Christian Academy Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors governs the Christian Academy School System. Members serve an initial term of three years, and as members roll off, new members are elected each year. The primary function of the Board of Directors is to serve in a strategic leadership capacity, which includes setting, reviewing, and revising school policy, and casting vision for the future direction of Christian Academy.
The Board of Directors oversees the Superintendent, who is responsible for implementation of Board policy and oversight of the staff and faculty to whom responsibility for implementation of policy may be delegated as appropriate.
The Board of Directors is comprised of Christian Academy parents, all members of one of the supporting churches of our school system. To serve on the Board of Directors, one must be nominated by a fellow parent, staff or faculty member, have unimpeachable Christian character and be a model of the values we hold as a school system. We are grateful to our Board of Directors whose selfless commitment to Christian Academy is an integral part of our ability to advance God’s mission.
Scott Watkins, Chairman
Our mission at Christian Academy is to develop students with a heart for God, who grow as Jesus did in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and men.
Pam and I were most definitely attracted to this mission when we decided to send Madison (2021), Jackson (2024), and Luke (2030) to CAL. We continue to be so thankful to witness our children grow in their faith and to experience the world-class education offered here. Importantly, CAL has allowed each of them to thrive!
My life verse is Proverbs 19:21 – “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” I’ve watched God work in so many ways during my time on the Board at Christian Academy. He has always provided and continues to bless the school system year after year.
Thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve at Christian Academy. I assure you, this Board is committed to doing everything we can to live our mission, vision and values on a daily basis.
Jeremy Nelson, Vice-Chairman
I am honored to serve as a member of the Christian Academy Board of Directors.
I am reminded of Esther 4:14: “Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.” First, I am certainly not royalty, but I have a keen awareness of the importance each Board Member plays in preserving and advancing our mission “to develop students with a heart for God who grow as Jesus did in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and men.” (Lk. 2:52) Second, I am humbled when I realize that this role was never mine to seek or choose, but one which God saw fit to guide my steps toward.
I come to the Board with the full support of my wife of 25 years, Kelly, and my four wonderful children (two graduated as “Lifers” and two still attend). As a Christian, I am mindful of both the challenges we face and opportunities before us. These challenges and opportunities are even more acute in the context of Christian education. The name and person of Jesus are an offense to some, an enigma to others, and a joy to we who believe in the redeeming power of His Gospel. My hope and prayer is that we train up students and partner with families in a way that fosters authentic discipleship for all of us, so that we may, with clarity, compassion, and candor, communicate “the length and width, height and depth of God’s love” (Eph. 3:18) and develop a generation of Christian Academy students who will make us recall the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19)
Kyle Doezema, Secretary
It is an honor to serve on the Christian Academy School System Board of Directors. Six years ago our family moved to Kentucky from Florida and we witnessed an amazing God lead us to this incredible School System that has and is developing our children spiritually, academically and emotionally to have an impact for the Kingdom as well as prosper in an ever changing world. Prior to our move we were not sure an academic and faith based institution of this caliber existed. After our first visit to Christian Academy six years ago, my wife, Amy, and I looked at each other and knew that our children needed to be here Since the move, our son has graduated from CAL in 2018 and our two daughters currently attend the English Station High School and Elementary School. God has built an incredible school system through the faithfulness, dedication and perseverance of humble and obedient men and women. We must strive to continue to seek His guidance and direction for the future of His school. It is a privilege to serve in this endeavor.
We are reminded in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Christian Academy is a place where the next generation of followers is learning to let their light shine in this world for His glory.
I envision a sign on each of our four campuses that greets our faculty and staff as they arrive with the words “You are now entering the mission field.” This same sign can encourage our students as they exit these same campuses and serve as a reminder of our greater purpose.
