Trinity Prep School: A Vision Brought to Life

Tucked away in Loganville, Georgia, Trinity Prep School is more than just an educational institution—it’s an experience. With 30 animals roaming the campus and students rotating classrooms every hour, the school is a living, breathing ecosystem of learning, engagement, and growth. And it all started with a single credit card.

Tammy, the school’s founder and principal, never imagined she’d be running a full-fledged K-12 institution. Originally, she set out to focus on early childhood education, a passion that guided her first steps into founding Trinity Prep. But the demand kept growing. Parents kept asking, “What about first grade?” Then, “What about middle school?” And eventually, “What about high school?” Despite her initial hesitations—reinforced by her husband’s warnings about the complexity of high school credits—Tammy couldn’t turn her back on the students who had come to rely on her. So, grade by grade, Trinity Prep grew, and now, 25 years later, it is home to nearly 300 students.

Tammy has never been a fan of the rigid, institutional feel of traditional schools. That’s why she designed Trinity Prep to be anything but conventional. Students don’t stay in one classroom all day; they move. Every hour, they shift to a new space, a new environment that helps reset their brains and build new neural pathways. Even preschoolers have subject-specific teachers—language arts, math, and sensory learning—ensuring that each child gets a well-rounded and engaging education from the start.

“It’s basically a zoo,” Tammy jokes. And in many ways, it is. With animals integrated into the learning environment, Trinity Prep gives children unique opportunities to interact with nature, fostering responsibility and curiosity. Students learn firsthand about the care and maintenance of living creatures, developing compassion and a sense of stewardship for the world around them.

The school embraces an old-school-meets-new-school approach. There’s a garden-to-table program where students grow their own food, murals that transform the hallways into vibrant works of art, and a strong emphasis on cultural diversity. Tammy believes in teaching kids how to think, not what to think. She encourages debate, research, and independent thought. “If you don’t believe what I say, do your research and come back at me,” she challenges her students. Critical thinking and resilience are at the core of the Trinity Prep philosophy.

Trinity Prep doesn’t just offer education; it offers experiences. One of the school’s most legendary moments was the surprise Snow Day. Tammy, along with three other staff members, stayed up for two nights straight, using a commercial snowmaker to cover the playground in fresh snow. The kids arrived at school to find sleds waiting and banners celebrating the surprise winter wonderland. The excitement and joy on their faces made every freezing moment worth it.

Another defining moment at Trinity Prep is watching students grow beyond the classroom. Tammy recalls seeing students return after graduation, just to visit, just to be back in a place that shaped them. “The students do well in this learning structure. I’ve seen them thrive in ways I never even imagined. Of course, it has its challenges, but I’ve seen more positive impacts than negative,” she says.

Moments like these define Trinity Prep—a place where learning is not just about books, but about life. Tammy constantly looks for ways to make students excited about coming to school. “The ‘aha’ moments are huge for me,” she says. Whether it’s through hands-on STEM projects, creative arts, or pushing kids outside their comfort zones with challenges, every effort is made to build confident, capable individuals.

At its core, Trinity Prep is a family. Graduates return just to hang out. Parents come seeking advice. And Tammy treats every student like one of her own children. She believes in teaching responsibility and resilience, pushing students to embrace challenges instead of avoiding them. “I want my students to be prepared for the real world when they leave this school. To be prepared for anything this life throws at them,” she says.

Despite the challenges of running a private school with fluctuating enrollment, Tammy remains committed. Whether she’s maneuvering classrooms to accommodate more students, introducing new hands-on learning opportunities, or reminding parents that struggle builds strength, her vision remains steadfast: Trinity Prep isn’t just a school—it’s a family. And for the students who pass through its doors, it’s a home that stays with them long after they leave.