Horizon Christian Stories

We opened our high school in the fall of 2006 with around seventy five students in 9th through 11th grade and now we are heading into our 15th year. Among our very first students in 2006 was sophomore, Josh Platt who transferred to us from Southridge High School. Josh graduated in 2009 as our Salutatorian, member of NHS, Scholar Graduate, and having earned our Timothian Award, representing his Christ-like character. Keep reading below to learn more about our first alumni who returned to Horizon Christian School as a valued teacher, coach, and trainer in 2014 and continues to be a very impactful school leader.

HCS: What clubs, sports or activities did you participate in at HCHS?
Mr. Platt: Football (2007-08), Track and Field (2007-09), Varsity Basketball (2006-2009), Cross Country (2008-09), ASB Vice President, and National Honor Society President to name a few. I was also lucky enough to be on the State Basketball team in 2008 and 2009 where we took 2nd place both years.

HCS: What 2-3 things about Horizon Christian made it a great school experience for you?
Mr. Platt: The two things that made Horizon a great experience for me were the opportunities I had to experience a variety of activities and develop my leadership skills, and the family atmosphere. Horizon cultivated an atmosphere where I felt like I belonged to a community that cared about me and my relationship with God.

HCS: Were there specific teachers, staff or coaches who had a positive impact on your life? If so, please share about them and the impact they made.
Mr. Platt: All three of my coaches had a tremendous positive influence on my life. Scott Olson, George Crace, and Dave Brown. These three men taught me about their respective sports and helped me to be the best competitor that I could be, but they also poured into my life as a Christ-follower. They modeled what it means to be an imperfect person walking in relationship with a perfect God.

HCS: What attracted you to want to teach at HCS and what motivates you as a teacher? 
Mr. Platt: This is the start of my 7th year teaching Health and PE for Horizon Christian High School. I felt a calling from God to join the school community. The family atmosphere and Christian environment provides the perfect opportunity to develop authentic relationships and have a lasting positive impact on students' lives. What motivates me as a teacher is the transformation and growth of my students as I watch them progress and achieve their goals. My greatest experiences have always involved guiding students to their full athletic potential.

HCS: How are you involved in coaching at Horizon Christian?
Mr. Platt: In the past I served as the head junior varsity boys basketball coach for 2 years and I currently serve as the head track & field coach. My philosophy of coaching is all about the growth of each athlete over the course of a season. Not only do I want our student athletes to improve in their athletic performance, but I want to see them grow mentally, socially, and spiritually as well. Track and field offer students that platform. We spend time as a team every week emphasizing spiritual formation and looking at how our relationship with God impacts our relationship with our sport.

HCS: Explain your role as Athletic Development Coach.
Mr. Platt: Using our unique training system that has been developed by some top minds in this field, students are prepared with tools to prevent injuries, build core strength, stretch their endurance, and be prepared for competition and equipped with the skills needed to maximize their athletics potential. I teach this not only in the 8 semesters of Athletic Training but also by customized training after school.

HCS: Where did life take you after graduation?
Mr. Platt: After graduating from Horizon, I attended both George Fox University and Portland State, graduating with a degree in Health Studies. After beginning my teaching career at Horizon Elementary & Middle School, I returned to George Fox in their MAT program and graduated with my Master's in Teaching in 2017 with concentrations in PE & Health. I am now married to the love of my life, Anna Platt, and we currently live in Salem, Oregon. We enjoy outdoor activities, especially hiking, as well as spending time with family and friends.

HCS: From a former student and now a teacher's perspective, why should a family choose Horizon Christian School for their child?
Mr. Platt: You should choose Horizon because we care about the development of your student. Horizon strives to provide as many opportunities as possible for students to connect with our community, prepare them academically, and challenge them spiritually.

Thank you, Josh Platt, for sharing with us your journey from being a student to becoming a staff member.

If you are interested in exploring what your journey might look like, please contact us to become a part of this amazing school community.