Jordan Heckelmann Receives Winifred Currie Award from Gordon College

We are proud to share that our Upper School Principal, Jordan Heckelmann, recently received the Winifred Currie Award from his alma mater, Gordon College, during the college’s Homecoming Week celebration this past weekend. The Winifred Currie Award is given to a Gordon College graduate who exhibits outstanding service to the education field and the community and serves as a distinguished role model to peers, friends and students. Heckelmann, graduating with his bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in sports studies, followed by his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction in 2018, is the youngest recipient of the Winifred Currie Award in Gordon College history.

Heckelmann, who joined the PCA team in 2016 as an 8th Grade Homeroom Teacher after teaching in his home state of Colorado, was promoted to Upper School Principal in the summer of 2020. Over Jordan’s 7 years at PCA, he has served as a tremendous asset to PCA in shaping the minds and souls of our Middle and Upper School students.

During his tenure as Upper School Principal, Jordan has been instrumental in developing PCA’s Leadership Development program, to include our Senior Prefect program and student government. In addition to the programatic successes Jordan has helped our school achieve, he has been a terrific role model for the students he has taught in his classrooms or interacted with in the hallways over the years.

The Heckelmann family has been a great addition to the PCA community. Jordan’s wife, Emily, was a Kindergarten teacher at PCA prior to the arrival of their first child who, three years later, is now enrolled in PCA’s preschool program.

“Mr. Heckelmann has demonstrated leadership on and off campus and has been a key leader of our Upper School,” says Head of School, Mike Runey. “Among many outstanding applicants for our Principal role in 2020, Jordan’s stood out for four distinct reasons: excellent self-preparation with a confirmed commitment to continued professional growth; a winsome desire to educate and grow young people to their God-given potential academically, spiritually, physically and relationally, with effective results; a clear commitment to personal and organizational excellence in Christian education; and—most importantly—his proven history of earning the trust and confidence of teachers, parents, and students that enables him to lead well. We are very proud of all that Jordan has accomplished in his short career, and we’re so thankful that God has brought he, his wife, and his children to our community.”

From Gordon College’s Press Release on the Winifred Currie Award Recipient:

“Jordan Heckelmann’s ’15, ’18 M.Ed. commitment to growth for his students and his own professional growth has opened doors for him as he takes on increasing leadership in the world of Christian education. As an academic fellow at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, CO, Jordan started off his education career teaching history and coaching strength and conditioning. After completing his fellowship Jordon returned to the Gordon area to pursue a Master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Gordon. During this time he taught eighth-grade history and Bible classes at Portsmouth Christian Academy in Dover, NH. In 2020 Jordan was promoted to Portsmouth Christian Academy’s Upper School principal. Jordan and his wife, Emily ’15, have three children.”

See the full list of Gordon’s Alumni Awards here.