Mary Ann Sariego has been a Christian school educator for 35 years, the last seven months as principal at Crowley’s Northside Christian School.
“I just love the ‘family feel’ of a Christian school,” she told members of the Crowley Lions Club earlier this week.
Sariego, an Alabama native, told Lions that she considers herself “an heir of the past, guardian of the present and architect of the future” in her roll as principal at NCS.
Concerning the past, Sariego lauded former Pastor Lloyd Singley “whose vision was able to motivate students and parents” to start Northside Christian.
As to the present, the principal noted that, now, the second generation of NCS students is attending the school.
“It is our responsibility to nurture their spirits, equipping them to make a difference.”
Looking to the future, Sariego said it is her goal “to create an environment for the students that will help them to make a difference in the community.”
On education in general, Sariego said she “loves that we have Chistian teachers in public schools.”
Raised in the South, she said she remembers the incorporation of God and Christianity in public school lessons. She also remembers the gradual removal of religion from public schools.
“I was called to work in a Christian school setting,” she said, “where we are able to incorporate the Lord in education.”
She said Northside Christian School is “state approved” but is not “state accredited.”
As a Christian school, NCS is “not funded by federal and state taxes,” she said. “We are strictly tuition driven.”
Sariego went on to say that the school has recently begun a capital campaign that school officials hope will provide a more stable “donor-driven” foundation for future funding.
Citing the Battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartans held off an army of invaders, an example of the power of a patriotic army defending its native soil, Sariego said the capital campaign is three tiered.
“We’re looking for 300 donors to pledge $10 a year; 300 donors to pledge $100 a year; and 300 donors to pledge $1,000 a year,” she said.
That would provide $330,000 annually that would provide for upgrades to the building, to the computer lab, the science lab, etc., according to the principal.
“Hopefully, one day I’ll be able to stand here and tell you that Northside Christian School is state accredited.”
Earlier in the program, Sariego thanked the Lions Club members for their continuing efforts in the area of eyesight, noting that the club had recently conducted eye testing at NCS.