From third grade to boss at CCS
A familiar face will be welcoming Concord Christian School’s kindergarten-through fifth-grade students back to school Tuesday, Aug. 16.
Jen Studt, who taught third grade at CCS last year, is the school’s new elementary school principal, taking over after former CCS Elementary principal Leigh Ledet retired. The two women were able to work together for two months before the 2021-22 school year ended.
“It was really nice to be able to work with her before she left,” Studt said. “I also loved working with assistant principal Karen Littleton.”
While Studt has more than a dozen years of teaching experience, this will be her first administrative role.
“I had always been content to be a teacher, but the Lord laid it on my heart last year to apply for the principal’s position,” she said. “I am humbled the Lord chose me for this position and know this is exactly where He wants me to be.
“I want our parents to know how excited I am to serve and that I don’t, and have not, taken on this job lightly. Their children will be prayed for and loved by all of us here, every day.”
Studt followed in her educator parents’ footsteps, becoming a teacher where her mother taught and later became an administrator for a Syracuse, New York-based Christian school.
“All of my parents’ children and grandchildren went to school where she taught,” she said.
Studt moved to Farragut with her husband, Daniel, their two sons, Elijah and Jacob, and her parents just last year from Syracuse when Daniel was named president of Freedom in Christ Ministries, which is headquartered in Knoxville.
The couple has been married 30 years, and have two married daughters. “Being here has been amazing,” she said of their move. “Just being able to see so much sunshine — I tell people I never knew I could tan!
“My husband and I both just marvel almost every day that we can’t believe we get to live here,” Studt added with a wide smile.
When they first came to Farragut, Studt began teaching at CCS, where Jacob attended classes as a junior.
“I love this school,” she said. “I love its partnership with (First Baptist Concord), I love the leadership and I love how our school teaches everything from a Biblical world view.
“I’m just so excited to be there and I feel so blessed, every day.”
Another exciting chapter for Studt and her husband is their project, a series of Christian books, starting with “Extraordinary Max,” which will be published later this year.
