Certified Heads of School

Brian is in his 10th year at Redlands Christian Schools and 3rd year as Head of Schools after serving as Upper School Principal. Redlands Christian educates 1,400 students in grades PS-12 on its 25-acre Southern California campus. Prior to this opportunity Brian served for four years as Head of School at Portsmouth Christian Academy at Dover (NH), New England’s largest Christian school. Educationally, Brian has earned a master’s degree from the University at Albany (Public Policy with a focus on education policy) and completed the coursework towards a Ph.D. from Regent University.

Prior experience includes seven years with The King’s College (NY) primarily as Vice President of Enrollment Management. Brian’s professional background includes many years of experience in growing enrollment and fundraising for educational institutions. He also served as an Academic Dean in a community college system.

Brian and his wife Jody reside in Redlands, CA and have two grown children. They are active in their local church, The Mission Redlands.

Dr. Jerry Eshleman has served in Christian education for nearly 27 years. He came to Resurrection Christian Schools, in Loveland, CO from San Antonio, TX where he served as Superintendent at Cornerstone Christian Schools for nearly 12 years. In both Texas and Colorado, Jerry has served on the ACSI Regional Accreditation Commissions. He has worked consistently at the state and national levels on legislative and policy issues as they pertain to private education and family choice.

He has worked, taught and consulted in K-12 schools and universities both nationally and internationally. Jerry has taught and presented in the areas of private school law, school organization & administration, educational psychology, teacher development, decision-making, emotion & cognition, instructional leadership, child growth & development, Christian worldview & Biblical integration and instructional design & methodology. Additionally he has served on numerous accreditation visits with multiple accrediting agencies for K-12 and university-level institutions.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Christian School Administration and Teaching from Evangel University, and a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Oral Roberts University. Dr. Eshleman earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology from Oklahoma State University.

His areas of expertise and research include leadership studies, school law, organization and administration theory, brain-based learning, emotion and cognition, adult and child development, and the neural and psychological mechanisms involved in emotion, learning and decision-making.

Jerry’s pride and joy is his wife Jenny, a 3rd grade teacher, and their high-school aged son named Austin.

Dr. Aaron Farrant is the Head of School at The Christ School in Orlando, Florida where he has served the last five year.  Aaron is an ordained minister who served as a pastor in Atlanta.  He also spent time in the business world. He started his own company, worked in sales, as a project manager, and in contract negotiations. He transitioned to education over a decade ago and loves investing in the next generation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology focused on children and adolescent development, a Master of Arts degree in religion and a Master of Religious Education. Aaron also earned a specialist degree and a doctorate degree in educational leadership. He and his wife have been married for 20 year and have two sons.Mr. Mitchell began his teaching career as a chemistry and AP computer science teacher at a boarding school and later taught middle school math and computer skills. He has always loved technology and data and deepened his knowledge in these areas when he earned his M.Ed. in educational technology at Lesley University. Mr. Mitchell has shared his interest in data with admissions professionals all over the world presenting at conferences and running workshops on how to use and interpret data for enrollment management.

Jay Ferguson is the Head of School of Grace Community School in Tyler. Grace Community School is the largest private school in East Texas, serving 1400 students on three campuses from infancy through 12th grade. Jay was a practicing attorney in Dallas and Tyler for ten years before joining Grace Community School in 2002 as its Director of Development. He assumed the full-time Head of School role in fall 2003.

Jay has written extensively on Christian education and related issues. He has contributed to Building a Better School, published by Paideia Press, Mindshift: Catalyzing Change in Christian Education, published by Purposeful Design, and Religious Liberty and Education, published by Rowman and Littlefield. He is a regular contributor to Christian School Education and the ACSI and CESA blogs, and writes his own weekly blog. He is an adjunct professor of school law and governance at Covenant College in Georgia, and at Baylor University. He serves on the faculty of the Van Lunen Center at Calvin College, and he has served on the adjunct faculties of Gordon College in Massachusetts, and at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University.

Jay is the Past President of the Texas Private School Association, the Past Chair of the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability, and is the Current Chair of the Association of Christian Schools International. Jay holds a Bachelors’ Degree from Baylor University, a Juris Doctor from Texas Tech University School of Law, and a Masters’ Degree in Educational Leadership from Covenant College. He earned his PhD in Leadership Studies at Dallas Baptist University.

Chris Harmon serves as the Head of School of Mount Pisgah Christian School, an early learning through twelfth-grade school. Chris served in leadership positions in schools in Florida and Texas prior to his tenure in Georgia. Chris is a VanLunen Fellow and a Vanderbilt Peabody Summer Fellow. Chris has been the Next Generation Chair for Rotary International and is a board member for Horizons Savannah. Chris was also the first TPSMEA Distinguished Administrator of the Year. Chris earned his Doctor of Education from George Fox University. In addition to his headship responsibilities, Chris teaches a class for Gordon College in the Graduate Leadership Program.

