A History of FPDS

46 Years of Excellence in Christian Education

The view that "all truth is God's truth" and that there is no separation between sacred and secular spheres in life is a distinctive tenet of Reformed Doctrine. Theologians and scholars in the Reformed tradition have historically wrestled with integrating all of life and man's increasing body of knowledge about life with God's special revelations in His Word. This has, throughout history, put churches of Reformed persuasion in the forefront of providing education for their children.

First Presbyterian Church followed in this tradition when, in 1965, it opened a school on its premises for the purpose of providing, for all children whose parents so desire, an education that offers something distinctively different from that which public schools or even many other private schools could offer - an education that is Biblical and Reformed in pattern, that can, as summarized by Dr. John Reed Miller, the church's pastor at that time, "organize his (the child's) knowledge toward a purpose, can give him the riches of our human culture, and can fit him for a useful, full life that honors God and uplifts his fellow-men."

In 1987, Gary Herring was appointed headmaster of the school, and he has continued to hold that position up to the present time. During his tenure the school has added new classroom facilities and a large playground, reduced teacher to student ratios, instituted on-going curriculum changes, developed strategic plans, created a state of the art website, and introduced technology at all levels of the school. The integration of a Biblical world and life view is the linchpin of the teaching philosophy that all children might "see Jesus" in their lives and in the lives of their teachers.