Classes are filling up quickly for the 2008/2009 fall classes.  Call 330.644.8171 for tuition prices and other rates.  Choose from 2 to 5 days each week.  There is only a limited number of spaces available so hurry to schedule a no-obligation tour of our facilities!

    Noah's Ark Childcare Academy is licensed by the Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services and meets all of the requirements set by them, as well as requirements of the Health, Building, and Fire codes. This commitment ensures a safe and healthy environment for every child.

Todd Marshall Hearnsberger (Co-founder & Administrator)
Stephanie Hearnsberger (Co-founder & Co-Administrator)
Email Us - Pastor Todd & Stephanie

Pastor Todd & Stephanie co-founded the preschool in November 1998. Pastor Todd has a degree in Pastoral Studies and also serves as the Senior Pastor of LC.  He has been serving in full-time ministry since 1994. Stephanie has a degree in music and assists Pastor Todd with much of the administration of the preschool and also serves as the Fine Arts/Worship Pastor of LC. Pastor Todd and Stephanie will also be starting our first Christian academy in the near future called Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy. They have been married since 1995 and have one daughter, Hannah, a son, Grafton, and their other son (dog), Valentine. Pastor Todd enjoys spending time with his family. His favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:28. Stephanie enjoys singing and being with her family as well. Her favorite Bible verses is Psalm 91.

Renee' Thompson (Director)

Ms. Renee' has been with us since 2005 and is married to her husband, Steve, and has two teenage children, Lindsay and David.  She and her family regularly attend Chapel Hill Church.  Ms. Renee' has a degree in Bible and Christian Education and has been teaching children in the preschool/daycare field since 1996.  She enjoys reading, walking, baking, and shopping.  Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 1:6.

 Lisa Mastriano (Administrative Assistant)

Ms. Lisa has rejoined our staff after taking a few years off to be home with her children.  Lisa is married to Rick and has two children, Kyle and Brianah.  She attends Legacy Church and is head of the children's ministry.  She enjoys kids, swimming, shopping and playing with her own children in her spare time.  Ms. Lisa's favorite Bible verse is John 3:16.

Beth Mather (Head Teacher K-3/K-4) 

Ms. Beth and her husband, Marc regularly attend Legacy Church. They have three young boys, Marcus Jr., Michael and Mason. Their oldest two children attend Lake Center Christian School in Hartville and the youngest attends here at Noah's Ark.  Ms. Beth is currently taking classes to earn her CDA in Childhood Education.  She has been with Noah's Ark since 2002 and is still loving every minute of it.  Ms. Beth enjoys playing softball and scrap booking.  Her favorite Bible verse is Matthew 19:14.

Jennifer Subotnik - (Head Teacher - K-3)

Ms. Jen regularly attends Crossroads Church in Doylestown and is married to her  husband Andrew.  Ms. Jen has been working in the childcare field since 2001 and has been part of the NACA staff since 2005.  She enjoys photography, scrapbooking, painting and singing.  Her favorite Bible verse is Psalm 68:5.

Suzi Bittner (Head Teacher 2.5 to 3 year olds) 

Ms. Suzi recently joined our staff and is excited to be part of the team. She is married to her husband, John and they have two children, Valerie who is 3 and Trent who is 1 1/2. They attend Grace Bible Church. Ms. Suzi enjoys reading, movies, shopping, and her family. Her favorite Bible verses are Romans 8:38-39.

    Noah's Ark Childcare Academy is an outreach ministry of Legacy Church, a non-denominational church in Akron pastored by Todd & Stephanie Hearnsberger. Our center was started on November 9, 1998 and founded by Pastor Todd and his wife, Stephanie.

    Pastor Todd and Stephanie have always had a heart and a love for children.  The vision of this preschool was originally put in the heart of Pastor Dennis B. Condon, our church's pastor emeritus.  In his 30+ years of pastoring, he has started a number of other Christian-based daycares/preschools, as well as a Christian academy for schoolage children. This same vision for establishing high-quality, Christ-centered child care and education has been applied here at Legacy Church in our Noah's Ark Childcare Academy.

    Our facility gives a warm invitation to parents and students. Plans are already in the works to build a new facility and start our first Christian Academy in the near future.

    NACA is an exciting learning program designed for ages 18 months through preschool age.  Our programs are Christ-centered with the guidance of Christian leaders and teachers.  Doctrinal issues are not a part of our teaching curriculum.  We view our role as a partnership with the parents to meet each child’s need.