Kurt is an attorney and was the founding Head of School of Valor Christian High School in Colorado, serving 1200 students in grades 9-12. Sensing a responsibility and passion for advancing Christian schools around the globe, Kurt transitioned from Valor to found NextEd, an educational services company focused on advancing and improving Christian schools and school leaders.

For more than thirty years, Kurt has served in vocational Christian ministry in a variety of contexts, with specific experience in visionary leadership, technology, law, governance and finance. Kurt's great joy comes from creating and advancing business initiatives that serve Christian causes.

Kurt was involved as a Charter member of the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA) and also served on the Executive Board. Kurt served on the Board of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), the largest association of Christian schools in the world, and joined the staff of ACSI in 2021 as Chief Revenue Officer.

Dr. Wiens’ Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degrees were earned at Bethel University; his recent Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree hails from the University of Oxford; his Doctor of Education (EdD) degree was earned at St. Mary’s University.

Dr. Williams is the product of a Christian private school, Trinity Christian Academy in Dallas, Texas. He studied Telecommunications at Baylor and got a double major in Communications and Christianity from Houston Baptist University. He then attended Denver Seminary, where he received a Master of Arts and full certification as a psychotherapist. Dr. Williams had a thriving private practice in Houston for several years, specializing in working with adults, adolescents, and children. His reputation led to Second Baptist School contracting with him to do parent workshops and staff development. He was viewed by the school as someone with outstanding abilities in working with students. He was lured to follow his real passion of working with students and began his journey into Christian education as a consultant, Middle School Counselor, Head of Middle School, and Head of Upper School as well as Head of School.

Dr. Williams received his Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston. Jeff and his wife, Allison, have three daughters – two in college at Baylor University, and one that has graduated from Baylor University and currently serves in ministry in Atlanta, GA.

Through June 2022, Dr. Arnold serves as the Board President of the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) in Washington, D.C., the leading advocacy group for religious and independent schools in the United States.

Over the past twenty-five years, Gary actively participated in the State CAPE Network as the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council for Religious/Independent Schools and the Illinois Coalition of Non-Public Schools.

In addition to leading LRCA, Gary Arnold presently directs the Head of School Certification program for the Council for Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA). Gary is also a Founder/Partner of NextEd, LLC, an educational services platform formed to empower schools to achieve their Next and a member of the Core Team of the Christian Education Charitable Trust (CECT) of the Maclellan Family Foundations, advising the CECT Executive Director on strategic initiatives.

Gary and his wife Karen have three daughters, several grandchildren and no pets. After too many winters in Chicago, they have determined the South is a wonderful place to live and serve.

Chris Cleveland has served as Wesleyan’s head of school since 2014. He originally came to Wesleyan in 2002 to serve as middle school principal, became principal of the high school in 2004, and assumed the role of assistant headmaster for advancement in 2010. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, he earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Auburn University and a master’s in administration and supervision from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

In past years, Mr. Cleveland was an assistant coach with the varsity boys basketball team at Wesleyan and has taught history and Bible. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, has served as president of the Atlanta Christian School Association, and is a member of the Board of Directors of Georgia GOAL, INC. and Georgia Community Foundation, Inc. Married to Julie Cleveland since 1991, they are proud parents of Kyle '19 and Sam ’22.

He is passionate about strategically leading organizations in a way that maximizes resources, builds capacity, creates community, and closes the achievement/potential gap. Over his tenure as a school head, he has been involved in three separate capital campaigns. He has led his schools through the strategic planning process and strategic execution. At Des Moines Christian, he is responsible for a $10 million operating budget, more than 1200 students, and more than 200 full and part-time staff.

In addition to his formal work, Cade has served on the Presidential Advisory Team for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and as a mentor for ACSI’s Leadership U, head of school development program. He currently serves on the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA) Executive Committee, as Board Chair of the Iowa Association of Christian Schools and as an elder in his local church. Cade holds degrees from the University of Northwestern (St. Paul) and Iowa State University in Elementary Education (BS) and Educational Leadership and Administration (M.Ed.), respectively. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Urbandale with their four children.

Julie H. Ambler has been the Head of School at The Woodlands Christian Academy since 2006. Under her direction, Woodlands Christian is becoming a national leader in Christ-centered college preparatory education serving students in grades Pre-K4 through 12th grade. Previously, she served on the school’s Executive Board for four years.

