JOSH NEAL, the principal of Winchester Christian Academy’s Upper School, remembers his eighth grade year as the moment that jumpstarted his career in education.
“There were a couple of teachers along the way who inspired me to become a teacher,” he recalled.
“My eighth grade reading and science teachers really made an impact. They took an interest in me.”
Josh’s science teacher selected him for a special research project at Arnold Engineering Development Complex, where he studied remnants of a Japanese internment camp. His reading teacher later chose him to receive the Citizenship Award, praising his potential and encouraging him to pursue his dreams.
Today, Josh is a multifaceted educator and leader. At Winchester Christian Academy (WCA), he serves as principal, student life director, and assistant athletic director. Outside of school, he’s a youth pastor who invests in students’ lives at church and is a liaison at his and his wife, April’s, children’s academy.
Josh’s leadership style is inspired by one simple philosophy: relationships first.
“I don’t think it is possible to have an educational relationship with a student without actually having an interest in them,” he shared.
“More learning happens when students know that you care.”
Faith is another basis of Josh’s leadership. At Winchester Christian Academy, character-building and spiritual growth are integrated into every aspect of the curriculum.
Students study the Bible daily, attend chapel services twice a week, and explore ethical principles based on scripture. The school’s theme verse, Micah 6:8, serves as a guidepost: “To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
“We want to make sure that students are at the top academically, spiritually, and in their character, knowing who they are and who they belong to before they go out into the world and the world tells them differently.”
Over the years, Josh has noticed a growing divide between parents, school leadership, and staff nationwide, which often leads to misunderstanding and frustration. But at WCA, Josh focuses on bridging that divide.
“When I was growing up, and an adult corrected me or helped me with something, my parents didn’t question it,” he explained, “because they trusted them to make the right decisions. We try to show parents that we love their children. We are here for their children. We want to teach them the right things.”
For the Neal family, education is truly a family affair. He and April nurture little learners, from infants to preschoolers, through their “It Takes a Village Academy and Daycare” program.
They founded the academy, which Josh lovingly refers to as “Harvard pre-k,” in 2014. At the time, the Neals — young parents with their fourth child, Scarlett — realized that the type of care they wanted for their daughter simply didn’t exist yet.
By 2016, with their fifth child on the way, the Neals moved their growing child care center to a larger location, expanding from 15 children to 99 in just two years.
“Through the whole thing, we knew that God had a purpose for us to be a light for many children and provide for children to be loved in a place where they could also learn.”
While April oversees the classrooms, Josh supports the program through human resources, logistics, and mentoring young parents.
Josh has made it his purpose to mentor young people, just as his teachers did all those years ago. As a husband, father, and leader in his community, Josh’s mission remains to educate, empower, and uplift future generations in hopes that they will, in turn, do the same. GN
