Danielle Henn, Ph.D.

I attended Community Christian School from 2001–2005, and some of my favorite memories are tied to the arts. I loved participating in the musicals and being part of a school community that treated creativity and artistic expression as meaningful parts of a well-rounded Christian education. CCS’s commitment to the arts made a lasting impression on me and, looking back, feels especially significant considering the direction my life and career ultimately took.

After graduating from Lawton Chiles High School in 2008, I went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Florida State University, a Master of Arts in Art Education from the University of Florida, and eventually a Ph.D. in Art Education from Florida State. My career has allowed me to teach art at both the K–12 and university levels, conduct research in art education, develop curriculum, and work with educators and students across a variety of learning environments. I have also had the opportunity to develop biblically integrated art curriculum for Ignite Christian Academy, work that brings together two things that were deeply rooted in me during my own Christian education: a serious engagement with faith and a belief in the importance of creative work. Earlier in my career, I documented my efforts to develop a contemporary Christian approach to art education while teaching elementary art and helping found LETOUR, the secondary arts ensemble, at CCS.

I am now an art educator, researcher, wife to Nick Henn, and mom of two. I teach 3D Art and Ceramics at Space Coast Junior Senior High in Brevard County, Florida, and art education classes at Florida State University. My research and professional work center on how strong art programs, communities, relationships, and access to creative experiences can shape students’ lives. In many ways, that work has brought me back to some of the things I valued most as a student at CCS.

What has stayed with me most from CCS is the combination of high expectations, spiritual formation, and genuine investment in the whole person. I was challenged academically and creatively, but I was also given a grounding that extended beyond school. That foundation has enriched my life, shaped the way I teach, and helped prepare me for both the opportunities and challenges that came later.

For families considering CCS, I would say that the value of a Christian education like this often becomes even clearer with time. Students are not simply being prepared to succeed academically; they are encouraged to consider who they are, what they believe, how they use their gifts, and how those gifts can serve others. I am grateful that the arts were part of that formation for me, and I am especially grateful to see CCS continuing to recognize creativity as an important part of a gospel-centered education.