HCES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff for the Florida Division of Bond Finance
Alexis currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the Florida Division of Bond Finance. The division is the state entity charged with issuing bonds for or on behalf of Florida state agencies and authorities. Prior to her role with the division, Alexis served as Chief of Staff at the Florida Department of Health where she was part of the Executive Management Team directing the day-to-day activities and planning for the department and approximately 15,000 employees statewide. She previously served as Communications Director for both the Department of Children and Families and Florida's Chief Financial Officer. She has served as the lead spokesperson for several state agencies including the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the predecessor agencies to the Department of Economic Opportunity. Alexis was the PA President for the 2021-2022 school year. She and her husband Matt have two daughters in lower school at HCES, Georgia and Evelyn. Alexis is a Tallahassee native, HCES alumni and has a bachelor's degree in communications from Mercer University.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees
- Professional Event Planner
Brandi Brown is a professional event planner and recovering political aide. In addition to serving on gubernatorial and presidential campaigns and in the Florida governor's office, Brandi also founded an event planning company that served the Tallahassee community for 10 years. She now serves as Director of External Affairs at the Foundation for Excellence in Education, a national non-profit focused on state education policy. Brandi is a native Floridian and proud alumna of Florida State University. She and her husband, Steve, have twin boys, Day and Ford, and a rescue dog, Mellie. They attend City Church of Tallahassee.
A skilled entrepreneur with a passion for people, Mr. Crawford helps unlock authenticity in the earth. He weaves his experience as a father, athlete, entrepreneur and pastor to evoke new ideas and perspectives and inspires, builds and leads organizations designed to facilitate empowering and diverse cultures. Guided by the fundamental belief that we are all given a purpose in life, he inspires purpose across people, spaces, places and time in a way that shifts the very constructs of latent and complacent systems. He is the CEO/Founder of New Rules Collective, a company that exist to come alongside clients, discover the purpose of their organization, develop the strategies needed to execute their purpose, and deploy tactics to carry out authentic values and culture shifting methodology to the world around them. Throughout his career, he has undertaken numerous startups. In 2007, he founded Gamespeed Basketball, a high-level skill development company, which sold in 2018. He also founded Gamespeed Nation, a non-profit that provided a world-class basketball training academy for the youth in underdeveloped areas. Additionally, he is the founder and Pastor of Engage Church, a 7 year-old church, which is in the top 5% of growing churches in the nation. Adrian and his wife, Wendy, are parents of two daughters, Brooklyn who graduated from HCES and Peyten who is in middle school.
Job Titles:
- Director of Buildings and Grounds
Chris is the founder of a Tallahassee-based consulting and publishing firm that serves international identity and security clients. Chris has a master's degree in information technology marketing and completed doctoral studies in mass communication at Florida State University. Chris played tennis for Florida State and remains an active player today. A publishing and journalism background complements Chris's 30-year career in identity and security technology. He has participated in the U.S. move to security technology from numerous angles - as a vendor marketing the technologies, an analyst advising organizations on their utilization, and a publisher covering the industry. Extensive work with issuers and developers of smart card and security products led to the formation of AVISIAN Inc. in the late 90s. Through AVISIAN's consulting arm, he works with government agencies, universities, financial institutions, and corporations. Clients include the Department of Defense, Chase Bank, Harvard University, and dozens of institutions large and small. His company's publishing division serves more than 30,000 global subscribers via leading security industry titles such as SecureIDNews and CR80News.
He met his wife Beth at Florida State and they have been married for 25 years. They have a twelve-year-old daughter Stella who is in the seventh grade at HCES. The family enjoys travel, outdoor pursuits, community outreach, and a growing involvement with Holy Comforter Episcopal Church.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Professor at Florida State University College of Law
Darby Kerrigan Scott is a Clinical Professor at Florida State University College of Law, where she directs the Immigration and Farmworker Project and the COVID-19 Veterans Legal Clinic within the Public Interest Law Center. She serves as Co-Chair of Leadership Tallahassee 2.0 Journey to Racial Justice. She served as the 2019-2020 Chair of the Tallahassee-Leon County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. She previously served on the Board of Directors of PACE Center for Girls (Leon County), the Young Lawyers Section of the Tallahassee Bar Association, and the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC). She is a proud member of Leadership Tallahassee Class 33 - the most social class ever! Darby and her husband Robert have a daughter and son who attend HCES.