    The Christian school is not a school just merely for the sake of academics, but for the sake of fulfilling the church’s God-ordained role in carrying out the Christian education mandate (Deut. 6:7, Prov. 22:6, II Tim. 3:15-17).  Just as we believe it would be wrong to place our children under the influence of godless teachers, so we believe it would be wrong to place them under the influence of godless, humanistic readers and teaching materials.

    Character training is one of the supreme goals of Christian education.  God says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).  Children must be trained, line upon line, precept upon precept, day after day.

    To train means to exercise, to discipline, to teach and form by practice.  When a person is trained, it becomes part of his character to do what he has been taught.  It is built into his spirit, and he has to go against his own spirit to do the wrong thing.  Training builds habits that are right, and training must take place all through the day, not merely in a “character lesson” taught once a day or once a week.

    We train our students to do the following:
1. respect authority
2. pay attention
3. obey willingly and immediately
4. apply themselves to the task at hand
5. learn rules and apply them
6. do their best
7. learn to work hard
8. develop habits of orderliness, carefulness, obedience, honesty, accomplishment, cooperation, perseverance, self-control, attentiveness, fairness, confidence, responsibility, effort, steadfastness, discipline, endurance, helpfulness, neatness, patience, judgment, and respect.

    It is not enough to simply talk about doing right.  We will provide an orderly, organized classroom where working hard and doing right are the accepted standards.  Our students will find it easier to concentrate on the work, and developing character traits will become more natural.

> To provide a loving, caring, quality child care--paying primary attention to their safety and wellbeing, emotional and social growth, as well as intellectual and spiritual development.

> To provide an atmosphere where your child can build a strong, realistic self-image.

> To provide guidance that will enable your child to adapt to adults and to children their own age.

    All learning activities are what we call "child friendly". We make learning fun and exciting!

    As a teaching curriculum, we use one of the most popular and best Christian-based teaching programs in the country called "A Beka Book" (www.abeka.com). They are the largest Christian textbook publisher in the world and have been providing quality education materials since 1974.

    This curriculum will teach students the basic educational fundamentals such as ABC's, including how to recognize them and what sounds they make, as well as colors, shapes, and numbers.

    The students love Bible stories. They get to learn about God's Word as well as Jesus and His ministry and His purpose for us today. We do not teach doctrinal issues.

The children’s daily schedule is flexible enough to provide adaptability when necessary but structured enough to provide predictability for the children.  We want them to view their school as a safe and comforting place where they know what to expect and when to expect it.  A typical day at NACA would include:
          Arrival – 8:30                Inside play (age appropriate)
             8:30 – 8:45                Children pick up toys
             8:45 – 9:00                Potty break/Drinks/A.M. Snack
             9:00 – 9:15                Bible Story
             9:15 – 9:30                M/W/F       Language Development
                                             T/Th   Numbers
             9:30 – 9:45                Potty break/Drinks
           9:45 – 10:15                Rest
         10:15 – 10:30                Story Time
         10:30 – 11:15                Outside Play/Gross Motor Skills
         11:15 – 11:30                Potty break/Drinks/Wash up for lunch
         11:30 – 12:15                Lunch
         12:15 – 12:30                Potty break/Drinks/Get ready for nap
           12:30 – 2:30                Nap Time
             2:30 – 2:45                Potty break/Drinks
             2:45 – 3:00                P.M. Snack
             3:00 – 4:00                Monday – Poetry or Nursery Rhymes
                                             Tuesday – Singing or Rhythm Band
                                             Wednesday – Puzzles or Play Clay
                                             Thursday – Story Time/Act out Stories
                                              Friday – Show & Tell/Free Art
             4:00 – 4:15                Potty break/Drinks
             4:15 – 5:30                Outside Play
         5:30 – Depart.                Free play, Recorded stories or songs, free art, looking at books, or other quiet activities in the learning center.

• No child shall ever be left alone or unattended.

• All doors to the center are locked at all times with easy exiting for emergencies.  A security camera at the entrance door monitors all traffic coming in and out of the center.

• There is access to several telephones throughout the building.

• A fire escape plan is posted in each room and monthly fire drills are rehearsed with the students.

• We require all staff members to be trained in first aid, child CPR, Recognition of Communicable Diseases, and Recognition of Child Abuse & Neglect.

• Fenced in outside playground far away from any streets.

• All toys are checked periodically for breakage that could result in a student's injury.

• All staff members carry hand-helded radios so that we can communicate with each other during urgent matters without leaving children unattended.