While most students are cooling down for summer in mid-May, campus administration is gearing up for a new year. With the retirement of long-time Principal Gary Schultz known since early April, his successor is already in the building.

Associate Principal Jon Endicott will replace Schultz, commonly known to students as ?Papa.” Endicott, who has served as associate principal for 6 years, previously worked as the admissions director for Fresno Pacific University. Molly Sargent, former English teacher and dean of women, is now the new vice principal. Both positions were announced by Superintendent Debbie Siebert at the community meeting, April 28.

?The partnership with Molly will be very beneficial,? Endicott said. ?With her passion to work for and advocate for students, I hope as vice principal she?ll have more opportunities. I don?t want her to be the primary disciplinarian like these past years; she will serve as a guidance counselor. She?ll work very well at encouraging students.?

Superintendent Debbie Siebert, Endicott and Sargent collaborated to create a new outlook for the campus’ focus.

?We decided to emphasize next year not as one school, but four separate schools: school of the arts, academics, athletics and faith,? Endicott said, ?with the spiritual focus acting as an umbrella to the other three.?

Siebert is optimistic the new administrative team is a good fit to lead the high school.

“Jon Endicott and Molly Sargent are extremely qualified individuals,” Siebert said. “It is very exciting to work alongside them as part of the team God has put together ‘for such a time as this.'”

With the new title comes an altered job description. Endicott will no longer teach AP Literature and Composition or serve as guidance counselor.

?My job is to look for ways to improve in excellence in those four areas of strength,? Endicott said. ?Having been here for six years and mentored by Mr. Schultz, it?s a good position to be in. My hope is to continue with Schultz?s vision and incorporate the uniqueness that he offers. He puts the needs of students first. I want to continue to provide a program to help each and all students.?

Among others, Endicott and Sargent hope to add an AP Language and Composition class to the curriculum. Along with Sargent and Siebert, Endicott remains confident of their ability to lead the school in the undergoing of several changes.

“We will have several new faculty joining us for next year,” Sargent said. “We are close to finalizing hiring a new English teacher, a new math teacher and a new foreign language teacher. We hope to make some changes in our Bible classes and curriculum and perhaps offer semester electives, allowing students some freedom of choice.

“We are restructuring the student leadership program, integrating student activities and the worship team,” Sargent said. “We hope to bring on Pastor Chad Johnson, the Peoples Church youth pastor, to teach one of the elective classes.”

Different responsibilities will also accompany Sargent?s new position. According to Sargent, she will continue to serve as English department chair, humanities division chair, CSF advisor and assistant coach to Mick Fuller for Academic Decathlon.

“I will only be teaching two classes: AP Literature and Composition and girls peer counseling,” Sargent said. “I will continue doing the duties which I have been doing the past five years, which include some discipline as well as guidance counseling.

“I plan to greatly increase my contact with students, hoping to personally speak with every student grades 7-12 a couple of times throughout the year,” Sargent said. “My goal is that every student feels tended to, that any issue or concern they have will be addressed promptly and that at FC they feel cared for.”

Along with curriculum and leadership changes, Siebert hopes for improvements in the athletics department and further development of the music program. Under the leadership of Siebert and Athletic Director Chris Schultz, an extension of the gym will begin construction this summer, and Schultz believes the new weight facility will be ready sometime this fall.

It was also announced earlier this year that a new football coach, Bonner Cunnings, has been hired and will teach several strength and conditioning classes.

“I have high hopes of going more than 10-0 in football next year,” Eric Kister, ’10, said. “I’m really excited for the new offense and the change in the program. There’s a lot of changes, and I’m really going to miss Papa, but hopefully it’s all for the better.”

Both Endicott and Sargent express excitement for the changes to take place next year. They hope to increase attendance as well as sharpen the strengths of FCS, beginning with faculty mentoring and an increase in class variety.

“Mentoring faculty at Fresno Christian is another opportunity opening up for me,” Sargent said. “I hope to be able to provide that service in some capacity throughout the year, utilizing what I have learned throughout my 25 years of classroom teaching.”