About Us

bible:

We will place a high priority on developing biblical literacy. Biblical catechesis is not an after thought, but rather saturates every component of our curriculum. For our students, the Bible will not just be a subject, but will also become the lens through which they understand all of life. Our bible curriculum aligns with the theological vision of The Journey Church, providing parents with peace of mind that students are being formed in the Word.

LATIN:

Second only to Scripture itself, Latin forms the blazing center of a classical education. Learning Latin provides a robust vocabulary that is directly applicable to the mastery of English and many other languages. Further, it fosters the skills necessary to think clearly and is the single best method for teaching English grammar. Finally, it’s just plain fun. Your students will love learning Latin the Imago way, where we will begin with the best of the grammar-translation method then move on to reading whole texts so that students are able to read fluently from classical Latin sources by the time they graduate.

THE ARTS:

In a true classical education, the arts are not electives. Every student benefits from being exposed and led to mastery of at least one musical instrument, and every student can benefit from learning the basics of drawing as well.

MOVEMENT:

Humans are living creatures made from dirt and made a live with God’s breath. When we forget that we are made from dirt, we can start to live as though our bodies are secondary, never giving them the attention they deserve, unless they are called upon for some utilitarian purpose. But in fact, our lives can be much fuller and with God’s help, perhaps longer, if we learn to move skillfully. Call it PE, call it functional fitness, but know that your kids will receive the training they need to move well for a lifetime.

Arithmetic and Mathematics:

Mastery is the name of the game. Students will commit math facts to memory and will master basic computations in the lower school. Alongside this emphasis on mastery, we will embed a literary approach to math that will allow students to demonstrate real understanding of each concept. Unlike conventional schools in the progressive model, we will carefully avoid abstract reasoning/algebraic thinking until after the completion of 6th grade, giving students adequate time to fully master the essential facts and skills associated with computation before applying these facts in advanced mathematics.

phonics:

To put it as briefly and bluntly as possible, the prime objective of an education is to produce readers. If a child can read, that child can learn to do or understand anything for a lifetime. Our choice of phonics curriculum regularly and predictably produces readers who enjoy reading and who read well above grade level.

LITERATURE:

As an Imago family, you will never see or lay hands on an anthology. Instead, teachers and students will dive into real, whole books together to discover the rich tapestry of the western canon. Timeless works of art will come to life in the classroom as students read aloud together and discuss the vocabulary, character development, plots, and themes of each book.

COMPOSITION:

Learning to write well, from holding a pencil properly to spelling words accurately to forming sentences artfully, is a lifelong journey. We aim to set students on the right path by teaching them the classical model of composition, while ensuring that spelling and penmanship are mastered from the earliest grade levels. Students will be led in time tested exercises and in the imitation of the great literature of the Western tradition, learning as they go to become proficient writers in their own right.

SCIENCE:

Science is the bridge between the classroom and God’s creation. Through our science instruction, we aim to awaken wonder in the hearts of our students so that they delight more fully in all that God has made.We’ll focus our science instruction on fostering mastery of the basic skills of science, and rely upon the classical method to lead students to discovery of ever deeper understanding and appreciation of every field of science.

Logic and Rhetoric:

In a chaotic world, your student needs clarity. Logic is just the answer. It’s difficult to find a single conversation that isn’t laden with logical fallacies. Because of their training in logic, Imago students will be able to spot those fallacies, while thanks to their training in rhetoric, they’ll be able to articulate skillfully the wisdom they acquire day by day in their studies.

Our Leadership

Ryan Coatney

Head of School

Ryan brings to the role of headmaster over 25 years of ministry and education experience. He is the founding pastor of Grace Story Church in Nashville, TN, and the creator of Cross Formed Kids, where he equips families, churches, and schools to raise up the next generation of life-long Christ followers. He loves teaching children, both as a camp and event speaker and “small batch” as a classical school teacher. Ryan and his wife Emily live in Nashville with their five kids. If you want to talk for hours, ask him about bbq or Kentucky basketball.

Brett Vaden

ASSOCIATE Head of School

Brett has decades of experience in the classical education world as a teacher, writer, and board-level leader. He brings a long track record of faithful ministry in the local church as a pastor and teacher. Brett and his wife Rachael love doing life together with their three teenage kids. When they’re not hanging out, you might catch Brett walking, backpacking, or reading a book by C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien.