Meet Emily and Madison from Casas Christian School

July 16, 2024

Meet Emily and Madison Dougall, they are entering 4th and 3rd grade at Casas Christian School. Their mom, Kristin, shared the family’s story with the Arizona Leadership Foundation. Read about the profound impact school choice has had on their family.

From Kristin Kidder, mom to Emily and Madison:

We had heard that Casas Christian School was an amazing school. I went to research it and during one of their open houses, I found myself crying, thinking this is where I want my kids to go to school. This was right when Covid was beginning and everything Casas had to offer made us feel safe.

Emily and Madison live with me and I also had an older son, Robert. Robert and his sisters were inseparable even though he was substantially older than the girls; he was an amazing big brother. In March of 2022, he walked out to his car and realized there was a woman trying to steal it. The woman was behind the wheel of his car and when he approached it, she hit him with his own car. He fell on top of the hood of the car and she took off down the road driving over 60mph with him on the hood. She then hit a median and he flew off. It took several hours until we were told that Robert was dead. She was arrested and charged with murder, but sadly she left Emily and Madison without their hero.

Casas Christian School uses a readiness model. When we first arrived, both girls were on the faster learning curve. Casas challenged them and kept them going at that faster pace. After the death of their brother, they needed some additional assistance that Casa was able to provide for them. They met them where the kids were and helped them continue to be successful. The school rallied around them and ensured they had all the support and love that they needed during the most difficult time in their life. They continue to struggle with the loss of their brother and Casas continues to provide all needed support, emotionally and academically to help the girls feel successful.

Since our family has experienced a recent tragic loss and we are still learning how to navigate through this grief, having the girls at Casas Christian School has been a blessing. It has made a difference for my children to be in an environment where they can be supported and challenged all at the same time. We are so incredibly thankful and blessed that we have been fortunate to be given scholarships that have allowed this school to be a reality for us. Without the financial help of scholarships like Arizona Leadership Foundation, this would not be possible.

About Emily from his teacher, Sheryl Morgan:

“I was both honored and blessed to have been entrusted with Emily in my 2nd grade class. She came to me at a very vulnerable time. She had just lost her older brother the spring before and was very fragile. As the year progressed, Emily became more and more open to sharing her heart with me. We worked through her heartache together.”

About Casas Christian School:

The Casas Christian School is a K-8, dually accredited school located in Oro Valley, and established in 1970. Our mission is to provide child-centered education as we celebrate who our students are in Jesus. We believe all children are unique and made with great intention. Because no two children are exactly the same, their educational journey should be a reflection of their unique learning styles and talents. We care about the whole family and seek to nurture the spiritual, emotional, physical and academic needs of each student.
Visit Casas Christian School to learn more.