REMEMBERING HEADMASTER JOHN SCHIMMER

JOHN SCHIMMER JR., SECOND HEADMASTER at Trinity Christian Academy, ran the race and finished well on April 30, 2022.

Born in 1933 on the South Side of Chicago, John Schimmer worked his way through college, studying Bible at Moody Bible Institute as well as earning a BA in elementary education and a BA in religious education at Shelton College in New Jersey. In 1962 he earned a master’s degree in administration. He married his college sweetheart Janie in June of 1958, laying the foundation for a 63-year marriage. In the 1960s, Mr. Schimmer served on the faculty of Shelton College as well as principal and ultimately superintendent in the school district of Ringwood, New Jersey.

In 1973, Mr. Schimmer moved his family to Dallas to become the second headmaster at Trinity Christian Academy, which was on the verge of pursuing accreditation and moving to the present campus in Addison. In those years, he recalled, “I had no idea how many hats I would have to wear, but the philosophy of all who were involved from the start was just that you did what had to be done.” A long-time coworker recalled that “he got the school organized. We were a close faculty. We struggled together; we all worked together to get the accreditation. When we got it, it was announced over the loudspeaker, and everyone cheered!”

Mr. Schimmer’s passion for TCA was to pursue true biblical integration and to become a distinctively Christian school, even though, in his words, “in the early 1970s, none of us was sure what a Christian school was. We had to discover what makes a school distinctively Christian. Just having Bible class or chapel services wasn’t enough. We pursued true biblical integration in everything we did.”

Schimmer’s children remember that “he modeled for us quiet times, family devotions, daily prayer, regular church attendance and a deep reverence for God. Even as our families grew, when we were all together at holidays and on vacation, devotions were a priority, and dad would often assign us days to give the devos, including his grandchildren. We spent time as a family in the Word and prayer.”

His daughter Libby remembers, “One of the most valuable lessons he ever taught me was during my middle school years at the height of self-absorption. He had me reconcile my parents’ giving for the year to ministries and missionaries.” When she questioned why the family gave so much, Mr. Schimmer responded, “Everything we have comes from God, and a life of obedience includes giving back to God and his work.”

In 1978, John Schimmer left TCA to become the south central director of the newly formed Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). During his years with ACSI, he completed his doctorate of education. He served as co-founder of the Dallas Association of Christian Educators, president of the Texas Christian School Association and president of the National Council of Private School Accreditation.

In his latter years, John and his beloved wife Janie traveled extensively overseas training teachers and board members at international Christian schools. He served as an adjunct teacher and guest lecturer in several seminaries and colleges. Following his death, his children find great joy in discovering his notes and highlights in his Bible; a well-marked verse in Philippians teaches Christians to “do all things without grumbling or complaining, that you may prove yourselves blameless and innocent, children of God among a perverse generation among whom you appear as lights in the world.” John Schimmer served as a light to the TCA community, and his family’s investment in the school lasted long after his time as headmaster. His three children graduated from TCA: David in 1978, Libby in 1982 and Jackie in 1986. Libby married Matt Madison ’81, son of TCA board member Ford Madison. Jackie Schimmer Harrison returned to TCA as a parent in 2002. The first-grade classroom of her oldest, Jessie Harrison, was right down the hall from John’s wife Janie “Nana” Schimmer, who served as a phonics tutor for students with dyslexia for 32 years, helping over 150 students before her retirement in 2006. Jackie’s children Jessie, Travis and Maggie were “lifers” at TCA, and Maggie’s graduation in 2020 ended 47 years of members of the Schimmer/Harrison family at TCA.