Sara Butler
I am honored to have been selected to serve as a member of this board. I am committed to being a part of this board because I love how Christian Academy has made a difference in the lives of so many students throughout our community. Denny and I are long time members of Southeast Christian Church and are parents of Trey and Ava, who are both elementary students at Christian Academy of Louisville – Southwest. This campus is a blessing to our family and so many other families in the Southwest Louisville community. I am excited for what the future holds for Christian Academy of Louisville school system academically, financially and spiritually. Our children today are inundated with many cultural challenges that are in opposition with having a heart for God and being a follower of Christ. Christian Academy, through every facet of the curriculum continuously strives to develop students with a heart for God. My prayer for this school system and every teacher, student, staff and administrator is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths.
Matt Chalfant
It has been a blessing to see so many student lives transformed through the doctrinally sound and practical Bible teaching that our students receive each day in the Christian Academy classroom. My wife, Tonya, and I have experienced that first hand. Our oldest two children are both Christian Academy graduates and our two youngest are currently enrolled in the fifth and tenth grades at school.
As I pray for the wonderful faculty, staff and administrators we have here in the Christian Academy School System, it is my hope that we will be able to continue partnering with Christian families to raise Godly disciples for Jesus.
We are truly blessed by these teachers, staff and parents dedicated to our uncompromising commitment to bring glory to God by allowing all of our students to pursue their individual God-given potential.
At Christian Academy, we seek to be a conserving influence joining with our families to model a reverent and humble love for the truths of the Lord’s Word. The scriptures remind us in 3 John 4 that, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
We look forward to holding true to our mission by following God’s leading in all that we do.
Ken Crowe
I am honored and humbled with the call to serve the Christian Academy School System as a board member. I recently retired from the United States Army after 28 years of service. Those years of service included many moves and exposure to multiple schools and churches. When we landed in Louisville in 2013, my wife, Tami and I immediately recognized the special blessing of living near the Christian Academy of Louisville and Southeast Christian Church Southwest Campus. We quickly connected with CAL and SECC. We have five children (Bella, MyLove, Modoche, Eli, Nate) ranging in ages from 12-7 years old who are growing and thriving at the CAL-Southwest Campus. As our family has grown through international adoptions, CAL has been a wonderful partner in helping our biological and adopted children recognize that we are all adopted into God’s family. A big and diverse kingdom family! One of my favorite life verses is John 10:10. For me this verse helps me keep my eyes on the fullness of life that our God desires for us while both on earth and for eternity. It also reminds me that while on earth we have a very real enemy working to disrupt His plans. My prayer is that my service on the Christian Academy board will help shape programs that allow students to experience the fullness of life our creator has in store for them today and for their futures.
Jennifer Hickman
I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to serve on the board and am excited for the chance to give back to the school system for all that has been given to us. Mitch and I are the parents of Tate and Jude, who are elementary students at Christian Academy of Indiana. We are deeply indebted to the faculty and staff who selflessly pour into our boys on a daily basis, as they challenge them academically and lead them spiritually, with the goal of growing closer to Jesus.
One of my favorite Bible verses is Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” As we face shifting standards and cultural changes in the world around us, I pray that Christian Academy will courageously stand as a beacon of truth in our region, as we continue to partner with families who seek a Godly educational environment for their children. As we keep our eyes on Him, and do not become discouraged, He will be with us wherever we go, as a school system.
I pray daily for our students, teachers, administrators, coaches, and staff, that they would reflect the love of Jesus in all they say and do. May those that walk our halls be reminded of the old hymn and say “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. I can feel His mighty power and His grace.”
Angela Nash
I’ve been a part of the body of Christ nearly my entire life. While I made the most important decision as a child, that was just the beginning of a life long journey. As I reflect on the journey so far, I would honestly say there are years of great growth and years of slow growth or even some years of simply a holding pattern, depending on the season in which I find myself. Today, I know that through every season God has loved me and had a unique plan for me. I praise Him for each season. I desire to be like Christ in everything I do and some days I fail miserably. God understands that the desire of my heart is to be like Christ and he forgives me when I fail. He wants me to be daily in His word, to learn and then get up the next day and pursue Him again through my interactions with others. I find my walk with Christ to be a learning process and I still have much learning to do. I just want to serve where He leads. I want to use the gifts He has given me to serve the Christian Academy School System in this season. My husband and I have a longstanding commitment and passion for Christian Academy and for the families in our community. My heart is burdened for Christian families as they try to make the best educational decisions for their children in our current world. My current life verse is Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” I strongly believe that the key to reaching our students is by helping them turn their hearts toward Christ.
