Leadership

The Board of Trustees (The Trustees) is entrusted with the fundamental responsibilities of providing Covenant Christian Academy (CCA) with sound governance, fiduciary and spiritual oversight, and direction ensuring that the purpose and mission of CCA remains consistent. Although the Board of Trustees are not involved in the policy making role as that of the governing ministry board, The Trustees are involved, as outlined in their governing documents, in several specific decisions where the governing ministry board must have Board of Trustee approval. The Board of Trustees governance, oversight, and direction is accomplished solely through oversight of the Ministry Board. The Board of Trustees is the final authority should there be a conflict with the Ministry Board.

Trustees

Pastor Keith McCullough (School Founder, Pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church Warrenton), Pastor Tim McGowan (Living Hope EPC Haymarket), Pastor John Kuvakas (Warrenton Bible Fellowship), Pastor Vinicent Holland (First Baptist Church Warrenton) 
 

Jeff Ward, Board Chair

Biblical Inspiration: Micah 6:8

Jeff Ward is a Captain at Delta Air Lines.  He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and spent over 23 years in the Air Force before retiring in 2014.  In addition to many years of flying, Jeff also held positions in acquisition and international affairs.

Jeff is married to Cindy Ward, the CCA Admissions Director, and Middle School Bible teacher.  They have two students who have graduated from CCA (Michael and Matthew), as well as a married daughter (Abby) who lives in Alabama.  Jeff and Cindy are also grandparents to two precious grandchildren.

Scott Shortmeyer, Vice Chair

Scott grew up in Central NJ and transplanted to Northern VA in January 2003. He and his wife, Allison, have three girls in CCA – LillyKate, Ellie, and Lanee. He comes to us with 20 years of IT Sales, Marketing & Operations experience. Scott has served in the community as a volunteer coach for cross country and soccer, leading small groups with Allison. Additionally, Scott has previous experience serving on a school board, as well as committees and community groups at work.

Caroline Foster

Biblical Inspiration: Ephesians 4:32

Caroline received her bachelor’s degree in media production from Missouri State University. She has professional experience in public relations, news writing, and video production, and is grateful for one year of employment at CCA as an assistant teacher. She and her husband, Ben, have three children who all attend CCA. The Fosters have been part of the CCA family since the 2012-2013 school year.

Joe Jordan

Biblical Inspiration: Philippians 4:13

Joe is a product of Catholic schools in Baltimore, MD, starting with Holy Rosary grammar school, Archbishop Curley High School, and Loyola College (now University) in Baltimore. Joe has experienced both Christian and non-Christian multi-cultural environments while growing up in inner-city Baltimore and through his extensive travel. In his mid-20s, he moved to Europe where he resided for 13 years, then traveled the world on business extensively until his family became a priority.

The constant traveling resulted in Joe marrying the only woman he regularly contacted – his travel agent, Dana, who has become the CCA Bingo Queen. Shortly after they married, Dana gave birth to boy-girl twins, Tate and Reese.  They all have been active in CCA since 2012. Joe is currently the vice-president and general manager of a boutique technology consulting firm he co-founded which focuses on providing technical, process, and security solutions to various DOD IC customers. In his free time, he enjoys having fun with his wife and kids, and dogs and keeping up with different technology trends.  He and his family are active members of Community Christian Fellowship.

Janelle Hitt

Biblical Inspiration: Galatians 2:20

Janelle Hitt is wife to Mike and mother to 3 children: Alison, Mackenzie, and Andrew. Mrs. Hitt began teaching middle school math at CCA in 2016 and became Athletic Director the next year. She now teaches Algebra 1. Her love of sports is evident to all as she travels all over to watch her own kids play soccer, basketball, or baseball, taking any opportunity to catch a college or professional football game – Skol Vikings!

Throughout her career, Janelle has worked in roles such a Middle School teacher, Director of Children’s Ministry, High School board member, and Office Manager. She was involved as a parent volunteer at school, a team mom, and soccer league manager.

