About Us
S3® is a proven, effective, and legal way to make a life-changing Christian impact in your communities’ public schools. The public school system is the largest youth group in America and Students Standing Strong® can show you how to legally establish a faith based community on the junior and senior high school campus. Enabled by the Federal Equal Access Act, Students Standing Strong® is a partnering ministry that unites with parents, churches, and community leaders to help kids stand strong in their Christian faith through Biblical teaching, leadership, encouragement, accountability and outreach. Together we can equip our young people to be Christian leaders who teach and live the Word on their local public school campus!
Our Mission
Connecting students on campus to learn, live, and lead Biblical truth through student-led clubs on the public school campus.
Our Values
Biblical truth,Biblical belonging, Biblical obedience, Biblical leadership and Biblical peace.
Key Verse
Stand Firm, don’t let anything move you. Always give yourselves completely to the work of the Lord. ~1 Corinthians 15:58 NIrV
Terry Ann Kelly - Terry Ann is President and Founder of Students Standing Strong. Her husband, Jay and their five children support her God inspired desire to equip and encourage middle and high school students to boldly and uncompromisingly stand strong in their Christian faith. With undergraduate and Masters degrees from Baylor University, Terry Ann taught communication courses at the university level for many years. Currently through Students Standing Strong, magazine articles, radio, television and speaking engagements she encourages Christians to joyfully obey God’s Word. “In 3 John: 4, the Apostle John refers to fellow Christians as his ‘children’. I love this verse because our 5 children are not only biological children but also our “children” in faith. This verse is written on our kitchen wall. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth". "S3 has helped them walk out that Truth".
- Email: terryann@mys3.org
- Phone: 817-864-9111
Beth Burgin - Beth is married to Mark, a pilot for FedEx, and has one daughter who is a recently graduated RN and ER nurse. Beth has a BS in Business from John Brown University and MS in Accounting from the University of Arkansas. Beth became S3’s Office Manager in 2008. She is involved with the financial, communications and home office operations of the ministry.
“I love how S3 connects Christian students to other Christians on their public school campus. It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed and outnumbered in our culture today. Even the Christian students who don’t regularly participate in S3 can be encouraged when they see classmates wearing their S3 shirts and know they have a common bond.”
- Email: beth@mys3.org
- Phone: (817) 864-9111
Laura Ball - Laura is married to her husband Bob, of 21 years. Her family includes four children and two grandchildren. Together they serve in their local church. Laura accepted a staff position with Students Standing Strong in 2014. She oversees the student on-line database management system, coordinates fundraising efforts and helps manage the S3 web site. Laura is also a substitute teacher and has continued to volunteer as the parent coordinator for the S3 club at her children’s middle school since 2011.
“My favorite part of S3 is watching the middle schooolers circle up, hold hands and pray at the end of each club. What a privilege to hear the Lord’s name each week in my children’s public school.”
Sheli Johnson - Sheli is married to her high school sweetheart, Lance, and has two children. She had a professional career in sales after graduation from college but feels being a full-time wife and mother has been her greatest calling and joy in life. Sheli became involved with Students Standing Strong in 2006 and has been active ever since! She has served as a parent coordinator at Grapevine Middle School and currently volunteers with the high school students at Grapevine High School and Colleyville Heritage High School. She joined the staff in 2012 and serves as Director of Programs, assisting with club development.
“There is nothing that blesses me more than seeing students come together at school because they love the Lord and want to grow in their faith, support one another, and make a difference.”
Michele Winn - Michele has been married to Darin for over 20 years. They have three high school and college aged children. She became involved in Students Standing Strong in 2008 when she started S3 in their son’s intermediate school. Later, when he moved up to middle school, she began an S3 club where again she volunteered as the S3 parent coordinator. Her focus during those years was taking the student-led curriculum and helping kids find ways to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus through outreach programs. Michele joined the staff in 2014 as personal assistant to Terry Ann Kelly.
"My favorite part was being a volunteer parent coordinator at our children’s middle and intermediate schools and later having former students come back and tell me how their S3 club impacted their lives.Several have even continued to volunteer in the community outreach programs they began in their Students Standing Strong club. I was definitely blessed by the experience."
Our Partners
- Parents / Parent Volunteers
- Area Youth Minister Coalitions
- Sponsoring Churches
- School Principals and Administrators
- Faculty Club Sponsors
- Other Christian Ministries
- Community Leaders
S3® is a partnering ministry. We are not looking to replace other Christian groups, church/youth groups, or home teaching and devotions. But we instead look to strengthen these foundations by connecting Christians together on their school campuses for mutual encouragement and support.
