Transforming Lives

Todd R. Marrah, Ph.D., is Superintendent of Tree of Life Christian Schools in Columbus, Ohio, and Executive Pastor at Rock City Church, one of the fastest growing churches in America. Todd also serves as the Executive Director of the United States Christian Education Network. He sits on the board of the Columbus Dream Center and is the recent board chair of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

Dr. Marrah’s experience as a middle and high school teacher, a middle and high school principal, and school superintendent, combined with over 30 years of pastoral ministry as a children’s pastor, youth pastor, preaching pastor, and executive pastor provides unique insights into issues facing education and the church. Dr. Marrah has the privilege of consulting with Christian schools and churches and frequently speaks on a variety of topics including board governance and leadership, strategic planning, spiritual formation, and Christian parenting.

His research focused on the spiritual formation of middle and high school students, and his dissertation initiated research on spiritual formation in Christian schooling.

He is a father of six, grandfather of nine, and husband to his lovely wife, Jana.

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Principal Zac Sawyer and his family have served at Morrison Academy Taipei in Taiwan since 2012, and Zac has been the campus principal for the last five years. Morrison Academy Taipei is a Christian, K-12, college-preparatory international school with about 300 students that is focused on supporting missionary work in Taiwan. A native of Julian, California, Zac’s academic credentials include a B.A. in Management and Organizational Communication, an M.A. in Intercultural Studies, and an M.B.A. Zac leads the school in its mission to provide a quality, biblically-immersive educational environment so that each student may be equipped to impact the world dynamically for Christ.

Zac's leadership at Morrison Academy Taipei includes promoting excellent education, providing pastoral care, casting a vision for God’s work inside and outside of the school, and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with students, parents, and other members of the community. 

Zac loves spending time with family and friends, especially while surfing, biking, and exploring God’s creation.

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Alysia-Lara Ayonrinde is the Engagement Lead for the Racial Justice Unit in the Church of England, and Schools Project Lead for Reconciliation at Lambeth Palace. Her distinguished career in education spans over 15 years, encompassing senior leadership roles across the U.K., West Africa, and South America. 

Ayonrinde brings unique, evidence-based perspectives that supportively challenge conventional norms to enable greater interfaith and intercultural understanding in schools, communities, and churches. Alysia-Lara is deeply committed to creating a culture of belonging, evident through her transformative contributions to learning environments globally. She pioneers innovative strategies that empower clergy, leaders, teachers, and students from all backgrounds to flourish.

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In one way or another, Noah Brink has been immersed in Christian education his entire life. He grew up at a Christian school in Memphis, TN, where his father served as a Bible teacher, and he has spent the past twenty-three years serving in a wide range of roles within Christian schools. Currently, Noah serves as Head of School at Franklin Christian Academy in Franklin, TN. 

Noah is also the founding director of Renew Education, a nonprofit organization devoted to advancing Christ’s Kingdom by helping schools align more deeply with the gospel. He is also the author of Jesus Above School, host of “RenewCast” - a podcast about and for Christian education, and he also coaches and speaks through the Herzog Foundation. Noah is married to Katie, and their three "Brinklings" attend FCA in the Nashville area. 

Noah is an avid sports fan who also loves the outdoors and books, especially anything by C.S. Lewis or his favorite author, G.K. Chesterton. He attended Wheaton College and holds post-graduate degrees from Reformed Theological Seminary, Middlebury College, and Covenant College.

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Dr. Jeff Mattner has been in the ministry of Christian school education since 1982. He was a Christian school administrator for 26 of those years in the states of New Jersey, Indiana, and Illinois. Dr. Mattner became Regional Director of ACSI Mid-America in July 2011 and Senior Director of the Central Division of ACSI in 2017. He considers it a privilege to partner with Christian schools, assisting his brothers and sisters working together in this Kingdom work called Christian school education. 

Married to his wonderful wife Wendy since 1982, they have three daughters who are walking with the Lord and using their talents for Christ. They have eleven grandchildren who are a special blessing to Jeff and Wendy. Their daughters went through Christian school from Pre-K through college and they are grateful for the partnership that they've had with Christian schools and the church in training up their children in the way they should go. 

