About Imago Dei Foothills Academy
Imago Dei Foothills Academy is a private school for a small population of students with a focus on scripture and Christ-centered, individually tailored curriculum. Our mission is to provide a nurturing and challenging educational environment where students can grow academically, spiritually, and emotionally. We are dedicated to helping each student reach their full potential and develop a love for learning that will last a lifetime.
Who We Serve
As He (Jesus) went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9: 1-3 - NIV
Imago Dei exists for families who desire a Christ centered, family oriented, “home away from home”, learning environment with individualized instruction. Imago Dei was created for students of various abilities in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Depending on the grades of students enrolled for the first school year of 2025-2026, we may start with kindergarten through fifth grades and add a grade in consecutive order each year following the first.
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The school adapts best to those who may not thrive in a traditional classroom setting, such as those with mild learning disabilities, gifted students, or children who simply learn better outside the confines of an institutionalized school setting. We recognize children with various abilities may have medical, emotional and/or behavioral concerns. We accept and serve these children as long as these needs do not disrupt the learning environment or require an intensity of services beyond the scope of our school. All students must be able to maintain attention for classroom instruction without disrupting and/or harming others, including staff and students. We are not equipped and/or trained to handle moderate to severe medical, emotional and/or behavioral disorders.​​​​​​
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Imago Dei is a family of learners.
Imago Dei Foothills Academy desires to provide a Christian education with individualized instruction to meet each child’s social, emotional, spiritual, and academic potential. We want to exchange the baton with parents as we partner with them in training their children up to fulfill the purpose of their child for His kingdom.
Why Choose IDFA
The un-institutionalized and individualized approach allows students to reach their maximum potential by providing varied curriculum levels in an ideal low-class-size ratio. Students will be immersed in Christian curriculum based upon their academic level. The microschool has a teacher-student ratio of 1:6 with multi- age classrooms (K-5th in one class, 6th and up in another class) which will allow students the opportunity to be included in a “family of learners”. Each class consists of a maximum of twelve students with two full-time teachers. This microschool is intended to be small with a total of no more than four classes with twelve students each.
Our Beliefs
All staff members will have an eternal impact on the lives of the students at Imago Dei. They are role models to each child they encounter. Therefore, it is required for all faculty, staff and volunteers to have a background check and abide by the Statement of Faith and the Statement on Marriage, Gender, Sexuality, Conduct, and Sanctity of Human Life. Parents signing this document agree to the understanding that these principles will be taught to their children at Imago Dei.
A Typical Day
at IDFA
Students at IDFA will all have individualized, flexible, schedules. All
students will utilize the Christ centered, Bob Jones University Press
curriculum with a computer generated lesson. An AI diagnostic test will
allow teachers to see the challenged material they need to teach one-on-one or in a small group setting. An array of teaching strategies and
resources will be used to accomplish mastery. All resources must be Board approved to ensure Biblical principles are being upheld.
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Imago Dei operates on a traditional ten-month calendar (August – May). Students attend school Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Students may arrive at 8:30 a.m. to prepare for their day. Each morning will consist of a hybrid of Bob Jones learning and small group/one-on-one instruction.
The classroom does not have rows of desks for students to learn. Instead, we have dining tables for small group instruction, optional seating for individual study, and a family room filled with board games, sensory materials, and social encouraging activities. Students will eat snack when they feel hungry and will have the opportunity to have hands-on learning breaks when needed. Students will have a lunch break and recess/social time daily. A typical school week will also include Music, Fitness/Health, Art, and Chapel. Spanish will also be incorporated weekly. In addition, students will have field trips and an optional Lifeskills class offered on several Fridays throughout the school year.
The Founder's Motive
Thank you for your interest in Imago Dei Foothills Academy. My name is Terra Beck. I grew up in Hudson, NC and was saved at Poovey’s Chapel Baptist Church at the age of 19. I studied education and graduated with a BS degree in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University. Go Apps! After graduating, I married my husband Bryan in 2002. We have a beautiful daughter through adoption who was made with unique needs. She is nine years old, loves to dance, and play Wheel of Fortune.
Once Bryan and I realized our daughter, Mackenzy, would need extra support through life, I decided to educate myself on how to help her succeed. I returned to ASU to earn my licensure in educating K-12 students with learning disabilities in 2019. As she began elementary school, we discerned she needed an alternative to the institutional type of school environment. Like some of her non-neurodivergent peers, she needed small group instruction with tailored curriculum to reach her maximum potential. After being blessed to serve for several years as an educator and principal of Christ Classical Academy, I made the decision to homeschool Mackenzy to meet her needs. She was able to have small group instruction in all subjects, frequent breaks, and tailored curriculum. She grew leaps and bounds in all areas. After much prayer, I now seek to open a small, private Christian school to help other students who need a diverse learning environment with the focus on Biblical principles.
My goal is for students with individual needs to have tailored instruction and a safe school environment where they can be most successful. More than anything though, I want all students to know Jesus as their savior and for them to become more like His image so they can fulfill their purpose for His glory. I have a passion for helping His children understand they are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14 NIV Bible). I have served as a Sunday School Teacher at Meadowbrook Baptist since 2002 and enjoy working as the Children’s Activities Director since 2016. In my spare time I enjoy scrapbooking, teaching the Voyage 4-H Club, spending time with extended family, and serving as a Guardian Ad Litem Advocate for the 25th Court District. I would love to hear your story and see if Imago Dei is the right fit for your child. I am thrilled to see God work in the lives of the children who attend Imago Dei Foothills Academy.
