A Spirit of Family & Pursuit of Excellence
As a Middle School Bible instructor, Dr. Tim Dix has devoted himself to helping 7th-grade students dive deeply into the New Testament and the life of Christ. Beyond the classroom, he takes on roles as a basketball coach, the co-voice of the Royals, and a Colson Fellow—his commitment to TFA is evident in every aspect of his work. Dr. Dix initially joined the TFA community as a substitute, gradually finding himself drawn to the school’s spirit of family and its pursuit of excellence.
The journey that brought Dr. Dix to TFA was unexpected. While finishing his doctorate, he and his family began to attend First Orlando, and he started substitute teaching at TFA. He immediately noticed the close-knit, family-oriented community and the dedication to excellence that extended beyond academics. Before long, he was subbing nearly every day, forming bonds with both students and staff and feeling very much at home.
When he applied for a Bible and History teaching position, he prayed it would be his. By June, though, he still hadn’t heard back, and just as he was about to accept another offer from a local school, a call came. Dr. Holter, Middle School Principal, invited him to teach 7th-grade science and two Bible classes. Although he’d never taught science before, he embraced the challenge, confident that this was where God wanted him to be. He reflects on the invaluable mentorship of Paula Diehl, another science teacher at TFA, who helped him develop his teaching style and classroom management skills. That first year had a significant impact on him as a teacher and laid the foundation for the years to come.
A Family Affair
Today, TFA is truly a family affair. Not only does Dr. Dix teach there, but his wife, Nan, joined the team shortly after he did, working as the auxiliary coordinator, and their two children are now students—Emma and Jacob, both active in sports and theater. The transition to TFA has strengthened their family bond and given them more quality time together. In ministry, time was always stretched thin, but now they enjoy evenings and weekends as a family, savoring activities like Saturday morning pancake breakfasts, trips to Disney, and weekly movie nights.
In the classroom, Dr. Dix values building relationships as the foundation of his teaching. Influenced by his own pastor’s words—“whoever wants the next generation the most will get them”—he invests deeply in his students, aiming not only to teach practical truths from God’s word but to ignite a lifelong love for Scripture. For him, being a relationship builder and grateful communicator is central to who he is and how he teaches. Every success he’s achieved is rooted in his genuine care for his students and his commitment to supporting and encouraging them in their journeys.