Janelle is grateful to be a part of this wonderful community of believers and thanks God for the opportunity to serve Him through the ministry and education happening at Covenant Christian Academy.

Chris Alibaruho

Biblical Inspiration: Isaiah 6:8

Chris Alibaruho was born in Northern Virginia as a first-generation Ugandan-American. He grew up around the world in his youth, spending 5 years in Sierra Leone, 5 years in boarding school in the United Kingdom and annually visiting Uganda. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Penn State University and currently works in educational technology as a software Account Executive. In addition, Chris also owns a national direct sales organization and is part-owner of a 158-acre tea farm and tea processing factory in Uganda.

One of Chris’s business partners and good friends started a NAUMS-affiliated school in North Carolina, which led to him seeking out a similar school in Virginia for his family, and that is how he found CCA. He and his wife, Diane, have been supporters and cheerleaders for CCA’s mission, even before their children were enrolled. They have three boys who have been enrolled in CCA since the 2018-2019 school year (Brandon, Dominic, and Christian), and their younger sister, London, looks forward to joining them in a few years.

Chris is known to many at CCA as the leader of the All-Pro Dad chapter at CCA. All-Pro Dad is a monthly school gathering where dads enjoy breakfast with their kids and engage in meaningful conversations and activities centered around a character-based curriculum.

Edward (Ed) Wolfe

Biblical Inspiration: Proverbs 3:5-6

Ed Wolfe retired from Marriott International in 2020 after almost 40 years as a Software
Developer, Senior Systems Analyst, and Project Manager.
Ed is married to Debra (Deb) Wolfe, who also retired in 2020 from Prince William County Schools after 11 years as a Technical Education teacher and Instructional Technology Coach.
They have two sons (David, Mike) and a daughter (Jamie) who all attended Bethlehem Baptist
Christian Academy in Fairfax. Ed served on the church Deacon board which provided guidance
to the school and as a basketball coach.

Ed and Deb have five grandkids (Kale, Kyler, Camden, Nathan, Micah). Kyler and Camden have been students at CCA since they started school and they will be joined by their younger brother
Nathan in 2021. Ed and Deb are members at Park Valley Church in Haymarket. In addition to serving on the CCA board, Ed also works part-time in the Finance department at
Park Valley Church and enjoys doing anything outdoors, especially if it involves the grandkids, bicycling, or motorcycling.

Jonathan (Jay) Larcomb

Biblical Inspiration: Isaiah 61:7

Jonathan Larcomb is an attorney with more than 20 years in the practice of law. He graduated from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana with a bachelor’s degree in political science and then graduated law school from Regent University in Virginia Beach. After being admitted to the Virginia bar, he served on active duty for more than six years as a JAG officer for the United States Army. Jonathan continued in public service after leaving active duty working first for the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia and then for Immigration and Customs Enforcement for nearly a decade.

In 2018, Jonathan and his family moved from Memphis, Tennessee to northern Virginia to work as a senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian public interest law firm. Since 2020, he has taken a sabbatical from full time law practice to invest more time with his family and to assist in his sons’ education as a satellite teacher. Jonathan taught American Government at CCA during the 2021-22 school year and also filled in as a middle school English teacher during the second semester.

Jonathan is married to Lora Larcomb and together they have three students at CCA: Asher, Levi, and Judah. Their family has been part of the CCA community since 2020.  Jonathan and Lora have served in small groups, prayer ministry, and marriage ministry during their 15 years of marriage. They are members of Chapel Springs Church where they belong to a small group and they have served in prayer ministry.

Bob Pavlak

Biblical Inspiration: 1 Cor 13:4-6

Bob Pavlak and his wife, Amy, have been members of the CCA Community since 2018. They have two children at CCA (Benjamin and Hillary) and one who graduated in 2022 (Andrew). Bob grew up as an Army brat and then served in the Army. He has lived in many places but considers Northern Virginia home. Bob served as an Army Officer after graduating from Georgetown University. Following his service, he earned his MBA at Duke University and then began his career in management consulting. Bob is now a Partner at a consulting firm where he focuses on organizational and operational effectiveness. Bob is active in his church and community and appreciates the opportunity to serve the CCA community.

