ST INS CARES-Summit Christian School-Small Classes & Big Heart In SWFL

A lot of schools talk about “student-centered learning,” but what does that actually look like when a child is tired, overwhelmed, or starting to disappear in a crowded classroom? We sit down with Megan from Summit Christian School in Southwest Florida to talk about the practical choices that shape a calmer, happier, more connected K to 8 experience, from smaller class sizes to a culture where kids are truly seen and known.

Megan shares what she does at Summit, including admissions, onboarding, communications, and events, and why she’s passionate about changing what customer service looks like in education. We get into why the campus can feel like a hidden gem, how the school is working to raise local awareness, and what families notice most when they tour: joyful classrooms, teachers with autonomy, and a space that feels welcoming rather than clinical.

We also explore what makes Summit stand out for families who need more support. Megan explains how the school serves students who are struggling, including those with IEPs or 504 plans, and why that matters in the private school landscape. You’ll hear how tours can happen any time of year, what the waitlist realities look like by grade, and why Summit is even exploring whether a high school could meet a real need in the area.

If you care about Christian education, small class sizes, healthier screen-time boundaries, and real partnership between school and home, this conversation will give you plenty to think about. Subscribe, share this with a parent or educator, and leave a review so more people can find the stories making a difference in our communities.

Summit Christian School in Southwest Florida
Megan Robertson
9065 Ligon Ct, Fort Myers, FL, United States, 33908
(239) 482-7007
office@summitchristianschool.org
summitswfl.org
@SummitChristianSchool

State Insurance USA
4450 Camino Real Way Ft Myers, FL 33966
239-567-9992
office@StateInsuranceUSA.com
stateinsuranceusa.com
https://www.facebook.com/Stateinsuranceusa
#StateInsuranceUSA
#SupportLocal
#WeLoveOurClients
@Stateinsuranceusa

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Transcript

Welcome And Community Spotlight

Intro/Close 0:00

Welcome to State Insurance USA Cares Podcast, where we celebrate the heart of our communities. Each episode, we highlight local charities and nonprofits who are bringing hope, help, and healing to those who need it most. Get ready to be inspired by the amazing stories of people making a difference. Because together, we care.

Megan’s Role At Summit

Gail Langner 0:19

Well, hello, it's Gail Langner with State Insurance Cares, a part of State Insurance USA. You know, what I love about State Insurance Cares is actually getting to shine the light on incredible work that's being done by local nonprofits. And today we're visiting with Megan from Summit Christian School. So Megan, thanks so much for joining us today.

Megan Robertson 0:38

Thanks for having me. I'm so excited.

Gail Langner 0:41

Oh well, we're glad to have you. And we were also very excited to be able to donate to the school as well. Tell me about what do you what do you do at Summit? What's your what's your role there?

Megan Robertson 0:51

Yeah, so I'm an administrator. Um, and so primarily my roles are admissions, uh bringing in families and onboarding them, and just making sure that they have um someone to talk through to throughout their journey. And then uh communications, internal and external. So making sure that our teachers know what's going on. Um, I really want to change what customer service looks like in education. Um, and so if they know what's going on, they can communicate effectively, and then communicating to our families as well, um, and and changing that as well. And then I do events, um, so our larger fundraisers uh are external things and then our internal things, like you know, graduations and awards and all the little things in between that keep a school running. Um, and then just um supporting our teachers and our families, and you know, as a leader and administrator, if things come up and you, you know, you handle them.

Gail Langner 1:51

So that's all you do? Is there anything you don't do? Megan, you're a busy girl. No, for sure. Well, I was really surprised you're right there off from Summerlin. Um, gosh, I would think that the that the employees that uh at healthcare, that would be the perfect place to take your kids. It's so close, you know. But you're just tucked away back in there in that beautiful spot. Um, didn't even know you were back there.

Megan Robertson 2:19

That is something we hear all the time. That's something that we are trying to change. A school is 35 years old this year in August. And so we are just trying to change that narrative. I hear that all the time. And so um, we're trying to get out there on social media and and uh advertising and the radio, and you know, it's just the thing that we truly hear all the time. And so we're definitely trying to change that. Um, but we do have a beautiful campus tucked in the neighborhood.

Gail Langner 2:46

Yeah, it's gorgeous back there. I wish you could put like a big sign on the other side of the trees, you know, there on Summerlin where people could see it. But I

Mission And Small Class Advantage

Gail Langner 2:54

know it. Well, what's Summit's mission? What what are you what do you strive toward there at your school? I I know you have smaller classrooms that as if I were back being a young mom again, I know that that would really um float my boat. It really would. No, it would. There's smaller classrooms. I think once the classrooms get, you know, relatively large, your child loses a lot of self in that.

