ACA is owned and operated by the Airdrie Christian Academy Society (ACAS). The ACAS School Board is elected by society members and is currently made up of parents within our school body. The role of the ACAS Board is:
The Board ensures that key policies (admissions, hiring, and finance) are adhered to while the Principal and President are responsible to supervise daily operations. They work on behalf of the society members to enhance the educational experience of our students.
- setting policy, providing the necessary financial, personnel, and facilities resources;
- promoting the school to the public; admitting new families to the school;
- and evaluating the program and administration.
The Board ensures that key policies (admissions, hiring, and finance) are adhered to while the Principal and President are responsible to supervise daily operations. They work on behalf of the society members to enhance the educational experience of our students.
Board Mission and Rule:
To ensure that resources are in place to provide our children with a Christian education delivered through Godly men and women.
The board exists to serve ACA's mission statement by providing governance to operations, planning and preparing for the future, and by protecting and strengthening its resources.
The board exists to serve ACA's mission statement by providing governance to operations, planning and preparing for the future, and by protecting and strengthening its resources.
Officers of the Board
GERALD ANDRES
Chairman
Gerald and his wife, Esther, have four kids. Ainsley is in Grade 6, Reid in Grade 4, Everett is in Kindergarten, and their daughter, Sylvie (3 years old) is still at home. Esther is an alumnus of AKCS and their kids started attending ACA in 2017. Gerald holds a Bachelor of Biblical Studies from Millar College of the Bible (2003). His experience there solidified his passion for God’s Word and the significant role biblical education plays in rooting the believer in truth. After Bible college, Gerald went on to earn a Petroleum Engineering Technical Diploma (SAIT, 2005) and a Bachelor of Science in Oil & Gas Engineering Degree (U of C, 2014). He has over 18 years of experience in the Alberta energy industry and has enjoyed a broad range of work experience with focuses on technical problem solving, field operations, economic evaluations, risk management and strategic planning. Gerald has 13 years of experience serving on Christian Education school boards and started serving on the ACA Board of Directors in 2019. Outside of work and school, he enjoys activities with his family, hiking, snowboarding, and motorcycles.
JON DURAND
Vice Chair
Jonathan and his wife, Alayne, have three children, all of whom attend or attended ACA. Brody (Graduated 2021), Harrison (Grade 12) and Grace (Grade 8). In line with his passion for “all things sports”, Jonathan is the ACA Senior High Boys’ Basketball Coach and led the team to the first basketball provincial tournament appearance in ACA history . His wife, Alayne, also serves as a parent volunteer and coach as well. The Durand’s both work for Beddington Pentecostal Church (BP) in Calgary where Jonathan is the Facility Manager / Coordinator as well as the Men's Ministry Pastor. Alayne serves there as the Family ministries Pastor. Their family has attended BP Church since 2008. Jonathan also serves as the board chair of the Agape Language Centre in Calgary.
GLENN HESLOP
Treasurer
Glenn’s involvement with (then Airdrie Koinonia Christian School) began in about 1999 when his oldest daughter, Jacquie, started Kindergarten and four years later his son, Ben. Ben attended until Grade 3 and Jacquie until Grade 7 after which they left the school to travel on a sailboat. Glenn’s wife, Angela, has been working in the classroom as an Educational Assistant for 7 years. Glenn and Angela have a blended family, including seven children ranging in age from 14 to 26. Three of their children (Ben, Cassi and Anissa) have graduated from AKCS/ACA and three are still attending (Max in Grade 8, Spencer in Grade 9 and Mitchell in Grade 12). Glenn and Angela attend Centre Street Church with their family.
Glenn has always been fascinated with sailboats, motorcycles and travel. In some of his travels, Glenn has served as an itinerant evangelist. Glenn has long been involved in business, new home building, commercial construction management, flipping houses and managing a real estate investment group. The past seven years, Glenn has been working as a Realtor.
Glenn and his wife Angela feel very strongly that our children must be taught the Christian faith as they grow and are educated. This school has been an excellent opportunity to assist us in our roles as Christian parents. ACA helps us teach our faith to our children and provide valuable Christian fellowship and faithful Christian examples.