Mrs. Ambler currently serves as Chairman of the board for Summit Ministries, located in Manitou Springs, Colorado, Chairman of the board for The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the board for the Council of Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA), and Past Chairman of the board and board member for Leadership Montgomery County (LMC). Additionally, she is a member and past board member of the Rotary Club of The Woodlands, where she has been named a Paul Harris Fellow. Mrs. Ambler is also past President of the Executive Women’s Alliance (EWA). She received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Leadership Montgomery County in 2012 and was named a Woman of Distinction by the Montgomery County Women’s Council of Organizations in 2014 and 2017. Interfaith of The Woodlands named The Woodlands Christian Academy the corporate Hometown Hero of The Woodlands for 2017.

A graduate of The Hockaday School in Dallas, Mrs. Ambler holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin. For seventeen years, she worked as a real estate investment banker in Houston, Texas, and Los Angeles, California, where she financed major commercial real estate transactions nationwide. She is married to Price Ambler, a member of The Crossing Church, and the mother of two adult children, Julia and J.P., both of whom are graduates of The Woodlands Christian Academy.

Dr. Peterson serves as the Head of School at Regents School of Austin. Originally from Tennessee, his mother was a school teacher and father, a biologist. Athletics, specifically soccer, played a huge role in his life from age five, through high school and college, and even afterward. He graduated from Carson-Newman University, working during the summers at Kanakuk Kamps in Missouri. Through Kanakuk, Dan broadened his spiritual understanding of how faith can be integrated in every aspect of a Christian’s life and ignited his heart for discipleship. This was a life-changing concept that shaped his worldview, the idea of seeing all things through the truth of Scripture. It was also at Kanakuk that Dan met Brooke who became his wife in 2001.

Dr. Peterson obtained a M.Div. degree in theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He served for one year at Heritage Academy in Missouri. He then served for six years as founding Head of School at Cornerstone Academy in Tennessee, while pursuing and earning his Ph.D. in Leadership and Christian Education in 2012. He began his tenure at Regents School of Austin in 2012 serving as the Head of School of Logic until 2015. He served as the Head of School and President of Evangelical Christian School in Tennessee from 2015 to 2018 before returning to Regents. Dr. Peterson has presented at several national and regional conferences, and he has completed the Colson Fellows National Program.

Dr. and Mrs. Peterson are the parents of four children, all students at Regents. He enjoys reading, running, hiking, fly fishing, and playing soccer, but most of all, spending time with his family. The Peterson family attends Austin Stone Community Church.

Scott completed his bachelor's in mathematics from Harding University, his Master's from the University of Georgia, an Educational Specialist degree from Georgia State University, and his Doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership from Abilene Christian University. Scott also serves as Chair of the Board for the National Christian School Association.

Scott and his wife Teresa have three children – their oldest son, Garner, is a junior at Lipscomb University; their son, their second son Colton is a senior and their daughter Emme is in the 8th grade at GAC. Their family is deeply engaged in the GAC community school life and at North Atlanta Church of Christ.

Previously, he was the Founding Associate Head of School at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, CA. Additionally, he has worked at World Vision, an international relief and development organization as Director of Corporate, Foundation and Major Donors.

Konjoyan graduated from Harvard University with honors and a degree in sociology. He was a two sport athlete at Harvard winning an Ivy League Championship in football and leading the baseball team as its captain.

He also earned an MBA from Pepperdine University’s Presidential and Key Executive Program. In addition, he completed the Van Lunen Fellowship for Christian School leaders at Calvin College in Michigan. He has studied at MIT and the University of New South Wales, Australia.

He and his wife, Kelly, have three children. They currently reside in Shadow Hills, CA. In his free time, Konjoyan coach’s lacrosse, and enjoys surfing, volleyball, and golf.

Kathy trusted in Jesus as her Savior while attending high school in London, England. Upon graduation, she moved back to the States in order to attend and graduate with her Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Education and Theology from Florida Bible College in Hollywood, FL. Subsequently, she’s earned her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction, both from Liberty University. She’s enjoyed being an adjunct professor in Gordon College’s Graduate Leadership program for the past two years.

Kathy and her husband Mike have been married for 49 years and hope to celebrate their 50th anniversary in Israel with their children and grandchildren. Currently, seven of her grandchildren attend Fellowship Christian School.

Just finishing his 30th year, Davidson has been involved in Christian education for his entire professional career. Davidson started his career in 1993 as a teacher and coach. His experiences in the classroom and the locker room have provided him with a well-rounded perspective of Christian schools. Eventually Davidson moved into administration as a Dean of Students and then a Principal before assuming his first Head of School position at age 36 in the largest private school in Arizona. Since then, Davidson has served at the helm of Timothy Christian Schools in the western suburbs of Chicago – the largest Christian school in Illinois and one of the largest in the country. The school was founded in 1911 and Davidson is only the third head of school in its history. He has successfully ushered in energizing change while maintaining a worthy respect of the institution’s history and foundation.

