From Student to Leader: Karen Wages’ Full-Circle Journey at LCA
More than 20 years ago, Karen Wages became part of Loganville Christian Academy (LCA) history as a member of its inaugural graduating class of 2005. During her senior year, Karen created a five-year plan: graduate high school, attend college, and earn a teaching degree within four years. However, her journey took a different path. College took longer than expected, including a break along the way and several jobs throughout her journey.
One of those jobs brought her back to LCA as a substitute teacher and assistant girls basketball coach under Mark Dossett. Karen graduated from Georgia Gwinnett College in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in U.S. History. In January 2014, she stepped into a long-term substitute role teaching high school history while a teacher was on maternity leave. The following school year, that teacher chose to stay home, and the middle school history teacher moved up to fill the position—opening the door for Karen. In July 2014, she interviewed and accepted the middle school history teaching position.
Upon reflecting on her journey, Karen believes God worked everything out just as He intended. “There were so many times I wanted to give up, but I’m so glad that I didn’t,” Karen said. “The Lord is so good and gave me my dream job that would not have been available if my 5 year plan had worked out.”
Karen taught 7th and 8th grade history for 10 years and served as history department chair until 2022. In 2020, she earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Grand Canyon University and was later promoted to Director of Curriculum & Instruction in 2022. A career in education had been her goal since she was four years old. As a history teacher, she thrived in making the subject engaging and meaningful for her students. Karen said, “I loved seeing history come to life for students and taking them to walk where famous people in history have walked.”
In her current role, Karen focuses on supporting both students and teachers. She assists students with building their schedules and partners with Director of College & Career Counseling Laura Nabors to guide students toward college success. She also supports teachers by offering instructional guidance, serving as a sounding board for ideas, and observing classroom practices. Across campus, Karen leads academic events such as awards ceremonies, honors societies, and high school graduation. Additionally, she serves as co-director of J-Term alongside Guidance Counselor Monica Landress. For the 2026-2027 school year, Karen will serve as Middle School Assistant Principal, maintaining her responsibilities while being more involved in middle school day-to-day.
These responsibilities reflect Karen’s passion for serving others. “Being with [students and teachers] and helping them in any way I can is why I do what I do,” Karen said. “For students, being that person who is in their corner and cheering them on and seeing the joy in their eyes when they do well is one of my favorite things. Working with teachers and giving them the support to do what they love and are passionate about is also incredible.” She considers this the most rewarding part of her work.
Karen attended LCA for six years as a student. She played basketball, with game days ranking among her favorite memories. Her career-high 33-point performance came during her senior year, though she remembers little of it due to the pain from an emergency appendectomy the following morning. She was also involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Influential figures during her time at LCA included her parents — her mother, Kim, now serves as a PreK-4 aide — as well as her teachers, Gina Hawkins and Christy Monda.
LCA played a significant role in shaping Karen’s life and character. “It has had such a huge impact on my life,” Karen said. “This place and the people I have had in my life here helped teach me how to pursue Jesus. It fostered my love of learning and the drive to continue bettering myself. I had teachers here who taught me how to love students well and to meet them where they are in the classroom. It’s helped develop me into a leader and a team player.”
Outside of LCA, Karen enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews, traveling to Disney and Universal, fellowshipping with friends, listening to audiobooks, binge-watching shows (preferably Friends), and cooking. She attends Loganville First Baptist Church and has traveled to Africa twice to help build churches.
One of the greatest joys in Karen’s life is returning to the place that gave her so much. She values the opportunity to pour into students and watch them succeed on the path God has for them. Karen said, “I love when I get to see students who have graduated and they tell me all the awesome things they are doing and that God has done in their lives.”