Christina Wennlund

Meet Christina Zima Wennlund, a shining example of what it means to be part of the Christian Central Academy (CCA) family. Christina attended CCA from Kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating with the Class of 2001. Christina’s life journey since her time at CCA has been marked by a deep dedication to education, strong faith, and a commitment to raising the next generation of leaders. After graduating from CCA, Christina attended Houghton College, where she pursued her passion for teaching. She later returned to her roots, teaching middle and high school English at CCA from 2006 to 2011. Reflecting on how foundational CCA was in shaping her path, she shared, “Christian education is part of who I am. I graduated with a very small class from CCA; there was only 13 of us in that graduating class. We were a close group, but we also had very close relationships with our teachers. The incredible teachers I had at CCA during my high school years were the reason I decided to become a teacher myself, and why I ended up teaching at CCA for 5 years after graduating from Houghton College. They, as well as my parents, laid that foundation for me. They taught me what it meant to be a Christian teacher, and to infuse the Bible into every subject they taught, and into every area of your life. I carry this with me today.” During her time teaching at CCA, Christina also served as a senior class advisor, leading mission trips to the Dominican Republic. In 2011, she moved to Naples, Florida, where she earned her Educational Leadership Degree and worked as an assistant principal in Collier County. Now, for the 2023-24 school year, Christina has taken on a new and exciting role as the high school principal at First Baptist Academy in Naples, a PK-12 Christian school. In addition to her professional achievements, Christina is a loving wife to her husband, Frederick, and mother to their two daughters, Lily and Lacey. Their family is dedicated to raising their children to love the Lord from a young age. Reflecting on her journey, Christina shared, “When I look back, I am truly in awe of what God has done in my life. God knows what we need, and I am so thankful for His faithfulness.” She holds fast to Ephesians 3:20, which says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” One of Christina’s most cherished memories from CCA was the unforgettable snowstorm of November 2000, which forced students and teachers alike to spend the night at school. She recalls, “It was students of all ages, from kindergarten to seniors. Our teachers made spaghetti for dinner, and they stayed calm and supportive throughout the night, even though they must have been exhausted. It’s a memory that has stuck with me all these years.”