Cedar Springs Remembers CTA Co-Founder, Lexie Coxon

We are deeply saddened to share that Lexie Coxon, Co-Founder of Creative Technologies Academy, passed away on Saturday, December 6th, surrounded by her loved ones. Our hearts are with the Coxon family during this time, and we honor the legacy Lexie leaves behind.

Creative Technologies Academy exists today because of the vision, courage, and unwavering dedication of Lexie Coxon and her husband, Dr. DeWayne Coxon. Without Lexie’s belief in what CTA could become, our school simply would not be here.

In the mid-1990s, as the idea of charter schools was just beginning to emerge in Michigan, DeWayne began researching the possibility of creating a new kind of school, one centered on innovation, high expectations, strong relationships, and opportunities for all students. But behind this vision stood Lexie: a steady source of wisdom, encouragement, and conviction. She shaped the values and spirit that would ultimately define CTA.

DeWayne, along with his son, Rob Coxon, and his wife, Jodi, wrote the early proposals, first to Grand Valley State University and then to Ferris State University. Lexie supported every step. She championed the mission, helped refine the ideas, and grounded the work in what mattered most: students, families, and community.

Her passion for education and her deep commitment to Cedar Springs became the heart of CTA’s identity.

In 1998, when FSU agreed to grant a charter on the condition that 120 students enroll, the pressure was immense. Funds were scarce, uncertainty was high, and the future was far from guaranteed. Still, Lexie remained a pillar of strength and belief. Her encouragement kept the team moving forward: purchasing equipment, preparing classrooms, spreading the word, and building something from nothing.

When 122 students enrolled and the charter was officially approved, it marked not only the start of a school, but the fulfillment of a dream she had supported with her whole heart.

From those anxious early days to the thriving Academy we know today, CTA now serves more than 300 students from up to nineteen districts! Lexie’s influence can be felt in every classroom, every relationship, and every milestone. CTA’s culture of care, excellence, and community connection is rooted in the values she lived out.

Lexie and DeWayne were married for 65 years, a partnership defined by faith, service, and deep love for the Cedar Springs community. While DeWayne may have been the visionary of CTA’s founding, Lexie was CTA’s backbone, the quiet strength behind the vision, the champion of its mission, and the keeper of the values that still guide us today.

Her legacy lives on in every student who finds their place here, every teacher who pours into their work, and every family that chooses CTA as their home.

Without Lexie Coxon, Creative Technologies Academy would not stand where it is today.

We are forever grateful for her life, her passion, and her unwavering belief in what CTA could be.

May her memory continue to inspire us to CHANGE the WORLD positively!