When her son Jacob was preparing to enter high school, Jessica Lewis began looking for a different school for her children.
As a public-school teacher herself, she knew what she wanted: a smaller school with strong academics, teachers she could communicate with easily, and a place where her children could openly practice their Christian faith.
Her search led to Tri-City Christian Academy. But as a single mother working multiple jobs and receiving no child support, Jessica knew tuition would be difficult to afford. Other families at Tri-City told her about Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire (CSF) and the scholarships available through the Education Tax Credit program.
With help from CSF, she enrolled both children. Jacob received scholarships throughout all four years of high school, while Kelly has received them every year since entering Tri-City in fourth grade. She is now in eighth grade.
“I would continue to work as many jobs as needed to keep Kelly in this school where she is at,” Jessica said. “I believe without the help of CSF I wouldn’t be able to keep her at TCCA, especially with inflation and the rising costs.”
Shortly after arriving at Tri-City, Jacob noticed the school’s Dominion of the Arts Award, represented by a large sword and a plaque bearing the names of past recipients. He also noticed photographs of graduates who had gone on to military service.
After his first day, he told his mother, “Ma, I’m gonna get that sword and my picture is going on that wall next to them.”
Jacob challenged himself academically throughout high school. During his senior year, he needed pre-calculus and physics for the colleges he hoped to attend. Tri-City arranged for teachers to offer both courses to Jacob and another student.
By graduation, he had become valedictorian and class president, received the Dominion of the Arts Award and earned several scholarships.
Now in his second year at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Jacob has also fulfilled the other part of his first-day promise: his military photograph hangs on the headmaster’s wall at Tri-City.
“I believe if he was in the local school where we live he wouldn’t have taken so many social risks,” Jessica said. “He probably would have just stayed in the shadows.”
Kelly joined her brother at Tri-City in fourth grade. When she faced difficulties at home during sixth and seventh grade, she found support in teachers and staff who understood what she was going through. Over time, she grew comfortable turning to them for help with both personal and academic challenges.
Her academic and extracurricular accomplishments have been equally important. Kelly has studied Latin for four years, and by seventh grade, she was doing math that some of the ninth-grade students Jessica teaches still struggled to understand. Last season, she received an Offensive Excellence award in high school basketball and was named MVP of the seventh- and eighth-grade team.
Her faith has grown, too.
“When I first started I wasn’t very strong in my faith, and now I am one of the stronger believers at my school,” Kelly said. “It’s important to me to be strong in faith so that I can help others in their struggles.”
In an earlier CSF survey, Kelly described what being at Tri-City means to her.
“I can talk about Jesus and be my own self without having to worry about how other people will think of me,” she said. “My teachers are my besties and my friends are my family.”
For Jessica, knowing her daughter feels that comfortable at school brings peace of mind.
“There are so many things to be anxious about or stressed about as a mother of a 13-year-old girl in this world today,” she said. “To have one area, such as school, where she is able to feel that way is such a relief.”
The family’s connection to Tri-City extends beyond Jacob and Kelly. Jessica’s father spent more than 30 years as a public-school educator before retiring. When Kelly entered fourth grade, he came out of retirement to teach her and remains at Tri-City as the school’s Elementary Director. The family also stays involved through coaching, fundraisers, donations and alumni events.
Having experienced firsthand what CSF scholarships have meant for her family, Jessica now encourages other parents to explore the same opportunity. She shares her family’s experience with parents who are interested in private school but worry about the cost. Recently, she spoke with two mothers who were considering different schools for their daughters.
For the donors whose contributions make Education Tax Credit scholarships possible, Jessica has a message of gratitude.
“I am beyond grateful and blessed to know that there are people out there who have given the best to my children,” she said. “Without your help I wouldn’t have been able to provide the best for my children and I don’t think they would be on the path they are on now. Please know that I will do my best to pay it forward for others.”