Frank Fincham, Ph.D. obtained a doctoral degree in social psychology while a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. He then completed postdoctoral training in clinical psychology at Stony Brook University before assuming a position as assistant professor at University of Illinois where he ultimately became professor and Director of Clinical Training. He was SUNY Distinguished Professor at University at Buffalo before assuming his current position as Eminent Scholar at Florida State University. The author of over 350 publications his research has been widely recognized by numerous awards, including the Ernest Burgess Award for "Continuous and meritorious contributions to theory and research" from the National Council for Family Relations and the President's Award for "Distinguished contributions to psychological knowledge" from the British Psychological Society. A Fellow of six different professional societies, Fincham has been listed among the top 25 psychologists in the world in terms of impact (defined as number of citations per paper).
Dustin Blevins is an audit, risk, and compliance professional with almost 20 years of industry experience. He is currently an Associate Director for CrossCountry Consulting in their Risk and Compliance practice. Dustin serves T-Mobile in the design and implementation of their future state risk and control environment as part of the largest digital transformation in US history. In addition, he provides regulatory compliance expertise to the financial services industry and leads the firm's development of go to market strategies for risk and regulatory compliance transformation service offerings. Dustin and his wife Katie Blevins have been married for 9 years, and they have 3 sons, William, Wyatt, and Weston. Dustin is a graduate of Florida State University, and the Blevins moved to Tallahassee from Tampa in 2021. William and Wyatt currently attend HCES and are in Kindergarten and PK-3 respectively.
Job Titles:
- Director of Annual GIving and Special Events
Job Titles:
- Assistant to Middle School Head
Gail Knight, along with her husband Bob, built and grew the largest event photography company in the world after meeting at FSU in 1979. The Knights led Bob Knight Photography, now Iconic Group, through several decades of growth and prosperity, and employed tens of thousands of FSU students as part-time photographers, sales people, and office staff along the way. The Knights successfully sold their interest in Iconic Group in 2018 and have chronicled their decades-long journey in a book titled, "Married To It: How an Entrepreneurial Couple Built a Photography Empire by Investing in Their Customers, Staff and Each Other," which is available in hardback or audiobook on Amazon. Gail is a previous 2-term HCES board chair and served during the most recent Head of School transition ushering in Peter Klekamp in 2011. Gail and her husband, Bob, have three sons, all of whom graduated from HCES. Their sons, Tim, Danny, and Tommy successfully completed undergraduate programs and Tommy also completed a master's program.
Heath Miller was born and raised in Tallahassee. He attended Stetson University where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He currently owns and serves as President of Miller's Plumbing and Mechanical Inc., a commercial sub-contracting business with a focus on healthcare, laboratory, government, and education facilities. Heath and his wife Jenny have three sons: Hunter, Mach, and Archer. all who currently attend HCES.
Jane Aurell Menton is a community volunteer in Tallahassee, with primary interests in education, cultural arts, and historic preservation. She has enjoyed involvements with Leadership Tallahassee, Friends of Florida History, The Collins Institute, Holy Comforter School, Maclay School, and St. John's Church. She previously worked as a Cabinet Aide to former Education Commissioner Betty Castor, artist representative for W. Stanley Proctor, and as the Director of Development at Holy Comforter School. Jane is also the published author of The Grove: A Florida Home through Seven Generations. She received her AB from Davidson College and her EdM from Harvard University. Jane is married to attorney Steve Menton is the mother of three adult children: Jane Darby, Caroline, and John.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Director of HR and Assistant
Director of HR and Assistant to the Head of School
jparrish@hces.org
Kathryn will be the PA President for the 2024-2025 school year. She and her husband, John, have two daughters at HCES, Piper in 2nd grade and Tensley in PK4. Currently serving as the Director of Financial Reviews at CN Resource, as well as, the Chief Operating Officer of TCB Consulting, Kathryn is recognized for her expertise in developing review processes, recruiting top talent, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. With a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Florida State University and extensive professional training in procurement and financial management, she brings a strategic mindset and meticulous attention to detail to her role. Kathryn's leadership extends beyond the workplace, as evidenced by her active involvement in various professional associations and community organizations.
Kelly was the PA President for the 2022-2023 school year. She and her husband, Greg, have two children at HCES, Kenzie in 4th grade and Tucker in PK4. After attending college in Tallahassee, Kelly and her husband moved to Daytona Beach where she worked as a Paralegal for 8 years. In 2013, Kelly and her family were given the opportunity to return to Tallahassee and raise their family in this wonderful community. Kelly enjoys spending time with her husband, their two children and friends. She is so grateful to be a stay-at-home mom which has provided her with the ability to be very involved at HCES with the Parents Association. She loves being able to give her time at the school as there isn't a better community of students, teachers, staff and parents than the one at HCES.
