Leadership & Board

Josh Michael grew up in Maryland and attended a Christian school throughout his elementary and secondary education. He graduated from Cedarville University in 1999 and returned to Ohio to work at Cedarville after working in higher education in Pennsylvania. Currently serving as Dean of Library Services at the university, he has degrees in history, divinity, and library science.

He and his wife Caren have four boys who have attended LCA — Tommy (LCA class of 2024), Sam (LCA class of 2026), Nate (LCA class of 2026), and Ethan (LCA class of 2028). They have been part of the LCA community since the 2014–15 school year and their boys have participated in athletics and drama.

Jared Holloway has a strong background in business. He previously was an executive in the oil industry managing supply contracts and hedging, and then served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Xenia. He currently spends his days at Strausburg Nursery, a wholesale grower that cultivates a diverse selection of trees and shrubs for sale across the country. He earned his MBA from Cedarville University in 2016, and his Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from Wright State University in 2014.

Jared also serves on the board of the Xenia Community Improvement Corporation, and as a Deacon and Treasurer at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Xenia. He is an alumnus of Xenia Christian High School, graduating in 2011 after attending preschool through graduation. He and his wife, Hillary, reside in Xenia with their four children, two of whom currently attend Legacy Christian Academy.

Mrs. Durrell was born and raised in Germany where she received her degree in Paralegal Studies. While still in Germany, she worked at a general practice law firm providing legal support to four attorneys. Upon moving to the U.S., she embarked on a journey to learn the American legal system from the ground up, starting in the International Law Department of a major Boston law firm.

Her husband's career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, which required frequent moves around the country as well as to Japan, enabled her to work as a paralegal in various law firms and legal specialties for well over 20 years. Mrs. Durrell has been married to her husband, Mark, for 36 years and has two children, Stefan and Jasmine (Jazzy), who graduated from LCA in May 2024. She enjoys exploring God's beautiful creation with her husband in their RV. She is actively engaged in her local church as a First Grade Sunday School teacher and small group leader, and is passionate about volunteering her time at LCA.

Mr. Shank received a BA in education at Cedarville University and an M.Ed. in educational administration at Wright State University. He has enjoyed 36 years of teaching and administration in public school districts in Clark and Greene counties. He also taught some post-high school classes at two area community colleges.

Now retired, Mr. and Mrs. Shank enjoy time with their three adult children and six grandchildren — four of whom attend Legacy. They are avid RVers, enjoying camping especially in Florida and the beautiful American West. Always an educator, Mr. Shank feels blessed to work with the team at Legacy as we see God working in so many ways.

Alison Allport was raised in Alaska, where her education included home school, private Christian school, and secondary public school before moving to Ohio to attend Cedarville University. There she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communications and met her husband, Brian. She pursued a Master of Science in Community Counseling from Wright State University, which led to licensure as a Professional Clinical Counselor.

Her professional experience includes working in foster care, school settings, churches, and community mental health organizations as a counselor, as well as additional education to become a supervisor for other aspiring counselors. She has worked as a therapist for four years in Cedarville University's Counseling Services.

Alison's husband, Brian, is a '98 graduate of Xenia Christian School, and they have been connected through coaching basketball and volleyball at XC/LCA since 2001. Alison and Brian have three daughters, Alayna (class of '24), Autumn (class of '27) and Avery (class of '32), and a bonus daughter from Costa Rica, Samantha Vargas (class of '24). Most of the time they can be found in the gym or on the soccer field cheering for LCA.

Rev. Arendale has served as the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Beavercreek, Ohio since 2020. Pastor Arendale has served in pastoral ministry in a variety of contexts and finds his great joy in opening the Scriptures and setting forth our all-sufficient Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Pastor Arendale was born and raised in Nashville, TN, and has spent time in North Carolina and Texas, before being led to Ohio.

He is married to Christy, whom he met at Baylor University. The Lord has blessed the Arendales with three children, Elizabeth, Hudson, and Johnny, each of whom attends LCA. They love the Christ-centered focus of the LCA curriculum and the Spirit-filled community of the school.

