D.C. Trip students get tour of White House by Alumnus Isaac Apon

photo courtesy of Isaac Apon Head of School Kristi Brannen and History teacher Mrs. Johnson stand in the White House Press Room during a private tour of the West Wing led by 2012 alumnus Isaac Apon, who acquired a photography job at the White House.

During the 2026 biennial D.C. trip, TKA 8th- and 9th-grade students toured the White House, gaining exclusive access through 2012 alumnus Isaac Apon, Creative Director of The White House, and visited several other landmarks in the nation’s capital.

“We got to do all the things we don't get to do, especially all in the same year,” 8th-grade American History teacher Mrs. Tara Tims said.

In order to try to get into the White House, Mrs. Tims contacted Senator Barry Loudermilk to ask for tickets. While he was able to get them into the United States Capitol building, he told them it would be impossible to get to tour the White House; however, Mrs. Anna Johnson, geography, history and government teacher, and Mrs. Tims reached out to Apon who now works for President Donald Trump and was able to secure group tickets to the White House tour for TKA students.

“I taught him Government, and I taught him U.S. History,” Mrs. Johnson said. “I thought the coolest thing was to see one of our students be successful in his next part of life. I loved seeing how successful he had become and how humble he still was. I think it showed the students that there is another step, and as long as you are walking with Jesus, you can do that too.”

The students were able to tour the White House and go into the Roosevelt Room for a Q&A with Apon.

“The Japanese prime minister came in, and they had reset the room for a diplomatic dinner in the same room [Apon] talked to our students in,” Mrs. Johnson said. “It was just really cool to glimpse some of the experiences he sees on a daily basis.”

This was the first time most students had been to D.C., and it was also the first time that Mrs. Kristi Brannen, a founder and head of The King’s Academy, was able to accompany the students on their journey on the trip. Not only did the students get to see exclusive parts of D.C., but Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Brannen were given a two-hour tour of the West Wing by Apon. 

“Becasue [Isaac] had the security clearance because he travels with the president, he was able to give us the private tour of the West Wing,” Mrs. Johnson said. “We got to see the Oval Office and also the room where all the interviews with the president happen.”

Mrs. Tims most valued seeing how well-mannered the students were, and how different they were from all of the other tour groups. She was amazed at seeing how TKA students showed Jesus in their actions in D.C. One of her most memorable moments is when the tour guide mentioned that he has never toured with students who found so much favor with so many people in D.C.

“It was good for us too, because we often get complacent. We look at you guys [students] and see some of the frustrating things you do, but then realize that you guys are the cream of the crop, and what frustrates us, others see as great behavior, and I think that that helps us see how great our kids are,” Mrs. Johnson said.