Lighthouse PCA launches trades at Milton campus

The new campus, located at 6225 Dixie Rd, is now home to the middle and high school students at the Lighthouse Private Christian Academy in Milton. 

CEO and founder Joanna Johannes says everything fell into place and this new campus was definitely a “God thing.” 

Thanks to the generosity of Mike Papantonio and his associates and being able to trade another Lighthouse property, the Lighthouse team was able to renovate the campus and get it ready very quickly for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Lighthouse PCA recently added trade enrichment to their curriculum. Trades taught at the Milton campus include auto mechanics, culinary, agriculture, and electrical contracting. 

College is a great option after high school graduation, but it’s not the only option available. Introducing the trades to students while they are young opens options for careers that are not traditionally taught. 

“Our students are excited about the trades that we’re bringing to the Milton campus because the focus at our other campuses is college preparatory,” Johannes said. “At the Milton campus, we’re opening up our ideas and broadening the horizons now to trades to remind students that college isn’t the end all for everyone.” 

The students truly love going to school here because it is different than anything they’ve experienced in education before. “Learning should be fun,” Milton campus administrative principal Andrea Johnson said. 

The new campus has opened numerous new opportunities for the school, such as agriculture and the 4-H program. The 5-acre property features a large greenhouse and outdoor gardening area, as well as fields of blueberries and a blueberry shop. Students are learning the whole farming process, from growing the blueberries to picking and cleaning the blueberries and then selling the berries to Bailey’s Produce & Nursery on Davis Highway in Pensacola. 

In the basic and advanced auto mechanics classes, students are working on vehicles on campus. They are learning to fix breaks and carburetors and change oil and tires. Next semester, Lighthouse hopes to add woodworking to the mix. 

And it’s not just the boys that are excited about the trades. Some of the girls in culinary are equally as interested in learning mechanics. 

Lighthouse is partnering with local companies to give the students hands-on training and first-hand experience. 

“We’re partnering with Jenvo Electric, a female-owned electrical contractor based in Milton. The owner Jennifer Williamson has been amazing. Our kids are learning about contracting and going out with them on the road to clients,” Johannes said. 

In the culinary class, students are learning how to cold cook and make Italian food and pizzas. Lighthouse has been partnering with local Italian restaurants, allowing students to immerse themselves in authentic culture and cuisine.  

Students learn these trades during their enrichment hour during the school day and if they want to continue their education after hours, they can do so through an after-school apprenticeship. 

“As we continue to grow, we will add more trade classes. We are looking into HVAC and welding,” Johannes added. 

The mission of Lighthouse Private Christian Academy is to inspire students to have a love and joy for learning, for a lifetime, by providing a transformational, Christ-centered education. 

“It’s always about the kids and providing them what they need to succeed,” executive principal and athletic director Ricky Broxson said. “I’ve taught a lot of these students in science, and they are all bright, every single one of them.” 

For students that want to gain college credit in high school, Lighthouse provides dual enrollment for students that are academically ready. 

Athletics are a huge part of Lighthouse and what helps set them apart. They are committed to excellence on and off the field while teaching the students godly values and developing integrity. 

In the 2024 school year, Lighthouse Private Christian Academy won the state championship for football, basketball and baseball in the Sunshine State Conference. Many of the students are involved in teams and look forward to practice and games after school. Lighthouse is looking to expand their cheerleading team. They currently have a varsity team and want to grow their program to cheer at more games, such as junior varsity. The school also recently started a drumline for the high school students, which the kids are very excited about. The drumline started with eight students and now there are 30 that play at football games and a small ensemble plays at the basketball games as well. 

“We take care of each other, and the student body takes care of each other. We’re like a giant family. It’s a school, but we’re all connected, and we pride ourselves on being kind to one another,” Administrative Principal Johnson said. 

The Word of God is embedded into everything Lighthouse does and all the curriculum is based off scripture. 

“A lot of parents just want their kids to be in a safe environment and we provide that,” Johnson said. “Through this safe environment, they’re finding love, they’re finding Jesus, they’re finding themselves, they’re becoming leaders.” 

Lighthouse Private Christian Academy 

lighthousepca.com 

K-5th grade Milton Campus: 6163 Dogwood Dr. Milton, FL 32570 

6th-12th grade Milton Campus: 6225 Dixie Rd., Milton, FL 32570