Job Titles:
- Assistant to the Lower School Head
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of the Florida Education Foundation
Lindsey Zander currently serves as the Executive Director of the Florida Education Foundation which is the direct support organization for the Florida Department of Education (DOE).
Logan Mitchell McFaddin is a fifth generation Floridian, born and raised in Tallahassee. She attended first through fifth grades at Holy Comforter Episcopal School from 1984-1989, graduating high school from Maclay in 1996. She then attended Florida State University, graduating in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, and a minor in British Studies. Logan began her professional career as a Library Services Specialist with the Leon County Public Library System. In 2006 she shifted to state government, serving both as the Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs and Budget Manager for the Florida Department of State under former Governors Charlie Crist and Jeb Bush. Logan went on to serve as the Director of Legislative Affairs under both Governor Charlie Crist and Governor Rick Scott for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. She then served Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jeff Atwater as his Director of Legislative Affairs for over three years. Logan joined the American Property Casualty Insurers Association (APCIA) in December of 2014 as the Vice President for State Government Relations and covers property casualty legislative and regulatory efforts for Florida, Alabama, and Puerto Rico. Logan has also served as Florida's CFO appointment to the Florida Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association Board of Governors since 2018. Logan and her husband James reside in Tallahassee.
Job Titles:
- Accounting Assistant
- Finance
Job Titles:
- Director of Admissions
- Director of Admission
Job Titles:
- Director of Early Learning
Peter is the 7th of eight children so he is right at home in "controlled chaos"!
Randi was the PA President for the 2023-2024 school year. She and her husband, Andrew, have two daughters at HCES, Carlin in 3rd grade and Ellie in Kindergarten. After graduating from The George Washington University in Washington, DC, she moved back to her home state of Florida to pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology. In 2010, Randi moved to Tallahassee to work at Florida State University where she served as a clinical psychologist and Outreach Director for the diverse student population. She left FSU to start a private practice in 2015 where her focus has been on building resilience and enhancing well-being for college students and adults. Randi was honored to serve on the Florida Board of Psychology for the past eight years where she acted as Chair for the past two years. She has thoroughly enjoyed getting more involved at HCES.
Job Titles:
- Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Florida State University
Richard Wager, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Florida State University and holds the W. Russell and Eugenia Morcom Chair in the College of Arts and Sciences. He is also an associate director of the Florida Center for Reading Research (FRCC). He earned a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Yale University, a Master's Degree in School Psychology and a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Akron. His directs an NICHD Multidisciplinary Learning Disabilities Center at the Florida Center for Reading Research.
Rohan Joseph, MD is a board-certified General and Bariatric Surgeon caring for patients in the greater Tallahassee, Florida area. Dr. Joseph graduated medical school with honors at the University of Mumbai in Mumbai, India, and then completed a research fellowship at the Catholic University of America where he studied the molecular mechanism of alcoholic liver disease. He then completed a seven-year general surgery residency at the Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. During his residency, he completed a two-year research fellowship at the Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation and Education (MITIE) where he focused on developing curricula in surgical education, training and simulation. Dr. Joseph has presented his work at several local and national meetings and has also published textbook chapters in the field of gastrointestinal and endocrine surgery in partnership with his mentors. He believes in excellence in all aspects of surgical care and desires to treat every patient with respect and compassion. Dr. Joseph and his wife Beth have two children at HCES, Zachary in third grade and Zoe in first grade.
From the moment we stepped on campus, we could feel your mission and your sense of call. One of the highest compliments we can give is that every one of us with children came out the the classrooms saying, ‘Gosh, we wish our children could go here.' It's the type of teaching, the methodology, the nurturing environment, the caring and that's a high compliment. If we want our students here, then all students should be here.
Tom is a financial advisor with twenty years of experience, specializing in retirement planning. He is a longtime youth sports coach, current member of Bradfordville Kiwanis and the Leon High School Foundation. Tom started the All-Pro Dad's program at Florida High in 2013. He is married to Rebecca Harper Dennig and has one a son in sixth grade at HCES and a daughter at Leon High School, who graduated from HCES in 2018.
Patricia (Tricia) Culbertson was born in Tallahassee, has lived in several places in Florida, and returned to attend Florida State University. She holds a BA in Criminal Justice and Masters in Social Work, and worked primarily in developing public policy and community programs for persons impacted by mental health issues. A member of Holy Comforter for much of her adult life, she is currently serving as the Senior Warden, and functions as the liaison to the ministries under the Spiritual Lie Commission. Graham and Rhea, her two children, both attended Holy Comforter lower school.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing and Communications