Andrea Sponsler, Head of School

Biblical Inspiration: Colossians 3:17

Andrea is a licensed teacher in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  After finishing her degree in elementary education at Indiana Wesleyan University, Andrea taught for five years in Loudoun County Public Schools before deciding to stay at home with her children.  Upon returning to the professional education field, Andrea gained experience teaching at CCA in both the classroom and satellite settings. Her role at Covenant focuses on utilizing this wide range of perspectives to focus on curriculum evaluation and implementation, in addition to providing professional development opportunities, support, and encouragement for teachers and parent co-teachers. Andrea ensures implementation of instructional best practices and monitors and evaluates academic performance. 

Andrea is married to Jonathan and they have three children, Hollis, Rogan, and Hazel.  They all attend CCA and the unique University-Model® of schooling has been a blessing to their entire family.  

Cindy Ward, Director of Community Life

Biblical inspiration: Psalm 27:4

Cindy is a graduate of Liberty University and has spent over 30 years in ministry working at churches, leading Bible studies and small groups, teaching parenting classes, and teaching Bible at CCA. She currently serves as Admissions Director and Dean of Community and Spiritual Life.

Cindy has been married to Jeff for over 30 years. They have three children, two sons who are graduates of CCA now attending Wheaton College in Illinois and a daughter and son-in-law raising their two amazing grandkids in Alabama. 

Ashleigh Lloyd,  Elementary Principal

Biblical inspiration 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Ashleigh earned a Bachelor's degree in 2010 and a Masters degree in Education in 2011 both from Liberty University. 
After teaching preschool for four years, Ashleigh had the privilege of being a stay at home mom for a few years after her oldest daughter was born.
In 2014 Ashleigh started teaching again at a local Christian school, where she taught various classes over the years, then in 2019 became the assistant principal and then the elementary principal.
Although Ashleigh enjoyed her time in the traditional school setting, she is very excited to be joining the CCA family. 
She is thrilled to have the opportunity to spend more time at home with her children while still getting to do what she loves and feels called to do, which is loving and interacting with people.
“His grace is sufficient”

Ashleigh is married to Justin and they have three children together, Lotus, Leera and Satchel. They will all attend CCA and are excited about this new adventure!

Sarah Fletcher, Elementary Principal

Biblical Inspiration: Philippians 2:3-4

Sarah has been involved in educating children for over 20 years. After graduating from Texas A&M University Kingsville in 2000 with a BS in Elementary Education, she immediately jumped into teaching in Dallas, Texas. Her specializations are in Early Childhood Education, Reading, and English as a Second Language. In 2008, Sarah and her husband Aaron moved to Virginia where she began to teach in a private school in Manassas before staying at home with her children, Charlie and Sadie. When her oldest child was ready to start kindergarten the Lord called the Fletcher family to CCA. The Fletchers are richly blessed to be a part of the CCA family. Sarah’s previous roles at CCA include teaching First Grade (2017-2020) and Assistant Principal (2020-2021). She is currently the Principal of our Tuesday/Thursday program.

Laurie Ward, Secondary Principal

Biblical Inspiration: Ephesians 5: 1-2 and Colossians 3: 1-2

Laurie’s undergraduate degree is in business. After designing and selling workstation cables in the Silicon Valley in California for several years, she went back to school for her education certification.  She finished her education certification at Texas A&M in Corpus Christi Texas. Laurie taught at C. Hunter Ritchie in Warrenton, Virginia for 10 years in order to be with her children at school. Laurie started teaching middle school math and Bible at CCA in 2014. She moved into the Secondary Director role in 2017 and then Secondary Principal in 2018.  She has completed half of her Biblical Counseling Certification with CCEF.

Laurie is married to Andrew and they have three children, Drew (graduated VT 2017), Amanda (graduated VCU 2018), and Adam (graduated CCA 2019). CCA was an answer to prayer for Adam and a blessing to the entire family.