have been proud to see the school their money helped build, says Sharon Cox, the Johnsons’ niece. The Johnsons were passionate about Seventh-day Adventist education and set up a revocable trust gifting the church $203,000 that helped make the new Dover Christian School a reality.

Jacqueline Messenger and Mark Walker flank Joyce Barber as she receives her Commissioned Minister of Teaching certificate.

The school, equipped with SMART Boards and Chromebook computers for students, opened in September in a newly constructed building adjacent to the church. They launched with 14 students and two teachers: Jennifer Miller, principal, and Joyce Barber.

A ceremony to dedicate the new school and commission Barber culminated with a concert by the Highland View Academy Highlanders choir, based in Hagerstown, Md., and a reception.