Monthly board meetings are scheduled for the 3rd Tuesday of every month (6:00 p.m. in the main school building) or the 2nd Tuesday in the months of November, December, and May, unless announced otherwise. Members of the school are always welcome and encouraged to attend these meetings to glean regular information about financial, administrative, and visionary aspects of the school. Minutes are available to members of the school upon request.
HRCA’s Elected Board (7 seats) and Lifetime Members:
Pete Deichler, Vice President
Pete is not a NC native but got here as soon as he could by attending NCSU in the early 1990s. Pete and his wife, Beth, have three children. Their youngest, Charity, is in 6th grade at HRCA. They were drawn to HRCA in 2019 after years of experience in public, private and homeschooling with their older two children. Pete sees the classical Christian education model as key to transmitting the Christian worldview to younger generations. His professional and volunteer work experience spans 35 years and includes 25 years in pharmaceutical R&D management, and he also has served in church leadership roles.
Penny Hull, President
Penny and her husband Eric have been part of the HRCA family since 2010. Their five children have experienced significant spiritual and intellectual growth through the blessings of classical, Christian education. Penny’s professional qualifications include secondary education, business intelligence, program management, and leadership, across various roles in start-ups and global organizations. She is fully dedicated to working to fulfill the vision that the Lord has given for this school, and is thankful every day for all who serve here helping impart truth, wisdom, and the tools for life-long learning.
Kelly Jacoby, Secretary
Kelly Jacoby and her husband, Brian, enrolled their son at Haw River Christian Academy during the 2020-2021 school year. They saw the value of a classical, Chrstian education as a way to reinforce what was being taught at home and at church and appreciated the focus on a biblical worldview. Her family instantly knew this was a special place and they have all volunteered in various roles at HRCA. Kelly has supported staff, coaches and students and served as a House Leader for the Upper School. She has worked in Sales and Marketing for over 20 years and is a founding member of a successful non-profit. She hopes to use her work and volunteer experiences to help raise awareness and raise funds to help HRCA continue to spread the light and love of the Lord to more families.
Liz Mauney, Member
Elizabeth, a native North Carolinian, was born in Salisbury and has a background in early childhood education. She and her husband Bill have a son, Will, who is in the grammar school. They were drawn to HRCA while attending Emmaus Baptist Church. Will’s attendance has allowed them to foster a strong Christian background for Will and the family to maintain a biblical worldview. Liz sees the classical Christian education model as a cornerstone for youth development. Liz is currently employed as the Community Relations Manager for Mountaire Farms, and enjoys being able to share with others all that Chatham County has to offer.
Michael Travers, Member
Michael and his wife Brittany have three girls enrolled at HRCA, a rising 2nd grader, a rising 1st, and their third girl just joining Haw River in the JK program. Michael has been involved in a wide variety of positions, with the early part of his career focusing on software and technology, and then pivoting into hardware for his current position as President of a large manufacturer. Whether it is helping with summer camps, providing IT support, or almost being useful in the annual parent/student basketball game, Michael and Brittany have been happy to contribute to HRCA and everything that it stands for, since enrolling in 2019.
Chris Pallen, Member
Chris and his wife Kristi, along with their rising 6th grade son and rising 10th grade daughter, joined Haw River Christian Academy three years ago. They have brought passion and commitment to classical Christian education in addition to helping build other programs through their volunteer efforts. Chris brings a wealth of global tax, finance, and non-profit specific experience to the Board. Chris holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, a Master’s degree in Taxation, and is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in both North Carolina and Ohio. Chris has worked for some of the largest fortune 500 companies and is currently the manager of Global Taxes for a large Health Care company here in N.C.
