Glenview Adventist Academy Principal Adelaide Hendrix loves to talk about her school, which she affectionately promotes as "GAA — The Place to Be!" GAA recently received full academy status, adding grade 12 to its educational line-up.
In 1993, Hendrix attended a principal’s meeting in Arizona. Irma Hadley, superintendent of education at that time, asked her to consider moving to Glendale. Before the weekend was over, Hendrix had accepted the job and agreed to move from Stockton, Calif., where she had been principal of the elementary school for 13 years.
Over the years, Hendrix has seen tremendous growth and a clear spiritual change on the Glenview campus. "Teachers have focused on being more Christ-centered," says Hendrix, "sharing God’s love with their students daily."
Making Glenview Adventist Academy a Christian school has been the focus of the administration and faculty. The salvation of the students is their main goal.
"Spiritual concepts are shared during worship time, throughout the day, and at chapel services each Friday," explains Hendrix. "Over the years, many of Arizona’s pastoral staff have frequented the campus for these chapel services. Pastor Greg Jones, associate pastor at the Glendale church, holds worship services for the students. A favorite quotation from the book, Education, states, ‘Students should be trained to be thinkers, and not mere reflectors of other men’s thoughts.’ Jones’s worships challenge the students to do just that."
During the 1999-2000 school year, a Glenview parent, Estrella Gonzalez, suggested having a high school on the west side of Phoenix. Her main concern was that her daughter have a Christian school to attend in her area after graduating from the eighth grade at Glenview. Due to the distance and expense, many of the Glenview students were unable to attend Thunderbird Adventist Academy in Scottsdale.
The church constituency voted in favor of this idea, and Gary Venden, senior pastor of the Glendale church, and school board chair Dr. Quentin Aycock, presented the idea to Ivan Weiss, superintendent of education for the Arizona Conference and Duane McKey, president. In 2001, the Pacific Union education board granted the request for Glenview to become Glenview Adventist Junior Academy.
In 2006, Glenview Adventist Junior Academy requested to add the 12th grade, making it an extension school with Thunderbird Adventist Academy as sponsor. Barry Warren, TAA principal, was very supportive. Under the leadership of Thambi Thomas, associate education director of the Pacific Union, the on-site visiting team met on May 20, 2006, to review the application. Recommendations were given to help Glenview meet the criteria, and today it is a K-12 school with eight qualified teachers.
Hendrix is very proud of the growth and accomplishment of Glenview Adventist Academy. "It has been so gratifying to be a part of molding students for the soon return of our Lord and Savior," she says.
Hendrix received the Thomas and Violet Zapara Excellence in Teaching Award in 1993 from the North American Division Office of Education. G. E. Thompson, director at that time, encouraged Hendrix to continue to "touch the future."
"I truly hope I have accomplished that charge," Hendrix says. "Touching the lives of my students has been very important — encouraging them to strive for excellence spiritually, academically, physically and socially."
