We exist to help students grow in their love for Jesus. While spiritual growth can’t be measured and quantified with numbers, we do see it happening every day. It starts with our commitment to making Christ the center of all we do––not just the subject of a single Bible class. And it continues through our focus on the Bible as the sole guide for our beliefs and behavior as Protestant Christians. We invite you to visit our campus and experience how our teachers and staff model their love for God and nurture it in our students.
Our goal is to develop Christians with wisdom, not just knowledge. So we’ve structured our academic program to put God first and we find that, like Adventist schools of all sizes across the country, this results in students who grow academically at a higher rate than their peers in other schools. It really is true that when we “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) To learn more about the specific results of our school, schedule an Education Success Consult with our principal.
Making healthy choices is a way of honoring our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). And plenty of research documents the importance of healthy bodies in developing healthy brains. We also include learning about taking care of our bodies with daily exercise, good sleep, healthy eating, and more. To see how we integrate wise lifestyle choices into our curricula, come visit our campus.
Loving and serving others is part of God’s plan for each of us and something we practice daily. As we interact with each other here at school and as we practice service in our community, we are guided by Paul’s words, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2) While we are not perfect, we are constantly aiming to be more Christ-like with each other and to serve our community. Come visit to our campus.
The curriculum of grades 1-8 conforms to the requirements of the North Pacific Union Conference Department of Education. Grades and credits earned at Sandpoint Junior Academy are accepted in all Seventh-day Adventist schools as well as public schools.
During the winter, Sandpoint Junior Academy participates in a one-day-a-week ski program at Schweitzer as part of the school physical education program for an eight-week period. All students are required to participate with the school.
| 2026-2027 | Tuition | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Grades 1-8 | $4,800 | $480 |
In order to make financing Christian education a little easier, SJA approved the following discount:
Constituent Discount – for Sandpoint SDA Church Members:
For families who are members of the Sandpoint Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, a $100 yearly discount per child will automatically be applied to your account:
| Multiple Child Discounts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
$360
discount for second child
|
$540
discount for third child
|
$900
discount for fourth child
|
$1,800
discount for fifth child
|
Registration, Technology and Library Fees are due for each student at the time of enrollment and are nonre-fundable:
| Registration Window | Registration Fee | Technology/Library Fee | Total Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 29-April 9 | $100 | $105 | $205 |
| April 10-April 30 | $100 | $105 | $205 |
| May 1-May 29 | $200 | $105 | $305 |
| May 30-Start of School | $300 | $105 | $405 |
In a three-year study of 51,000+ students in Adventist schools (kindergarten through high school), researchers documented that they outperformed the national average; at all grade levels, in schools of all sizes, and in all subjects.
Additionally, researchers compared student performance on standardized tests with what would be predicted based on their Cognitive Abilities Test scores, and found they performed above what would be predicted.
One of the most dramatic findings is that students who transferred to Adventist schools saw a marked improvement in test scores. Furthermore, the longer students are in Adventist schools, the better their achievements and abilities.
Teaching is my passion and working with students in these transitional years is my calling. God is very important in my life, and I can’t imagine doing anything without doing it hand-in-hand with God.
Position: Principal/Teacher
Position: Teacher
Brandi Poncy was born and raised in Walla Walla, WA. She went to Walla Walla University and graduated in 2004 with a BS in Elementary Education and a minor in Psychology. She took a year out her sophomore year to teach third grade in the Marshall Islands, Micronesia. After graduation, she taught first grade in Bangkok, Thailand for two years then returned to teach 5th – 8th grade in Pendleton, OR for one year. She then moved to Sandpoint, ID in 2007 to teach and has been here ever since. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and being outside.
Position: Teacher
Bachelor of Science with Emphasis on Special Education
Jere Fillman was born in Sacramento, CA. and obtained his Education Degree from Pacific Union College with an emphasis on special education. After graduating he did student teaching for one year then went on to teach 1 – 3 grades in Nappa Valley. He has been married to his wife Terri for 35 years and they have 2 grown children. Jere was a case manager in Georgia for 15 years before moving back to Idaho and accepting a teaching position for 1 – 5 grade Special Ed at Valley View Elementary School. Jere started at SJA during the 2019/2020 school year and accepted a full time teacher’s aide/teacher position for grades 1 – 8 in 2020. Jere loves working with kids, watching them learn and teaching PE and games. Outside of school he enjoys mountain biking and horseback riding.
Position: Music & Drama Teacher
Janice Wall joined Sandpoint Junior Academy in 2017 teaching music, choir and drama. She has a Bachelor of Music Education and an extensive teaching history having taught kindergarten to college level band, choir, strings and drama at various schools since 2001. Jan is more than a passionate teacher, she is also a talented musician and holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance. In addition to teaching at SJA, Jan also teaches music at the Sandpoint Music Conservatory and through private lessons.
Position: Music Teacher
I’ve done child education for over 25 years.
Taught 1st-8th grade at Rocky Mount Virginia SDA
School as well as Classical Conversation in Post Falls Idaho.
Taught children’s division sabbath schools Kindergarten, Primary, and Juniors.
Written and directed VBS in
Virginia, Alabama, and Idaho, as well as Summer Camps in Washington and Idaho and Child Evangelistic Series for
SDA churches, inner city communities, and ARME Bible Camps in Colorado, Alabama, Idaho, Virginia, and South Carolina.
Conducted chime and bell choirs for children and youth at Hayden SDA Church.
Directed Adventurers in Alabama and Idaho.
Position: Secretary/Treasurer
A native of the Northwest, Cristina was born in Montana. As a teenager, her family relocated to Washington where she attended Cascade Christian Academy. She graduated from Walla Walla University with a B.A. in Business Administration and a minor in Communications. After graduating, she moved to Northern Idaho and married her college sweetheart on the shores of Priest Lake. She resides in beautiful Sandpoint with her husband and two children. Cristina loves to travel and has been to the Marshall Islands on a mission trip and has toured Europe. She loves art, spending time with her family, and the outdoors for snowboarding, biking, camping, boating, and gardening. She enjoys working at SJA and being part of its Christ-centered, family atmosphere.
