Team

Paul has had a diverse career spanning four decades. In addition to being the founding board vice-chair for two startup schools in South Carolina, he co-founded, developed, and managed Phoenix Academy - one of the oldest, largest, most successful charter schools in North Carolina for a quarter century. He was a founding Chair of the NC Alliance (now merged Association), founding member of the Charter School Advisory Council, crafted and assisted in the passage of the legislation creating the Charter School Advisory Board where he served, as well as several other milestone laws and rules. The foundation he co-founded over a decade ago assisted with the opening and operation of over a thousand libraries in the Philippines, where he grew up and started his twenty five year career in the supply management business. 

Where they handled domestic and international freight, warehousing, installation and project management for hotels and resorts across the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Macau. He developed and implemented revolutionary school safety systems and accompanying curriculum. Paul is a graduate of the University of San Francisco, where he served on student government giving him the background to serve and chair numerous charitable, civic and education related boards and councils since. Married to Kim since 1988 and proud father of two adult children.

Kim has four decades of experience in education, business and psychology. Starting her career as a classroom teacher and social services counselor, transitioning into becoming a highly successful sales executive of large scale tele-communications equipment, then as the co-founder of a successful, global supply management company. Where she oversaw staffing, finance, benefits and compliance. This diverse background gave her a deep bench of knowledge to finance and co-found a private school in 1997, converting it to a Charter in 2000.

Before passing the torch in 2022, she grew the academically excellent, financially sound school with a closely knit, family culture to nearly 1,300 students, housed in over one hundred thousand square feet on three sites. As praised by former NC Superintendent of Public Education, Dr. June Atkinson, she developed the Positive Behavior System, which DPI adopted as PBIS, then eventually MTSS. She is known a true champion for children, particularly those facing extra challenges.

R. Christian Castelli has served as a visionary public and private sector executive with 30 years of experience developing strategy and managing complex global security operations and administration. Throughout his career, he has served in various leadership assignments in the U.S. Army Special Operations community and security industry serving as a Senior Military Advisor to the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon and operational assignments as a Commander and Inspector General in the U.S. Army Special Forces Regiment.

Other assignments include serving as a Chief of Staff of an overseas Special Operations Command and as the Chief Operating Officer, planning and executing military operations in twelve countries in support of the Global War on Terror. Most recently he has served as the Chief Operating Officer of Global Security Resources, LLC, an international security consulting firm based in North Carolina. He possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Government from St. John’s University and Masters degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He maintains a Top Secret/Secret Compartmented Information clearance, is a graduate of numerous military professional education courses, and the recipient of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star and numerous other awards and decorations.

Steven has been an attorney since 2005 and has served clients in the highest levels of government. He has served as the Chief of Staff and General Counsel to the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, and as the Senior Research Assistant (law clerk) in the chambers of Associate Justice Edward Thomas Brady of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. He has also served as the Vice Chair of the Charter Schools Advisory Board and as the Chair-Designee of the Energy Policy Council.
 

He graduated from Campbell University's Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law with highest honors, and from Clemson University with honors. 

He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Martha, for over twenty-two years and they have five children. They attend Parrish Memorial Baptist Church in Selma, North Carolina, where he also serves as the pastor. 

A.L. Collins received his undergraduate degree in Economics and Political Science from North Carolina State University in 1979 and graduated from Campbell University Law School in 1982. At Campbell, Buddy was a member of the Law Review and also served as its Research Editor. Buddy was admitted to the NC Bar in 1982 and is admitted to practice in all North Carolina Courts and in the United States District Court (Middle District of North Carolina). Buddy has been in the general practice of law for over 30 years serving Kernersville and the surrounding communities.

Buddy served on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education for over 15 years and served on the NC State Board of Education, and North Carolina Safe School Task Force. Over the years he has been active in various civic, religious and political organizations. Served as President of the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce, board chairman of the Kernersville Family YMCA, member of the YMCA Volunteer Hall of Fame, the first recipient of the Friend of Education Award of the Forsyth Association of Educators and a former member of the Forsyth Technical Community College Board of Trustees.

Dr. Coleman received his Doctor's degree in Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1987, and became an associate professor at UNC Wilmington in 2005. He had retained that position until 2013, when he became an associate professor at Coastal Carolina University with a specialty in teaching educational leadership.

In 2017, Coleman left the world of colleges and universities and joined Phoenix Academy as a member of its team of principals. He currently leads the school's Middle High Campus.

Todd has a bachelor's degree in Business Management from The University of North Carolina at Asheville, and a master's degree in Liberal Studies from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  In addition, Todd has 30 years experience in business administration,  operations management. And strategic planning.  Todd's leadership skills are focused on the financial and administrative management needs of the organization. He also supervises human resources management and safety & security. of expert consultants has a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions that drive growth, increase efficiency, and improve profitability. We work closely with our clients to understand their unique needs and develop strategies that are tailored to their specific goals.

Danny Oakley is the Creative Director at Out of Our Minds Animation Studios. Originally trained as a painter and illustrator, he was instrumental in changing the direction of the company to animation in 2000. Oakley was Supervising Animator of the BAFTA nominated short Dear, Sweet Emma. He has directed hundreds of animated commercial projects over his 26 year career. many of which have garnered industry awards. He maintains a hands on involvement in all phases of animation production at the studio and is driving the next phase of the company’s offerings in virtual and augmented reality.