Davidson is also involved with nearly a dozen boards and committees, mostly in the nonprofit world. He is a husband of 30 years and a father of 3 children – all married and all graduates of Christian schools. He is also a proud grandfather of 3.

He has been involved with the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA) since its founding in 2010, was a Charter School member, and served on its Executive Board for 6 years. He currently serves as U.S. Board Vice-Chair for Daystar University (Kenya). Steve is also a Founder/Partner of NextEd, an educational services company. He holds degrees from Wheaton College and University of Colorado.

Steve and his wife Denae live in Edwards, Colorado and have three adult children.

With over 30 years of experience as an educator, Dr. Bracher’s career began as a high school math teacher (ranging from algebra through AP calculus) and coach of three sports, followed by leadership posts in all three K-12 levels. Dr. Bracher earned his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in mathematics and secondary education, and he holds three graduate degrees from Georgia State University, including a Ph.D. in educational leadership.

Kevin and his wife, Becky, have four children who are all graduates of Whitefield Academy. Spending time with his family, engaging in activities through his church, and enjoying the outdoors hiking and biking are among his favorite activities.

Jim is in his 15th year as the Superintendent of Gilbert Christian Schools. Gilbert Christian serves 2,200 students in grades PK-12 on four campuses with plans to grow to 2,600 in the next few years. He has overseen the growth of Gilbert Christian from one campus to the current four campuses and a district office. Previously Jim served as an administrator in Mesa Public Schools at the elementary and junior high levels. He also led an elementary school to be authorized as an International Baccalaureate school with the Primary Years Progamme (PYP). Jim served as a Children’s Pastor for several years at East Valley Bible Church in Gilbert. He has a Masters Degree in Education Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Jim and his wife Natasha reside in Gilbert, AZ and have two sons who are proud graduates of Gilbert Christian Schools. Jim and Natasha attend Redeemer Bible Church in Gilbert.

When Ben & Susie met in Boston in 1999, Ben wanted to be a missionary and Susie wanted nothing more than to serve in schools. After serving with Athletes in Action/Cru for 12 years, Ben accepted the call to serve as the Director of KICS in 2014. During their time in Rwanda, they’ve seen KICS grow in significant ways. They’ve led the school to an incredible level of diversity and achievement as KICS stands as one of, if not the top school in the country. KICS graduates are getting accepted into universities in the US and Canada regularly. Additionally, KICS became the first Member of Council of CESA, outside the US.

In addition to leading KICS, Ben and Susie co-founded B2THEWORLD - an educational organization that helps develop schools in countries recovering from war. B2TW currently serves students in Rwanda, Pakistan, South Sudan and Cameroon. After 10 years of service in Rwanda, Ben and Susie will transition to the US where Ben will serve B2THEWORLD full time, and Susie will serve at a Christian School on the East Coast.

Ben and Susie have 4 kids who have experienced a global upbringing. Team Thomas has been deeply formed by the relationships with friends and family all over the globe, and especially those in Rwanda. Ben is also a conference speaker and leadership & school consultant.

Dr. Satterly has served as Headmaster of Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, since 2016. Before coming to South Florida, Dr. Satterly had been the head of a school for nearly three decades across five schools in several major markets. Prior to that, he was a secondary principal and a history teacher. Dr. Satterly was also the president of Christian Schools of Florida, where he was a colleague and friend of the late Dr. Ken Wackes, the executive director of CSF and headmaster of Westminster Academy for 32 years.

His professional roles have provided a range of experiences and opportunities to interact with a variety of people and settings, which have impacted his view of the kingdom and the significance of Christian education. They have given him a deep passion for the gospel, worldview development, and developing leadership in others.

Dr. Satterly grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, and after college, served in the United States Army. He graduated from Officer Candidate School and completed his time in the service as a captain in armor. He has a B.A. in History and an M.A. in Education from the University of Kentucky and an M.B.A. from Western Governors University. He completed the Doctor of Ministry program through Knox Theological Seminary. His dissertation, “Constructing an Effective Biblical Worldview: The Significance of the Christian Day School,” was the basis for much of the Westminster Academy Worldview Institute. He is an Eagle Scout, Van Lunen fellow, CESA Certified Head of School, and contributor to the Institute of Faith & Culture.

He and his wife, Carol, have been married for 33 years. They have three children—Margaret Brewer, married to Christopher; Kassandra Reardon, married to Scott; and Timothy, married to Tess. They also have three grandchildren.

Alongside his educational roles, Taylor has held the position of President of the Christian Schools Association of St. Louis and currently serves on the Committee of Discipleship Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Samford University and a master’s degree in Learning and Teaching from Lipscomb University.

Taylor is married to Katy and father to Anderson and Betsy. The family attends Kirk of the Hills Church in St. Louis, where Taylor also serves as an Elder.