Phil Russell
Chuck Colson once said, “Christians have always done the best of things in the worst of times. So maybe, just maybe, in the midst of all of this, God is giving us a great opportunity.” The opportunity that God has set before us is why I’m excited to serve at Christian Academy. Christians must equip the next generation of believers to advocate for Christ in this post-modern era. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7), and I believe the foundation of a Christian education is crucial in this world of competing political ideologies and shifting worldviews. I love that Christian Academy recognizes this need and desires to partner with parents who are attempting to raise Godly children. May we remain committed in prayer and support of the teachers, staff and administrators of Christian Academy who serve on the front lines in this effort.
Paul Tran
My wife, Lynn, and I moved to Louisville in 1995 and we have been members of Southeast Christian Church ever since. We grew up in a Christian home and a private Christian education for our children was in the plans even before they were born. Our three children (Alex, Charlie, and Emily) have always attended Christian Academy of Louisville, at both the Rock Creek and English Station campuses. As of now, we have two graduates who are “lifers.” By the time our youngest graduates we will have been at CAL for 22 consecutive years.
While at Christian Academy we have developed great friendships in Christ, our children have been in school in a wonderful and safe environment, and teachers have been a daily blessing. Our grown up “kids” still keep in touch with their teachers, love to visit the school when in town, and have matured and developed great values as obedient Christians. This is just a small picture of the blessings we have received from having our children at Christian Academy.
I am honored and humbled to serve on the Board of Directors. My first tenure was a few years back and I am now returning for another term. God has blessed our school beyond our wildest dreams.
We pray that God continues to have his hands on Christian Academy so many more can receive the blessing we have received over the years.
Byron Walters
I am humbled and blessed to not only have the opportunity to have two children attend Christian Academy of Louisville, but also to have the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors. We have been so amazed with the blessings that God has provided to our family through Christian Academy in educating them to have a heart for God. I am honored and excited to be able to give back in service to the Board.
My wife, Theresa, of 25 years and our two children, Daniel and Taylor, are members of Northeast Christian Church. We have been in Louisville for just over 14 years and have attended Northeast the entire time. I have been a Christian since I was in elementary school, but I am certainly a continual work in progress. I mess up, I fail, I make mistakes, and I am imperfect but I strive daily to be more like Christ and I know that I will be made perfect only through his grace and salvation.
In a world that continually and increasingly challenges Christian faith and foundations, my goal, through God’s leadership and direction, is to do all I can to help make sure our children have the tools and knowledge needed to confront those worldly challenges. I truly believe in Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”.
I pray daily for this school system, the board of directors, leadership, faculty, teachers, and students that we all will hold firm to our biblical foundation and that we will be wonderful stewards of the blessings that God has entrusted us with.
Sam Wheeler
For the past 18 years, Louisville has been our home. My bride Laura, our son Matthew and I have been very much blessed to build beautiful, genuine friendships in this community. Laura and I are originally from Auburn, AL and New Orleans, La respectively. Our connection with Christian Academy is where many of our most cherished friendships began. A passion to spread God’s love and prepare our children to do the same is what fuels my desire to serve. “Dear children, let us now love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” 1 John 3:18 is a theme scripture for my life and another reason why I’m here to serve. In my personal time I enjoy cycling, cooking, classic cars and travel with my family. My greatest desire in life is to serve God by serving and loving on others. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34. This is what has me in “service mode” and my prayer is that God would use me to be a blessing to others. I’m grateful for this opportunity to serve at CAL.