Glenn has always been fascinated with sailboats, motorcycles and travel. In some of his travels, Glenn has served as an itinerant evangelist. Glenn has long been involved in business, new home building, commercial construction management, flipping houses and managing a real estate investment group. The past seven years, Glenn has been working as a Realtor.
Glenn and his wife Angela feel very strongly that our children must be taught the Christian faith as they grow and are educated. This school has been an excellent opportunity to assist us in our roles as Christian parents. ACA helps us teach our faith to our children and provide valuable Christian fellowship and faithful Christian examples.
Tabitha Kilfillen
Secretary
Tabitha and her husband David have two children, Tyler (Grade 12) and Travis (Grade 10). They joined the ACA family in 2017 after moving to Airdrie. Tabitha’s passion for Christian education has only grown as her children begin to face and navigate life’s challenges and is thankful for the role that ACA is playing in helping her and David equip their boys to be salt and light.
Tabitha has been serving on the ACA Board of Directors since 2020 and as Board Secretary for 2 years. Along with her family, Tabitha has also been on an exciting adventure planting Hope Church YYC in NE Calgary. She has been serving on the Hope Church Board for the past year as well co-leading their Building HOPE fundraising campaign.
Tabitha, a Registered Pharmacy Technician, has been a Patient Support Program Coordinator for over 9 years and recently stepped into a training role on her company’s national team. She enjoys helping people and is happy to put her organizational skills to work. She spends her free time travelling, camping and trying new things with her family and friends as well as cheering on her boys at taekwondo.
Tabitha has been serving on the ACA Board of Directors since 2020 and as Board Secretary for 2 years. Along with her family, Tabitha has also been on an exciting adventure planting Hope Church YYC in NE Calgary. She has been serving on the Hope Church Board for the past year as well co-leading their Building HOPE fundraising campaign.
Tabitha, a Registered Pharmacy Technician, has been a Patient Support Program Coordinator for over 9 years and recently stepped into a training role on her company’s national team. She enjoys helping people and is happy to put her organizational skills to work. She spends her free time travelling, camping and trying new things with her family and friends as well as cheering on her boys at taekwondo.
Board Members
MIKE CROFTS
Director
Mike Crofts is a new(er) resident of Airdrie, Alberta, having moved here at the end of 2021 from Ontario with his wife Steph, daughters Rhyen (age 9, Grade 4), Jamie (age 7, Grade 2) and Lenni (age 5, JK). His mother, Sheryl, moved along with the family to create a wonderful multi-generational home environment. The family is currently attending Kingdom City, and enjoying getting to know the wonderful community that Airdrie has to offer.
Mike spent many years as a professional musician touring the world with various Christian music artists as a guitarist. It was a fun adventure, but the best adventure came when they decided to grow their family. After having children, Mike decided to pursue a greater passion, helping people get out of debt and build wealth. Mike is the CEO of Salty Group, a financial coaching business, helping Canadians get out of debt and build wealth, so that they can live in the promises that God has for their lives.
Mike enjoys living close to the mountains, to continue learning the art of snowboarding. He also enjoys surfing and paddle-boarding and hopping around all the fun parks in Airdrie on the scooters with the family.
Mike spent many years as a professional musician touring the world with various Christian music artists as a guitarist. It was a fun adventure, but the best adventure came when they decided to grow their family. After having children, Mike decided to pursue a greater passion, helping people get out of debt and build wealth. Mike is the CEO of Salty Group, a financial coaching business, helping Canadians get out of debt and build wealth, so that they can live in the promises that God has for their lives.
Mike enjoys living close to the mountains, to continue learning the art of snowboarding. He also enjoys surfing and paddle-boarding and hopping around all the fun parks in Airdrie on the scooters with the family.
DENNIS HEPPNER
Director
Dennis Heppner is a pastor and missionary to Asia who has been married for 53 years to Denie Heppner. They have 4 adult children, 12 grandchildren, and one 15-year-old daughter at home who has been attending ACA for the past 3 years.