Jeff’s professional credentials include earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Nyack College (1981); a master’s degree in administration and supervision from William Paterson College (1987); and his doctoral degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University (1996). 

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Steve Blom has served as the Executive Director of Bright Promise in Chicago since July 2019. Bright Promise is committed to Christ-centered education that counters fear and isolation, fostering hospitality and humility. Steve has over two decades in church and nonprofit leadership. In the past decade, he focused on expanding Christian education access for historically excluded families due to socio-economic, religious, or financial reasons. 

Bright Promise, founded in 1989 by community leaders, connects 14 Christian schools across Chicagoland, serving over 2,800 students in underserved communities. Steve also served as Chairman of the Board for Unity Christian Academy (2014-2019) and now sits on the Illinois Coalition of Non-Public Schools board, advocating for families statewide. Believing all children should discover their identity as beloved image bearers and contributors in God’s story, Steve emphasizes making Christian education accessible to those traditionally excluded. 

Steve holds a BA in Theology from Dordt University and an MA in Missions from Calvin Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Sally, live in South Holland with their three children, all shaped by Bright Promise schools.

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Dr. Joey Morecraft has been in Christian education since kindergarten. He continued that Christian education through high school and into a Christian liberal arts college: King University in Bristol, TN. Upon graduation, Dr. Morecraft spent the next 15 years in Christian schools in and around metro-Atlanta, accumulating an MA and PhD from Georgia State University in the process. 

Currently, Dr. Morecraft serves as the Chief Academic & Innovation Officer at Fellowship Christian School in Roswell, GA, a flourishing growth-centric community, where he can realize his passion: loving Jesus and getting people to think differently about the things they think about every day. 

Dr. Morecraft is one of the very few native Atlantans left in the metro and has been married to his beautiful wife, Jennifer, since 1997. Both of their sons are students who are thriving at Fellowship with him. 

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Erik Ellefsen serves as the Director of Networks and Improvement at Baylor University’s Center for School Leadership and as a Senior Fellow with both Cardus and CACE. He also hosts the Digical Education podcast and is a lead collaborator of the Mindshift project. With nearly three decades of experience as a teacher, coach, dean, counselor, principal, and board member, his work centers on strengthening school leadership, cultivating networks of educators, and advancing student flourishing.

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Marc Popovici is the Head of School at Shaumburg Christian School in Shaumburg, IL. Schaumburg Christian School is accredited by Cognia, AACS, and the Illinois Association of Christian Schools. 

Prior to his current role, Marc was a Technology Specialist at John Hersey High School. He also served as the Boys Water Polo Head Coach at Township High School. Marc taught History and Social Studies at Wheaton North High School and Gage Park High School. 

Marc’s undergraduate degree is in Secondary Education from Northeastern Illinois University, and his Master’s degree is from National Lewis University in Secondary Education and Teaching.

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Curtis and Tabatha are parents of three Covenant Christian High School alumni—Sydney, Aubrey, and Nolan— who also attended Kingsway Christian School (now Indianapolis Christian Schools) through 8th grade. Upon graduating from Covenant Christian High School, all three also attended Purdue University.

Curtis, born in Texas near Galveston Island, met Tabatha during a summer between his college years. He transferred from Abilene Christian University to Western Michigan University to be close to her, earning a double major in mathematics and secondary education. He started as a high school teacher and coach, then attended Valparaiso University Law School, graduating near the top. He worked two years at the Indiana Supreme Court before joining Bose McKinney & Evans LLP, as a business litigator and mediator. Curtis sees himself as a peacemaker and problem solver, serving on boards like Hope Healthcare Center and Indianapolis Christian Schools, where he was Board Chair. He’s also coached baseball at CCHS for five seasons, including a 2023 state championship run.

Tabatha, raised in Michigan in a Christian home, earned a biology degree from Western Michigan University. She married Curtis, started teaching at a Michigan high school, then moved to Indiana. She worked at Chesterton High and later at IUPUI on her master's in science education. She’s taught biology and chemistry at Apologia Academy and joined CCHS in 2015, teaching science and serving as HOSA advisor, growing the group to 23% of students.

The Joneses are active at Connection Pointe Christian Church in Brownsburg, IN. They enjoy baseball, softball, and racing in Spartans, ToughMudders, and Triathlons.

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