Community Christian School’s college prep culture is easy to describe on paper. Students explore multiple post-high school pathways, from four-year universities to military service, two-year programs, and trade schools. Families are included. Courses are matched to student interests. Scholarships and outcomes are celebrated.

But the real engine behind that culture is a person.

After nearly a decade at Community Christian School, Dr. Cindy Balsam has become the kind of counselor students look for in the hallway, the kind of educator parents call years after graduation, and the kind of steady presence that helps a teenager stop counting themselves out.

“It all begins with trust,” Balsam said. “Trust and developing relationships are a key foundation to helping students feel confident enough to attempt rigorous coursework.”

That trust shows up in Community Christian’s open-access mindset. Instead of reserving advanced courses for a tiny group of top performers, Balsam and the CCS faculty encourage students to stretch into honors, AP, and dual enrollment when they are willing to try. “Nothing’s too big or too small,” she said. “As long as you have a plan, I’m all for it.”

Balsam’s path to Henry County was anything but linear, and that’s part of why students connect with her. Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, she started in forensic psychology and spent years working in intensive behavioral health, including inpatient settings. “I have a big passion for not only education, but mental health,” she said.

After moving to Georgia about 16 years ago, Henry County became home. In fact, she used to drive by Community Christian School thinking, “One day I’ll put my kids in there.” Today, both of her children attend CCS.

Her work in education began as a diversity recruiter, traveling across North Georgia and working closely with school counselors. Over time, she noticed burnout and a pattern of attention going only to the students already headed toward college. That sparked a pivot back into the K–12 world. When she saw an opening at CCS, she applied. Then she went back to earn her school counseling certification while on the job, later completing a PhD through Mercer University. “I’m a lifelong learner,” she said. “I want to show the kids that you never stop.”

At CCS, Balsam is the only school counselor for grades 6 through 12, and she also teaches AP Psychology. She is an adjunct professor through Middle Georgia State University and Truett McConnell University, supporting dual enrollment opportunities alongside other college partners. It is a rare blend: counseling, classroom teaching, and a deep familiarity with what colleges actually expect.

That blend matters because families are often overwhelmed. The college process has changed dramatically, and many parents are unsure where to begin. CCS addresses that by partnering with families early and often, making planning a shared effort rather than a last-minute panic. Students get multiple opportunities to explore careers, campuses, and alternatives to the four-year track. Balsam even encourages students to visit campuses they are unsure about, because clarity often comes through exposure. “You think you want to go somewhere,” she said, “but then when you’re actually there, you’re like, ‘Wait, this isn’t what I thought.’”

The results speak loudly. CCS students are enrolling in top-choice schools, pushing one another academically, and recently set a class goal to exceed $7 million in scholarship offers, a milestone the school is proud to say they reached.

Still, Balsam measures success differently.

“I love seeing the kids step away from relying on our support,” she said. “The ultimate goal is: can you advocate for yourself? Can you believe in yourself?”

That may be the real story of Community Christian School’s college prep culture. Not just readiness for college, but readiness for life.

By Kemble Hildreth