President
John and his wife, Julie, both grew up in Maryland but have lived in Wheaton since they got married in 1997. John studied business at Wheaton College and has worked in the Exchange Traded Fund business for most of his career. Seeking an alternative to public schools, the Southards were introduced to Clapham School during its infancy, sending their children when its doors opened in 2006. Four of their five children attended through 8th grade, and their youngest daughter graduated from Clapham School in 2021.
Secretary
Rachel earned a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Ball State University, and has been a full-time mom and house manager for the last 14 years. Her passion for an excellent education for her children brought her family to Clapham School in 2015. Rachel, her husband Aaron and their four boys attend St John Lutheran Church where she participates in Women’s Bible study, teaches Sunday school, makes meals for home bound members, and also leads a summer book club for kids. Rachel volunteers at a crisis pregnancy center, chaperones school field trips and enjoys cooking for her family and friends.
Treasurer
Heinrich and his wife Heidi grew up in a small town one hour south of Johannesburg, South Africa. After high school, Heinrich completed a degree in accounting and moved to the Chicago area in 1997, where he worked for Deloitte Consulting. The Johnsens have three children, all of whom have attended Clapham School, their eldest son having graduated from Clapham in 2021. Heinrich currently serves on the elder board at College Church in Wheaton, and as president and owner of Christian Art Gifts.
Jeremiah is President & CEO of PanoScape Holdings. A graduate of DePaul University, Jeremiah is an Oak Park native and pizza aficionado. He and his family reside in Wheaton and attend College Church.
Elise graduated from Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Elementary Education. She quickly found the joy of learning through the method of Charlotte Mason when joining the teaching staff at Clapham School where she taught and worked in administration for a total of seven years. She also taught at Ambleside Schools of Colorado where she was able to further her training in Charlotte Mason. She is currently in the Master Teacher Training Program with Ambleside Schools international to more fully implement the model and train others. She currently provides educational consulting to several families across the country and lives with her husband and two children in the Richmond area of Virginia.
Matt is an assistant general counsel at First Trust Portfolios L.P., where his practice focuses on investment management. He received his B.A. in philosophy and political science from Wheaton College and his J.D. from Loyola University School of Law. Matt also holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designations.
Matt and his wife, Liz, have four children at Clapham. Matt is passionate about the mission of Clapham School because of the unique nature of its educational framework - Clapham develops a child's ability to think critically and communicate effectively while fostering a love of life-long learning. Strong character development and a solid Christian worldview set Clapham apart. Matt has seen this fruit cultivated in his own children and cares deeply about continuing to uphold this standard of excellence within the school. It is a blessing to be a part of furthering Christ's Kingdom through Clapham School.
Matt and his family reside in Wheaton and attend College Church. In his free time, you can find Matt running the prairie path or on the golf course with his kids.
Lance and his wife, Kylie, have been married for sixteen years and they have three children. All of their children are currently enrolled in Clapham School and their family has been associated with the school since 2012. Lance and his family have been attending Grace Church of DuPage for over 20 years where he has been serving as a deacon since 2010. Lance is currently employed at First Trust Advisors where he has been a Portfolio Manager for the past sixteen years.
On Lance's commitment to the mission of Clapham School, he writes, "Conveying God's goodness, beauty, and truth are essential elements to the instruction and education of all people. Clapham School aids in meeting this need within our community."
Executive Advisor
Charles T. (Chuck) Evans has been involved in Christian school leadership since 1996. The founding head of a classical Christian school in Virginia, he concluded his full time head of school roles at Regents School of Austin, Texas. Since 2006, Chuck has advised Christian schools and school organizations in the U.S. and Canada. He is the Senior Partner at BetterSchools LLC, which provides counsel on strategic and financial planning, governance and leadership development, and interim leadership. Chuck was instrumental in the founding of the Society of Classical Learning (SCL); serving as an early conference organizer, secretary, and president; and he was a founder of the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA) and a member of the board in CESA’s first three years.
Clapham School
123 N Scott St, Wheaton, IL
Phone: 630-547-5125
Email: info@claphamschool.org
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