Tabernacle Christian School
Encyclopedia
Tabernacle Christian School is a private Christian School
in Gardendale, Alabama
, USA serving grades K3-12. The current principal is Glenn Dickson, who came to TCS in July 2000.
TCS was founded by Dr. Ronald Dabbs, former Pastor of Gardendale Baptist Tabernacle (GBT) in 1974. Since its inception, Tabernacle has been the largest private school in north Jefferson County
and one of the largest Christian schools in Birmingham metropolitan area
.
Tabernacle was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Alabama Christian Education Association (ACEA), the largest Christian school association in Alabama, in 1975. Former Tabernacle Principal Robin Mears currently serves as Executive Director of the ACEA.
curricula. TCS hosts the ACEA State Academic Competition in February of each year.
The "Torches" have become one of the more dominant Christian school athletic programs in Alabama. Fielding teams in Football, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Cheerleading, Men's and Women's Basketball, Track and Field, and Cross Country Running. TCS eight-man football
competes in the Christian Football Association (CFA) and in the Alabama Christian Education Athletic Association (ACEAA) in all other sports.
The Torches have appeared in the CFA state title game three times, hosting the championship game in 2000. Until 2003, the Torches football program had advanced to the post-season playoffs each year since the programs inception. The Torches have won two CFA State Titles. In 2007, the Torches won their first CFA state title beating Tuscaloosa Christian 58-12. The second came in 2011 when the Torches beat North River Christian Academy 52-22. This win completed the first ever perfect season for the Torches ending with a 11-0 record.
TCS Men's Basketball has advanced to the ACEAA final four more times than any school in the state, including winning the National Championship in 1982. During the 2007-2008 season, the Men's Basketball Varsity team had a phenomenal season. The Torches went on to not only win their prized "Torch Classic" Tournament, but also clinch the 2008 ACEAA State Championship under the leadership of Head Coach David Corbett. In 2006 the Lady Torches broke a three-year championship-game losing streak to bring home the school's first ever girls' state basketball title. In volleyball, the Torches won the state championships at the varsity and junior varsity levels in 2004, 2005 and 2006, finishing the season unbeaten in 2005. In 2003, Tabernacle's varsity and Junior varsity cheerleading squads placed first in the state and also captured the ACEAA spirit award; no other school has taken home the three awards in the same year.
In addition to competing against ACEAA teams the torches men's and women's basketball squads travel to face off against schools in Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Illinois each season. In 2006 the Lady Torches broke a three-year championship-game losing streak to bring home the school's first ever girls' state basketball title. In volleyball, the Torches won the state championships at the varsity and junior varsity levels in 2004, 2005 and 2006, finishing the season unbeaten in 2005. In 2003, Tabernacle's varsity and Junior varsity cheerleading squads placed first in the state and also captured the ACEAA spirit award; no other school has taken home the three awards in the same year.
Principals
Directors
Coaches
Christian school
A Christian school is a school run on Christian principles or by a Christian organization.The nature of Christian schools varies enormously from country to country, according to the religious, educational, and political cultures...
in Gardendale, Alabama
Gardendale, Alabama
Gardendale is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States, and a northern suburb of Birmingham. The population was 11,626 at the 2000 census. 2009 Census estimates propose a population of 13,720.-History:...
, USA serving grades K3-12. The current principal is Glenn Dickson, who came to TCS in July 2000.
TCS was founded by Dr. Ronald Dabbs, former Pastor of Gardendale Baptist Tabernacle (GBT) in 1974. Since its inception, Tabernacle has been the largest private school in north Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
and one of the largest Christian schools in Birmingham metropolitan area
Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area
The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as Greater Birmingham, is a metropolitan area composed of seven counties in central Alabama centered around its primary city of Birmingham. The population of this metropolitan area as of the 2009 census estimate was about 1,131,070....
.
Tabernacle was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Alabama Christian Education Association (ACEA), the largest Christian school association in Alabama, in 1975. Former Tabernacle Principal Robin Mears currently serves as Executive Director of the ACEA.
Academics
Tabernacle Christian uses the A Beka Book and Bob Jones UniversityBob Jones University
Bob Jones University is a private, for-profit, non-denominational Protestant university in Greenville, South Carolina.The university was founded in 1927 by Bob Jones, Sr. , an evangelist and contemporary of Billy Sunday...
curricula. TCS hosts the ACEA State Academic Competition in February of each year.
Athletics
Eight-man football
Eight-man football is a type of American football, generally played by small high schools. Rules and formations vary greatly among states and even among different organizations, but the one constant is eight players from each team on the field at one time, as opposed to eleven-man football, which...
competes in the Christian Football Association (CFA) and in the Alabama Christian Education Athletic Association (ACEAA) in all other sports.
The Torches have appeared in the CFA state title game three times, hosting the championship game in 2000. Until 2003, the Torches football program had advanced to the post-season playoffs each year since the programs inception. The Torches have won two CFA State Titles. In 2007, the Torches won their first CFA state title beating Tuscaloosa Christian 58-12. The second came in 2011 when the Torches beat North River Christian Academy 52-22. This win completed the first ever perfect season for the Torches ending with a 11-0 record.
TCS Men's Basketball has advanced to the ACEAA final four more times than any school in the state, including winning the National Championship in 1982. During the 2007-2008 season, the Men's Basketball Varsity team had a phenomenal season. The Torches went on to not only win their prized "Torch Classic" Tournament, but also clinch the 2008 ACEAA State Championship under the leadership of Head Coach David Corbett. In 2006 the Lady Torches broke a three-year championship-game losing streak to bring home the school's first ever girls' state basketball title. In volleyball, the Torches won the state championships at the varsity and junior varsity levels in 2004, 2005 and 2006, finishing the season unbeaten in 2005. In 2003, Tabernacle's varsity and Junior varsity cheerleading squads placed first in the state and also captured the ACEAA spirit award; no other school has taken home the three awards in the same year.
In addition to competing against ACEAA teams the torches men's and women's basketball squads travel to face off against schools in Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Illinois each season. In 2006 the Lady Torches broke a three-year championship-game losing streak to bring home the school's first ever girls' state basketball title. In volleyball, the Torches won the state championships at the varsity and junior varsity levels in 2004, 2005 and 2006, finishing the season unbeaten in 2005. In 2003, Tabernacle's varsity and Junior varsity cheerleading squads placed first in the state and also captured the ACEAA spirit award; no other school has taken home the three awards in the same year.
Leadership
Superintendents- Dr. Ronald Dabbs (1974-1993)
- Dr. Rick Nelson (1993-Present)
Principals
- Dr. Robin Mears
- Dr. Braxton Baker
- Dr. Rick Nelson
- Keith Champion
- Mark Johnson
- Glenn Dickson
Directors
- Athletic Director- David Corbett
Coaches
- Football- Wayne Dabbs, Keith Dabbs, Tim Thompson
- Volleyball- Alyssa Hallice
- Men's Varsity Basketball- David Corbett, Jeff Ingle
- Women's Basketball- Alyssa Hallice
- Men's J.V. Basketball- John White, Daniel Whaley
- Varsity Cheerleading- Tonya Branham
- J.V. Cheerleading- Valinda Salyers
- Baseball- Tim Thompson
- Softball- TBA
- Track and Field- David Corbett