Dennis was born and raised in Winnipeg. In 1967 he moved to Calgary where he trained as a journeyman in auto mechanics from SAIT. The call of God came to Dennis and his young wife Denie, and they began full time Ministry in 1972. Eventually, after 15 years of pastoring three churches in Canada, they moved along with their four children to the Philippines in 1987 to do missions.
In 2017, Dennis and Denie and their adopted Filipino daughter Emma returned to Canada and set up a residence. However, Dennis is still traveling regularly back to Asia and continues to serve as the founding pastor and senior consultant for the Beginnings Church movement in the Philippines.
Dennis has served in church leadership in Asia, supervising 3,500 churches and regional leaders. In 1990, he and Denie founded a humanitarian organization called “Gentle Hands” (gentlehandsorphanages.com) which is currently a large orphanage run by their daughter Charity in the Philippines.
Dennis was born and raised in Winnipeg. In 1967 he moved to Calgary where he trained as a journeyman in auto mechanics from SAIT. The call of God came to Dennis and his young wife Denie, and they began full time Ministry in 1972. Eventually, after 15 years of pastoring three churches in Canada, they moved along with their four children to the Philippines in 1987 to do missions.
In 2017, Dennis and Denie and their adopted Filipino daughter Emma returned to Canada and set up a residence. However, Dennis is still traveling regularly back to Asia and continues to serve as the founding pastor and senior consultant for the Beginnings Church movement in the Philippines.
Dennis has served in church leadership in Asia, supervising 3,500 churches and regional leaders. In 1990, he and Denie founded a humanitarian organization called “Gentle Hands” (gentlehandsorphanages.com) which is currently a large orphanage run by their daughter Charity in the Philippines.
OKE OKUMO
Policy Committee
Oke was born in Nigeria 49 years ago. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Engineering, and has been in the IT discipline since 1994, specializing in managing cybersecurity projects. Oke moved to Canada in 2008, and has been with the ACA family since then. He has three kids, who are in ACA, currently in Grades 12, 8 and 6.
Oke worships with the King's Court Church, Airdrie.
Oke worships with the King's Court Church, Airdrie.
BRIAN OLDRIDGE
Nominating Committee
Brian Oldridge became involved with Christian education as a part time student teacher and student coach when he worked at the Carstairs Koinonia Christian School. His oldest daughter, Lavina started kindergarten in 1994 at Airdrie Koinonia Christian School and all of their children, Lavina, Andrew, Joshua and Aleta, attended and graduated from AKCS/ACA with Aleta finishing in 2019. Brian has been very involved with many projects at the school including sound, building and maintenance, school trips, water sports physical education as well as planning and serving on the school’s mission trips. Brian’s wife, Valita, is also very involved with the school, especially since 2016 when she was asked to teach piano in the school, as well as being the accompanist for the school choir since 2010.
Brian has been involved on the KCES, Koinonia Christian Education Society, board for 7 years as well as various church boards over the years. Brian has one year of bible college with sound engineering training and then completed his Computer Engineering Technology at STI. He and his family currently are members and attend Kingdom City Alliance church in Airdrie since 1999. He has owned and run his network and security contracting business for 35 years, been the manager of infrastructure services for other businesses as well as teaching and working in sound/lighting design and operations. Brian has a heart for Biblical Christian Education and strongly believes that our children need the opportunity to learn true biblical teachings and make them their own so that they can shine their light to the world and fulfill Christ’s purpose for their lives.
Brian has been involved on the KCES, Koinonia Christian Education Society, board for 7 years as well as various church boards over the years. Brian has one year of bible college with sound engineering training and then completed his Computer Engineering Technology at STI. He and his family currently are members and attend Kingdom City Alliance church in Airdrie since 1999. He has owned and run his network and security contracting business for 35 years, been the manager of infrastructure services for other businesses as well as teaching and working in sound/lighting design and operations. Brian has a heart for Biblical Christian Education and strongly believes that our children need the opportunity to learn true biblical teachings and make them their own so that they can shine their light to the world and fulfill Christ’s purpose for their lives.