Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2021

ALUMNA SERVES DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION IN NATION’S CAPITAL Growing up in a military family, Rachel Reno ’00, M.Ed. ’16, experienced firsthand the struggles of a student who feels out of place and finds it easy to hide. “I was not the A-plus student; I was also not the student that was acting out behaviorally. I was the really, really easy student to not see,” Reno said. “God sent Christian teachers into my life at really pivotal times to see me, to listen to me, and to build relationships with me.” Now, in her role as upper school principal at Immanuel Christian School (ICS) in Springfield, Virginia, a Washington, D.C., suburb, Reno is bringing that extra measure of empathy to her students. In an age marked by COVID protocols, it’s easier than ever for students to literally hide behind a mask. ICS is a diverse K–11 school with a focus on unity and discipleship. “We have a unique school with 43% diversity in the student population,” Reno said. “It’s not unusual to stand in carpool duty and hear six different languages being spoken by parents waiting to pick up their students.” The second-grade classroom holds a heritage festival every year, when parents come in and share about their student’s heritage. “It’s a parade of countries,” Reno said. “We fill the gym with food, games, and pictures; it’s like stamping your passport and walking through all these different countries.” This year, in the wake of COVID-19, Reno and the rest of the staff have had to think beyond the mask to help students emotionally, spiritually, and academically. “Our teachers are phenomenal and creative,” said Reno. “We have discipleship groups that meet on Mondays and Fridays, and we really try to be 6-foot distanced so they can take down their masks. We’re doing a lot of things outside, so we can have fresh air and circulation.” Reno is very grateful for the time she had as a student at Cedarville University, where she gained confidence in herself and the abilities God had given her. She is grateful for the strong foundation she received in education as a secondary English education major with a teaching credential for grades seven through 12. “I look back and see God’s hand at work in my heart,” she said. “Cedarville helped me develop a heart for the kind of kids I’m serving today.” Cedarville Magazine | 23