Second Baptist University-Model.
A University-Model case in Houston. One family’s account, tied to documents. Not a finding by an accreditor.
Second Baptist School University-Model is a ministry of Second Baptist Church. It was formerly Paratus Classical Academy. The 2025 Family Discipleship Manual describes it as a classical University-Model school, certified by University-Model Schools International, accredited through UMSI by Cognia, and a developing ACCS-accredited school.
Paratus brought students to campus about two days a week. The other days were satellite days at home. Families chose it for time with their children. This family enrolled three children from kindergarten and expected them to finish there.
The 2025 manual states the rule that now governs the written guide: it is not contractual. The school reserves the right to revise it at its sole discretion and to exercise administrative prerogative where the manual is silent.
What the model was
A daughter in high school was in volleyball and cross country. She told both coaches at the start of the season. Playing time fell when she missed volleyball for meets. That was the coach’s decision. At the end of the semester a newly hired athletic director graded the volleyball course a B. She was otherwise an A student. This family’s account is that other dual-sport athletes received A’s. The grade was not changed.
The next year the school wrote a stricter athletics rule: one sport only, and four attendance misses meant removal from the team and an F. The younger brothers were in eighth grade. They were competitive distance runners, also training with a club. The family asked for an exception so they could run under the school banner. Club sessions were harder training, not days off. The school declined. This family’s account is that exceptions were made for other athletes.
The parents decided to move the daughter to another high school and to move the boys there in ninth grade. The boys were still at SBSUM for eighth grade. Over Christmas break the school wrote that none of the children were welcome back.
What this family did
On or about January 5, 2026, Pamela Dollins, M.Ed., Head of University-Model, wrote Mr. and Mrs. Castillo. After prayer and consultation with the senior leadership team, the school requested immediate withdrawal of the remaining family, effective Monday, January 5, 2026. The letter treats a records request, and meetings over the summer and fall, as evidence the family no longer found the school a fit. It says agreement, trust, and partnership are essential. It says the family had already completed a withdrawal form, and that the registrar would release transcripts.
On January 14, 2026, Dr. Beau Dollins, Director of University-Model Operations, emailed Emilio Castillo. Organizational leadership felt separation was best. Alignment, he wrote, is a foundational requirement. Meetings had left an impasse. He asked that one point be clear for the sons’ future: the sons were not expelled. The family had withdrawn them previously. The school asked that the withdrawal be effective then instead of at the end of the year. Records would not reflect an expulsion.
The parents replied that the distinction did not change the effect. Their account: no academic failure, no discipline record, no direct grievance from the school across thirteen years, and no transition plan. They wrote that they had gone to the people involved, including John Card, Head of School, and had received no answer from him before school started. They said they would not pursue legal action, because the contract stands, and asked at least for a transition period. The boys were not reinstated. They finished the year at home.
A complaint to the NAUMS Accreditation Review Committee, from Yadira and Emilio Castillo as former parents, asks for a review of parent partnership, written policy, and consistency with the University-Model. It states that the sons were prevented from returning mid-year with no academic deficiencies and no behavioral concerns; that “alignment” was not defined or tied to a written standard; and that there was no remediation, appeal, or transition plan. The letter also says they pleaded with the Head of School for reinstatement and received no response. Both statements are in the letter. The complaint says supporting documents are available on request.
The removal, in the school’s words
This family’s account: after the removal, the school announced in a video an all-in or all-out enrollment rule, and pointed to this family. The NAUMS complaint states that the policy was not in the written governing documents, had no effective date, required no parent acknowledgment, and was sent only by a video with limited visibility. This family’s account is that other families objected and the video was taken down, and that families who already had children in more than one school were then accommodated.
On March 20, 2026, University Model Admissions sent another family a Letter of Understanding for signature. Nathan Adair, Dean of Admissions, signed the school’s side. The letter runs through the 2026–2027 year. If the named parents and former students fail to abide by it, administration may, in its sole discretion, require immediate dismissal of the child still enrolled. The terms include bringing concerns to administration rather than to other families, not disparaging the school when explaining a withdrawal, and expressing alignment in words and actions. The letter says it is confidential and not to be discussed with anyone not named in it.
This page does not know whether that family signed. The document shows what the school asked a split family to sign.
The rule that arrived afterward
Ask SBSUM, in writing, which handbook section authorized the January 5 removal. Ask whether “alignment” is defined, and where. Ask whether a family with one child elsewhere must sign a letter that puts the remaining child at sole-discretion dismissal. Ask for the effective date of any all-in or all-out rule, and for the page where parents acknowledged it.
If the school sends a document that answers any sentence on this page, it will be posted on Corrections with the date received.