Joshua Arthur was born and raised in Chennai, India, where he attended Madras Christian School. He studied occupational therapy at Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore, India. Josh immigrated to the United States in 1995 for work, and he became a United States citizen in 2001. He and his wife Jemi, whom he met at Christian Medical College, have been married for 29 years. Jemi is a physical therapist currently working in both school and hospital settings. The Lord has blessed Josh and Jemi with five children — Jessica, Joanna (class of '23), John (class of '24), Joseph (class of '28), and Joel (class of '32).

Josh's professional experience includes working as an occupational therapist in skilled nursing homes, hospital settings, and school settings. He is currently working with children who have special needs. Josh is dedicated to serving in his local church body, Fairborn Christian Fellowship, the first church he attended when he immigrated to the U.S.

Rick Carrington grew up in southern Ohio and attended public schools in the region. He earned his undergraduate degree in education from the University of Rio Grande and later completed his master's degree in educational administration at the University of Dayton. His career in education includes teaching, coaching, and serving as both a principal and superintendent in the Bloom-Vernon School District in South Webster, Ohio. He also worked as a school improvement consultant with the Region 15 State Support Team.

Now retired, Rick and his wife, Melinda, moved to Xenia to be closer to family. They have two adult sons and six grandchildren, and they especially enjoy spending time together as a family.

Luke Comers grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where he was homeschooled through junior high. He then attended and graduated from a private Christian high school. Luke earned degrees in Youth Ministry and Christian Education from Cedarville University, with a focus on Sports Ministries and an internship at Athletes in Action.

After graduation, Luke discovered his passion for marketing and corporate training. He currently works as a Marketing Product Manager in Kettering, Ohio. Luke's wife, Katie, also graduated from Cedarville University with a degree in Nursing. They have three children: Elias (class of '34), Adaline (class of '36), and Judah (class of '39). In his free time, Luke enjoys traveling, playing volleyball, and coaching his children's soccer teams at the local YMCA.

Dr. Mark Covel serves as the Missional Church Director for ECWA USA (Evangelical Church Winning All) and a Church Planting Catalyst with Cru Church Movements. He is the Guiding Team Leader for the African Diaspora Church Planting Network. Locally, he leads an ECWA prayer group in Xenia that seeks to share their faith, to be a blessing to immigrants, and to study the Scriptures together. He was ordained as a minister by ECWA in 2007. Mark holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Moody Theological Seminary, and Saginaw Valley State University.

Originally from Michigan, he now resides near Xenia, Ohio with his wife and children, all of whom attend Legacy Christian Academy. Mark facilitates Dads in Prayer at LCA and volunteers with the Legacy Knights Numismatic Society. The Covels enjoy their home in the woods, where they dabble with gardening, enjoy the creek behind the house, and play strategy board games together. Fun fact: Mark was a background extra in The Chosen Season 5.

Kristen has been in the finance industry for 10 years in multiple roles, including business banking, private banking, fiduciary services, and risk management. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with a statistics concentration from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Kristen and her husband Daniel have been married for 14 years and have been blessed with two children: Jude (in Kindergarten at LCA) and Emmet, who is looking forward to joining his brother at LCA in a few years. Kristen has traveled the world, growing up in an Air Force home and subsequently marrying an Air Force man. In her spare time, Kristen enjoys baking, sewing, and working on home projects. She is about 25% of the way through a personal journey to hand-write the Bible in its entirety.

Dr. Nickerson has been privileged to learn, teach, and lead in Christian school environments throughout his life where the central importance of a thoroughly Christ-permeated faculty, curriculum, and community has been essential. After being homeschooled through most of his elementary and middle school years, Dr. Nickerson graduated from a Christian high school in South Carolina. A highlight of his high school experience was spending a year abroad in mainland China as an exchange student.

Following high school, he earned two degrees at Cedarville University: a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Master of Education with a concentration in educational administration. Dr. Nickerson later earned a PhD in organizational leadership at Columbia International University, where his research focused on the academic influence of Christian school athletic coaches.

Professionally, Dr. Nickerson served as a secondary math and science teacher early in his career before shifting to school leadership roles. He considers himself a teacher at heart, and it is his prayer that the Holy Spirit uses each student's experience at Legacy to draw closer in their relationship to God. He has served as chief steward of the Legacy mission, Equipping Leaders for Christ, since the fall of 2021. The Lord has given Dr. Nickerson and his wife, Allison, two sons: Micah (LCA class of '26) and Judah (LCA class of '27).