PEORIA MAGAZINE August 2023

N estled in a corner partially surrounded by woods in an unincorporated area of Peoria County sits South Side Christian Academy, now in its seventh year. On the walls inside the building are positive messages and themes reflecting the Christian education being delivered there. One reads, “There’s No Place Like SSCA.” ‘OUR HOPE AND PRAYER ARE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND BECOME LEADERS IN THIS CITY’ As the only tuition-free private school in Peoria, that statement rings true. South Side Christian Academy co founder and Director Susan Zobrist said she always wanted to open a school. “My kids were all leaving, we were gonna become empty-nesters … I looked at my husband and asked, ‘Now what do I do?’ He said, ‘Why don’t you start that school you’ve always dreamed about?’” Zobrist was not quite sure what the school would look like. “My friend Cassie said, ‘Well, of course you’re going to do that on the south end of Peoria, right?’ I said, ‘Oh yeah, sure, if you’re gonna do it with me.’” Today, Cassie Meiss is the business di rector at South Side Christian Academy. “We just felt like there should be more opportunities for people on the South Side than were happening,” said Meiss. ‘WE SAW THE NEED FOR JESUS AND MORE ACADEMICS’ During that summer of 2015, three couples — Curt and Cassie Meiss, Chad and Susan Zobrist, Matt and Lisa Waibel — began planning for the new private school. By then, the Waibels — Co-founder, Susan Zobrist

Principal Nikki Giosta hugs a student at South Side Christian Academy

COVER STORY

THE 3 Rs AND A BIBLE South Side Christian Academy is producing results and growing along with them

BY DENISE JACKSON PHOTOS BY RON JOHNSON

50 JULY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE