It began in a local family’s backyard one summer night with eight school-aged children, four families, and five teachers who shared a vision for something different. What started as a simple conversation has since grown into Canton Christian School, a new and innovative learning community tucked within Malone University’s campus. Here, educators and leaders are carving a fresh path in education; one that prioritizes collaboration, interactive and inquiry-based learning, and wisdom drawn not only from textbooks, but from meaningful partnerships throughout the greater Canton community.
Canton Christian School was founded on a mission to empower children with knowledge, confidence, and a Christ-centered foundation, equipping them to meet modern-day challenges with creativity and purpose.
Laura and RJ Fryan were part of the founding families that built the school out of a desire to create a space rooted in hands-on, experiential learning. In just sixty days, the founding team brought an entire organization to life, establishing policies and procedures for preschool through fifth grade, designing classrooms, and developing curriculum from the ground up. “We raised more than $100,000 from families and community members who heard about our cause and believed in it,” Laura said. “It was the opportunity to start the school we wished we had when we were young, to reimagine education in a fun, electric environment charged with creativity.”
When you walk into the school, you are met with a sense of peace. Natural light fills the hallways, accompanied by the sound of children laughing, learning, and often singing worship songs. Classrooms are designed without rigid rows of desks, instead intentionally tailored to support learning through play, collaboration, and real-world projects guided by teachers. With a combined 100 years of teaching experience in progressive, student-focused methods such as Reggio Emilia, this collective group of educators is committed to integrating faith with learning and encouraging students both spiritually and academically.
While Canton Christian School aligns its instruction with Ohio state standards, teachers are given the freedom to lead from their expertise. Several educators hold advanced certifications in Orton-Gillingham, a structured literacy approach grounded in the widely used science of reading research.
“Meeting state standards is essential, but how we get there matters,” said Laura. “Our teachers are experts in their fields, and they design learning experiences that begin with what sparks curiosity in our students.”
That flexibility is especially evident in the science classrooms, where lessons often grow out of student-led inquiry. When the children became fascinated by the cicadas they spotted this fall, learning did not come from a worksheet or video. Under the guidance of science teacher Mrs. Stacey Gall, younger primary students designed and built larger-than-life cicada models while exploring the insect’s life cycle and anatomy.
Older students took the project a step further, writing and performing an original play that traced the cicada’s life cycle. They designed costumes, rehearsed together, and ultimately performed the production for their peers on the school’s outdoor stage. “That’s what learning looks like here,” Laura said. “When students are engaged and curious, creativity follows, and state standards are met in such a way that produces mastery of concepts.”
That philosophy is reinforced by educators like Mrs. Andi DeLap, who trained in the Reggio Emilia approach at The Ohio State University and championed her philosophy on mastery, curiosity, and process-based learning in this area of Ohio. Focused on deep understanding rather than rote memorization, students explore concepts through all of the senses and hands-on projects. Laura added,
“As a great example of this- the students are learning about the Statue of Liberty so they are building a life size version of the Statue and oxidizing pennies to discover why it's green! Also, when the students learned the Pledge of Allegiance, they discussed what each line means and pieced it together line by line on a giant mural. Our teachers focus on the process and approach learning as a two-way street with dynamic feedback.”
Also at the core of the school is a commitment to preserving childhood. Technology is intentionally limited, allowing classrooms to remain places of conversation, imagination, and presence. “In a culture that often measures children by speed and performance, we have chosen to protect childhood itself,” said Laura. “Our goal is to foster growth that is academic, emotional, and spiritual, and to give students the space to become who they are meant to be.”
The school has grown not only in enrollment, but in community impact and cultural influence as well. Canton Christian School is thoughtful about gathering as a school family and creating spaces for connection. “We hold an opening ceremony for our school community right before the year begins,” said Laura. “It includes a time of praise and worship and a fun, welcoming open house where families can connect with teachers. It’s not a boring orientation night.”
Likewise, each Friday has been set aside as a “Fun Friday,” a day dedicated to community partnerships and collaborative learning beyond the classroom. “Community is a priority for us,” Laura added. These days might include animal demonstrations hosted by Malone University’s biology department, complete with live animals, visits to the Canton Fire Department, or multigenerational activities alongside residents at the Canton Christian Home.
As Canton Christian School continues to grow, its impact is felt not just within the classroom walls, but across families and the wider Canton community. By slowing down in a Christ-centered environment, teaching with a carefully curated curriculum aligned to Ohio standards, and designing classrooms that foster collaboration and creativity, the school offers a compelling model of what education can look like when purpose guides every decision.
"When students are engaged and curious, creativity follows, and state standards are met in such a way that produces mastery of concepts.”
“When students are engaged and curious, creativity follows, and state standards are met in such a way that produces mastery of concepts.”