Megan Robertson 3:19

So yeah, it really they do, and they get lost in, you know, the the hustle and bustle of just being in a larger school. Um, and so for you know, the last 35 years, our mission is to has been to uh provide an excellent education rooted in God's word. And uh we're looking to potentially revamp that, but uh that same mission will, you know, hold true. Um, but just really making sure that kids are seen and known and loved um at their core. And um and they're not just a number more than anything.

Gail Langner 3:57

Right. So, you know, some may be going a lot quicker, some maybe struggling or whatever. And I think the smaller classrooms really, like I said, as a young mom, that would have really uh attracted me.

Megan Robertson 4:08

It I joke, but I do mean this is it it reminds me of like a 90s throwback school, right? To where like um we're intentionally not one-to-one with iPads and Chromebooks because we want them to learn from a teacher. And um, you walk down the hall and it just um it just looks sweet. You know, you have like little backpacks on the hooks outside, and um I don't know, we just let kids be kids. And I think that's what missing what's missing in education. Um, and people are finally realizing that and like pulling back a little bit and realizing like you don't have to be in a seat eight hours a day to learn well. That doesn't that doesn't equate to good learning. Um, and so you know, we start our day off with recess. Like, how can you learn if you're sleepy?

Gail Langner 4:54

That's so smart.

Megan Robertson 4:56

Yeah, wake up a little bit and enjoy the day and like you know, spend some time with friends. This is a day the Lord has made. And so um get out there and and wake your brain up, and then they have a second recess after lunch.

Gail Langner 5:08

And okay, when again when you get sleepy, again when you exactly right. That's super smart. We actually uh donated to All Start Athlete Foundation as well. And one of the things that they said is they wanted kids to be kids, but of course that means sports and what's sports, expensive. So, you know, it's I love your letting be kids. I I I love that. That's that's absolutely wonderful. Um so well, I was gonna ask you what makes Summit unique, but I think we already know.

Megan Robertson 5:37

I mean, yeah, I mean, that's you know, the small class sizes is one of them. We like to see classes somewhere between 16 and 20, depending on the makeup of um the classroom. And um, we are also a little bit unique in that we don't think that, you know, there's a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Like we're going to continuously evaluate what is out there and what is best practice and um what is best for students. You know, and so um, and then, you know, in the Christian environment too, it is so, so important for us to hold the line as educators and making sure that we are walking the walk and we are in the word every day. Um and so that's something that we try to really um guard and even even provide time for during the work week. And so um that's important to us too. How do you integrate Bible into everything if you don't know the Bible? And right, yeah. Um, and so that's something that we really, really guard. And um, you know, it's just a kids being kids is probably the number one thing. There's a there's of course a time and a place always to respect your adults and listen, and but there's also a time and a place to um to break out. You'll walk into our classrooms at any point in time, and some of the classes will be in the middle of instruction, and sometimes I'll come in for a tour and they have a clipboard and they're under a desk and they're doing their work. Who cares? They're doing their work and they love it. There's so much joy in every classroom. And um, the number one thing that parents say when they are walking through on a tour is your classrooms are gorgeous, our teachers do incredible with their classrooms. Um, and then two, it's your kids look so happy. Um, and I think that's because they are.

Gail Langner 7:22

So the teachers individually they they kind of do their own room the way they they think it should be.

Megan Robertson 7:27

Yeah, yeah. We we um we try to um, you know, give them, let them have some autonomy there. This is where they are every day for 40 hours a week. This is where students are every day for 40 hours a week. We want it to be comfortable and not clinical and um kind of homey. Like we want this to feel good for them. We want them to walk in the door and be like, huh, okay, I'm here, I'm home. Right, right. Um, and the same for the teachers. Exactly.

Tours Timing And Enrollment Realities

Gail Langner 7:57

So what time of your year would you start um looking? You said that families came in for tours. That makes total sense that they would want to do that. What time of year is a good time to do that?

Megan Robertson 8:08

There is no now, is it there's no wrong time of year. Um, you have um some limitations when it comes to step up for students, but for the most part, um any time of year. We have kids who come who, you know, tried public school for a little bit and decided it wasn't for them, and they call me in September, October, and they're like, I can't do it. Please take my baby. Right, right. Um, and then there's some people who, you know, are the planners. And so if you're a planner, you should be looking in November, December for the following school year. Um, but you know, we still are taking kiddos for next year. We only have a few classes on the wait list presently, and we're approaching a wait list for a few other grades. So um, yeah, we do have spots, but um, you know, there we have people moving from out of town, and um, I mean, there's so many different situations and dynamics and Southwest Florida is massive. And so if you move 10 minutes down the road, it might actually mean a 30-minute drive to your school now, and it depending exactly what time of year, you're absolutely right. And so people are like what grades do you do, Megan?

Gail Langner 9:12

I'm sorry I mean to talk over you.

