Good News - October 2018

Dr. Robert Tennies was the beloved Headmaster of Boca Raton Christian School for the past 34 years. He passed into Glory on Septem- ber 1st following a heart pro- cedure. Dr. Tennies was born in Bogota, Columbia, where his parents were missionaries. He madeBocaChristian hismission field with a life-long dedication to caring for children’s minds and souls. His wife, Mrs. Ruth Ten- nies, was by his side at Boca Christian, first as a teacher, and for the past 32 years as the Media Specialist. Both of their daughters attended Boca Christian. Dr. Tennies was a proud graduate of Wheaton College (BS in Biology). He attended graduate school at the Univer- sity of South Florida (MA in Sci- ence Education) and Florida Atlantic University (EdD in Ad- ministration/Supervision). Dr. Tennies served as anAccredita- tion Committee Chairperson for the Association of Christian Schools International in order to help other schools achieve ex- cellence in Christian education. He was an invited speaker at national and international con- ferences on children’s Christian education. As Headmaster of Boca Christian, he saw the school grow fromunder 200 stu- dents to nearly 600, with corre- sponding increases in faculty. The school was named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the US Department of Edu- cation in 1990 and 1997 dur- ing his tenure, as well as receiving recognition by the Florida State House of Repre- sentatives for outstanding achievement in education. Dr. Tennies is remembered by his faculty, staff, and students as a leader of action as well as prayer. He could be seen all around campus every day. He often spent time walking the campus and stopping to pray, supervising car lines at pick up, attending countless sporting events and all musical perform- ances and daily devotions with his staff. Fromchapel on the first morning of the new school year, when he introduced his annual theme, to awarding Kinder- garten and High School diplo- mas at the close of a school year, Dr. Tennies was always present and always interacting with students. Each month he hosted a pizza lunch in his of- fice for children selected as students of the month, and he enjoyed these times of getting to know them. He made an ef- fort to greet each child in the school by name. Dr. Tennies was always generous with his time. For several years, he and his wife were foster parents and opened their home to children in need. He also taught Sunday school for 41 years and loved planning his lessons. The two Bibles that he studied and pre- pared with were well marked and bothwere falling apart from use! His staff knew he was al- ways available for wise counsel and prayer. The school staff unanimously agrees that Dr. Tennies inspired each one to strive to be amore lovingChris- tian servant. Dr. Tennies was known as thoughtful andwise, aman of ut- most integrity, loving, kind, and forgiving, and onewho truly lived his Christian faith with great pur- pose. He was a faithful servant of the Lord who touched thou- sands throughout his lifetime. Boca Christian Headmaster Dr. Tennies Remembered Dr. Robert Tennies Dr. Robert Tennies with a Student Headmaster for a Day Palm Beach County