Brian From talks with Dr. Tanya Calendo, principal of Emmanuel Lutheran School in Palatine, who was recently named administrator of the year after a nomination from her own faculty and staff. Tanya traces the school’s roots to 1870, a year after its church was founded, reflecting the Lutheran conviction that churches should come alongside families to root children in the faith. She describes a play-based, technology-free early childhood program starting at age two and a half, new free programs for toddlers and their caregivers, and a middle school with subject-specialist teachers and small cohorts. She argues that the middle school years are just as formative as high school. Drawing on her experience as a mother of three grown sons, Tanya explains the value of Christian education: building identity in Christ, love of neighbor, and a community of families who share life together, including a new care ministry that supports families through births, illnesses, and loss.