Megan Robertson 9:13

No, you're fine. We're kindergarten through eighth grade.

Gail Langner 9:16

Okay.

Megan Robertson 9:17

Yeah.

Gail Langner 9:17

All right, and then they have to make the big leap into the big schools, right?

Supporting Struggling Students And Expansion

Megan Robertson 9:22

Yeah, our yes. We are, you know, we have a committee who's looking at what would it mean if we had a high school? Um, is there a need in our area? Um, you know, because we are also what makes us unique is we're one of the only private schools in the area that will take kiddos who are struggling. Um, and they might have an IEP or a 504 and and um and you know, just have additional supports that are needed. And we actually have a full-time staff member who's um on board to pull them out a few times a week or whatever their needs are. Um, and so there's not a lot of schools in the area that do that. And so um we do recognize a potential need for that at the high school level. Um, and so what would it mean? Uh and we're just kind of exploring that and seeing if it's us, and if it's not us, could we could we even you know get the word out for somebody else and you know help them get it started and filter into them? So um it doesn't have to be us, it's all for God's glory. And so um, and what's best for

Parent Partnership And Communication Culture

Megan Robertson 10:23

kids.

Gail Langner 10:23

Well, I would think there would be quite a bit of communication then between the teachers and and the parents too. I mean, I would think that throughout the year. I mean, I for me, I think it was probably, you know, I was shaking my boots when I got my report card thinking, I hope I passed, which is ridiculous. I got straight A, so I don't I don't what I was ever worried about. But anyway, but there was never any communication with my parents unless, you know, I I did something wrong, which is obviously talked too much in class. Other than that, it's just it's one of those where it doesn't matter where you move me, I'm gonna talk. Yeah, you can move me if you want, you can move me around all around the whole class.

Megan Robertson 11:01

But look where you are now. Still talking. You're made everybody is made differently and has different strengths. Um those are things that we try to recognize. But yeah, communication with parents is number one. Um, you know, just the the climate of education has changed so much um at a lot of schools. It's like we're the experts get out, we don't need you. Um, and our approach is entirely different. It is um, you know, it takes all of us, um, you know, a triangle of church and school and home, uh, with home as a leader, but like we're here as supports. Um, and so how can we do that if you don't know what's going on and you don't have any idea where your child is at? And so yeah, communication is really important. And that's something I brought here when I got on is um the customer service mindset in education. Um, because believe it or not, like I know that they are, you know, the initially people be like, I'm just a teacher. You are just a teacher, you're not just a teacher. You are you, you know, they are incredible human beings who are doing so much more than just teaching, right? And um, it's ever evolving. And um customer service is one of those things, like uh you just really have to um serve serve the families and um be in true partnership with them. And so that's something that we strive for all the time.

Gail Langner 12:22

The perfect word.

Megan Robertson 12:23

Perfect.

How To Support And Get In Touch

unknown 12:24

Yeah.

Gail Langner 12:24

Well, Megan, I know we're we're close to kind of wrapping up here, but I did want to know how could the community actually support the school, even if they don't have children that go there?

Megan Robertson 12:34

Yeah, there's there's so many ways, right? Um, we have a new head of school and uh Dan Vanderpool, and he is incredible. And so um, you know, if they've heard about our school in the past or um, you know, have toured it in the past, um, it's a good opportunity to come back and see the school and meet it, uh meet the new visionary and um get behind that. Um if they just sharing the word about us, you know, uh talking about us, if they uh hear, you know, a friend talking about it, um, and praying for us, praying for our school, praying for our kiddos, you know, as you know, kids have so many different things going on in their lives. And so um anything that we can do to cover them in prayer, uh if they think about it. And then, you know, always uh we have galas and other fundraising events. Um and so, you know, financially, if you know they would ever like to contribute, reaching out and um we'd be more than happy to have them.

Gail Langner 13:33

Right, exactly. Okay, awesome. So so what is your website?

Megan Robertson 13:37

Let's uh summit swfl.org. So summit swfl.org.

Gail Langner 13:43

Okay, great. And the phone, good phone number to call?

Megan Robertson 13:46

239-482-7007.

Gail Langner 13:49

Awesome. Megan from Summit Christian School, thank you, thank you for joining us today. We really appreciate it. And again, I said I I just love just to shine the light on the incredible work that's being done here in Southwest Florida. And you, my friend, are most certainly part of that. So thank you so much. All right, thanks for joining us. Bye. Bye.

Intro/Close 14:09

Thank you for joining us on State Insurance USA Pares. We hope today's story uplifted and inspired you. If you'd like to support or learn more about the incredible work happening in your community, visit StateInsuranceUSA.com or call two three nine five six seven nine nine nine two. You can also visit cabowabojim.com. Until next time, be sure to let your sun shine and keep sharing good and positive vibes wherever the waves take you.