V. Rena Suber presently serves as the Principal and Chief School Administrator of Emmanuel Christian Academy (Emmanuel) in Akron, Ohio. She has held this position since August 2000.

Prior to becoming Principal, Mrs. Suber served as a teacher for six years at Emmanuel. As principal, one of her strengths is engaging a team of people to work together for a common good, regardless of their differences.  The development of the curriculum for Emmanuel is challenging and encourages the students and teachers to exceed state standards, not just to meet them.  Each participant is guided, under her watchful eye, to make excellence their goal.  She has accepted the challenge of educating “at risk” students who historically has been defined as “at risk” and refuses to make excuses for our children. Children from traditional educational systems where they were performing below grade level have been enrolled here, and within one year of entering Emmanuel, have consistently experienced significant increases in standardized academic scores.

Mrs. Suber’s expertise in developing others stems from her own personal story; one of triumph over a poverty mindset and experience as an at risk child.  She has developed practices to bridge the gap both academically and socially that has impacted young lives in whom she has come in contact.  She is a graduate of Kent State University, with a Bachelor in Elementary Education and a Masters in Educational Administration.  She has received certification on Working with African-American Clients and Families, and Multicultural Effectiveness in schools, and Teaching Reading to African American Males.  In addition, she has received training under Dr. Ruby Payne and holds a certification in “Understanding a Framework of Poverty”.

Mrs. Suber has presented workshops on working with at risk students at Association of Christian Schools International regional conferences, Philadelphia Association of Christian Schools, Cleveland Public Schools, Valley Christian Academy teacher in-service Emmanuel Christian Academy, Chapel Hill Christian School and joint teacher’s in-services. Her leadership ability also extends to The House of the Lord, where she has been an active and engaged member for over thirty years.  She has served in the Youth Department as a Sunday school teacher and also serves on the Steering Committee of Women Walking Together in Christ (WWTIC), where she shares responsibility for the spiritual development of over 1,000 women.

As an administrator she participates with the Greater Cleveland Christian Administration Association where she is a founding and current Board member.  In addition, she was instrumental in the development of the Strategic Plan for Emmanuel and is currently leading a Capital Campaign to construct a new school building to accommodate the growth of the school under her leadership. Most recently, Principal Suber received a State Reading Endorsement for kindergarten through 12th grade.

Mrs. Suber is a servant leader and leads with wisdom and with courage. She encourages those with whom she comes in contact to lead a Godly life.  She not only encourages that life style, but demonstrates it in her own life, both privately and publicly.  She has been married for over 34 years and is the mother of four children and has five grandchildren.