BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REQUEST INFORMATIONRole of the Board
New Covenant Academy is governed by an independent, volunteer board of directors, composed of parents, grandparents and professionals within the community. Board members can serve a maximum of two, three-year terms and must meet specific requirements per policy. On behalf of New Covenant Academy, the Board of Directors performs the following functions:
- Convenes once a month and calls for additional sessions as needed between meetings.
- Hires, manages, and evaluates the Head of School.
- Speaks with one voice rather than many. Therefore, a formal decision cannot be made without a quorum and a majority vote.
- Performs a fiduciary role and ensures financial integrity and solvency.
- Acts as a policy-making body and does not manage the school’s day-to-day operations.
- Ensures effective organizational planning aligned with the mission and core values of the school’s programs and services.
- Serves as the final court of appeals or judiciary board for any unresolved issues that may arise.
- Approves the major goals and needs, as well as the overall strategic plan of the school.
- Recruits new members through nominations from the New Covenant Academy constituency, considering areas of expertise that the board believes would benefit the Academy.
Board of Directors
Mr. Jeff Ward
Chairman
Mr. Ward’s commitment to the NCA community is deeply rooted, with his family having had students enrolled at the school for over a decade. This long-standing connection provides him with a unique perspective on the needs and values of NCA families. Professionally, Mr. Ward brings a background in mechanical engineering and experience as the owner of a consulting firm. He also serves as a real estate agent, further connecting him to the local community. Mr. Ward and his wife attend a local non-denominational church.
Dr. Corbin VanDeWege
Vice-Chairman
Dr. VanDeWege holds an MD from the Indiana University School of Medicine and a Bachelor’s in Psychology, Chemistry & Biology from Anderson University. Dr. VanDeWege is employed as a Family Physician with a local health system, and also serves on NCA’s medical subcommittee. He is married with three children who attend NCA, and as a family, they attend a non-denominational church in Springfield.
Mr. Joel Block
Mr. Block is an associate attorney with Aaron Sachs & Associates, PC. He is the father of an NCA high school student. He is married and attends Life Church in Springfield, MO.
Mr. Zach Grell
Pastor Grell holds a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He served a local church in Illinois from 2006 to 19 and is now the Lead Pastor at a church in Springfield. He and his wife have three children studying at NCA.
Mr. Gary Kirk
Mr. Kirk holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Missouri State University. He is employed as the Senior Executive Vice-President at a local Credit Union and is Co-Owner of a communication technology company. He is married with two children who attend NCA. The Kirk family attends River Stone Fellowship Church.
Mr. David MessnER
Mr. David Messner is the Owner and General Manager of Rain Pro Pixel (Beyond Creative) and the proud father of two NCA students. The Messner family lives on a 53-acre hobby farm in a home David personally designed and built. In his free time, he enjoys woodworking, farm life, and cooking with his wife Kara.
Dr. Vickie Wisdom
Dr. Wisdom holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy, with an MBA in Management and Organizational Behavior and a BME in Music Education. She is a Professor of Humanities in Theater Arts at a Christian university and formerly worked at New Covenant Academy. She is married and attends an Assembly of God Church. Her two children are alumni of NCA.
Dr. Sarah Murray
Dr. Sarah Murray holds a Ph.D. in Adult Learning and Leadership, a M.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences, and a B.S. in Dietetics. She has been a Registered Dietitian for over 20 years and currently is an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Nutrition and Dietetics Program at a local university. Sarah and her husband are from the Springfield area and serve at a local Baptist church. They have two children, a son who graduated from NCA and a daughter in high school at NCA, both have attended since kindergarten.
Dr. Tayo Obafemi-Ajayi
Dr. Obafemi-Ajayi has earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology, a Master of Science, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She is employed as an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at a local university. Dr. Obafemi-Ajayi is married to Dr. Emmanual Obafemi-Ajayi, a Pediatrician, who serves on NCA’s medical subcommittee. Together, they have two students enrolled at NCA and attend a local Assembly of God Church in Springfield.
Mr. Denny Seiber
Mr. Seiber holds a Masters of Business Administration, a Masters of Education in Sports Administration and a Bachelors of Administration in Accounting from Wichita State University. He works as a Director of Global Payments for a global travel technology company. Mr. Seiber is married and attends Central Assembly. He has children in the Middle School, Jr High and High School divisions of NCA.
Mrs. Cara Stassel
Mrs. Stassel deeply believes in the values and mission of NCA. Cara is married to Matt and they have two children at NCA. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Missouri State University. She is a Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations (SFO). Cara’s family attend and serve at a local non-denominational church.