Who We Are

TRANSFORMING EDUCATION

Enroll your PreK-8th child in the #1 Christian Expeditionary Learning school in Colorado.

OUR MISSION IS TO GUIDE STUDENTS IN KNOWLEDGE, CHARACTER, AND FAITH TO DISCOVER AN AUTHENTIC LOVE OF LEARNING AND A LIFE OF OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT MAKES DPCA DIFFERENT?

Besides being the only four day school in Buena Vista, only Christian school in Chaffee County, and only Christian Expeditionary Learning school in the Central Rockies...

INTENTIONALLY

SMALL

By limiting our enrollment to 100 K-8th students, we are able to provide personalized care and instruction to meet the needs of each of our students and provide a safe, family centered environment.

RIGOR + JOY

Our rigorous academics are hands on, active, and engaging for all learning types. We work hard together, play hard together, and celebrate each other's growth and achievements with great joy.

ADVENTURE

Outdoor Expeditions such as climbing, backpacking, and xc skiing allow students to take their learning beyond the classroom and develop confidence, communication, and teamwork skills.

CHARACTER + FAITH

We care about who students are becoming, not just what they know. We emphasize character development and spiritual growth alongside academic knowledge in order to empower students to become agents of good in their local communities and our world.

OUR STAFF VALUES

Our staff are truly what makes DPCA unique! In order for the school's mission to be translated from words into reality, we are committed as a team to modeling the following behaviors in ways that consistently cultivate a joyful, welcoming, Christ-centered culture.

LEADERS IN LEARNING | As educators, our staff model a love of learning for their students not only by continuing to pursue professional development opportunities, but by remaining willing to grow and change in order to best serve their students.

MOTIVATED BY LOVE | All the ways our staff serves parents, their children, each other, and our local community are authentically characterized by love, so that our actions may serve as an indicator of Christ's work in our hearts.

BUILDERS OF COMMUNITY | Our staff is focused on developing personal relationships with students, a positive school culture, and a supportive work environment in order to unify our learning community and best serve the broader community of Chaffee County.

Meet Our Staff

ADMINISTRATION

Josh Drexler

Head of School

jdrexler@dpcaweb.org

Josh Drexler graduated from Colorado State University with degrees in business and fine arts, later studying law at the University of San Francisco. As an attorney, Josh advised and trained management from large and small businesses and nonprofits throughout the United States. He has served in youth and young adult ministries his entire life. As a retreat and summer camp director, Josh provided exciting outdoor programming for children from around the world.

Josh sees the call to discipleship through a lens of adventure. He believes that our children need to understand the invitation to follow Jesus as a dynamic call to growth, creativity, service, and lifelong learning. He strives to empower DPCA’s teachers to engage students’ mind and hearts, nurturing academic excellence as well as deep connections to God, family, and community. Most of all, Josh hopes that Darren Patterson is a place where God’s presence and love are experienced regularly.