Dr. Kathy Teston

Associate, Senior Consultant

Kathy began her career in education in Upper Marlboro, MD at Riverdale Baptist School as a fifth grade teacher. Subsequently, she and her husband moved to Virginia where she taught at Leesburg Christian School before they were part of a founding committee of Faith Christian School, teaching 5th-8th grades. In 1983, Mike and Kathy joined Pioneers and became missionary teachers in the Solomon Islands, also welcoming their first daughter. After moving back to the States, they lived in Naples, FL, where Mike pastored and Kathy taught at Naples Christian Academy. Twelve years later, God moved their family of five to the western Detroit area where Mike was an assistant pastor and Kathy taught at Plymouth Christian Academy.

Just two months before 9/11, the Testons moved to Northern Virginia for ministry roles and for Kathy to teach middle and high students at the school they founded in 1980. The following year, Kathy was named Head of School, her first entry point into administration. Although they loved living in the DC area, God opened two incredible opportunities for them in the north metro Atlanta area – Mike to serve at North Point Community Church and Kathy as K-8 Principal at Fellowship Christian School in Roswell, GA. In 2013, Kathy was named Head of School at Fellowship, serving that community the past twenty years.

While working as an administrator, Kathy earned both her MEd and her EdD from Liberty University. She enjoys being an adjunct professor at Gordon College in Wenham, MA as well as serving on the boards of Horizon Christian Academy in Cumming, GA and a new social media-based ministry (Heaven is True), connecting people to Jesus and helping them walk with Him. Mike and Kathy also enjoy speaking at cross-cultural marriage retreats and have done so on every continent except Antarctica (not on their bucket list).

Kathy’s experience with and belief in the Policy Governance model is further enhanced by over forty years in Christian ministry and education. She believes the richness of her journey enables her to provide unique support and perspective to schools, churches, and other non-profit organizations.

Kathy may be contacted at:

Kathy Teston, EdD
kathy@graybeal.org
(770) 344-7575

Stephen Novotny, J.D.

Special Advisor, Senior Consultant

Stephen Novotny has enjoyed a professional career as a school administrator, public policy advisor, lawyer, and organizational leader. He has served as Vice President for Public Policy & General Counsel for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), as Head of School for Cypress Christian School in Houston, TX., and as legal counsel for the largest of the Fortune 500 corporations as well as for private businesses and non-profit organizations.

Before his work in public policy, law, and education, Stephen served as a platoon leader in a U.S. Army mechanized infantry/armor division and was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for leadership.

Stephen holds a Juris Doctorate from Baylor University and a Bachelor of Science from Liberty University, where he received the distinction of being the institution’s Distinguished Military Graduate. He is licensed to practice law and is an active member of the Texas State Bar and the Washington State Bar.

Outside of work, Stephen enjoys spending time with his family, backpacking, and traveling. Stephen and his wife Rachel have two adult sons and live in Colorado Springs, CO.

Stephen’s focus at Graybeal & Associates, LLC is strategic planning and policy development, leadership consulting, governance training, and helping organizations safeguard their mission and religious freedom.

Stephen may be contacted at:

Stephen Novotny, J.D.
stephen.novotny@graybeal.org
(713) 304-4799

Dr. Marc Stout

Associate, Senior Consultant

Dr. Marc Stout has been involved with Christian schools for over 40 years. He grew up in Owensboro, KY and after high school enlisted in the US Air Force as an electronics technician. After his tour of duty, Dr. Stout began working at Rocky Bayou Christian School in Niceville, FL. He served there for 10 years. In 1989, Marc was asked to be the Headmaster of Westminster Christian Academy in Opelousas, LA. Marc and Pam, along with their growing family, lived in LA for seven years. Since that time, he has served as Head of School for three other schools and has been Head of School at Gaston Christian School in Gastonia, NC since 2010.

God has blessed Marc and Pam with 8 children and over two dozen grandchildren. As his theme of ministry, Dr. Stout frequently refers to II Tim. 2:2 which says, “and the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

Marc’s focus at Graybeal & Associates, LLC is Head of School Search and Executive Coaching.

Marc may be contacted at:

Marc Stout, Ed.D.
(704) 860-8570

Dr. Stephen Reel

Managing Member, Senior Consultant

Stephen Reel has served for over 35 years in Christian school ministry as a Bible teacher, administrator, principal and adjunct professor. His executive leadership positions included Associate Headmaster at Ben Lippen School in Columbia, SC, Superintendent at Southside Christian School in Simpsonville, SC, and Head of School at Mitchell Road Christian Academy in Greenville, SC. He also served as the Executive Vice President, Acting CEO for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Prior to his Christian school career, he served two tours of duty in the United States Marine Corps as an infantry sergeant, tactics and marksmanship instructor, and competition shooter.

Dr. Reel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Columbia Bible College, a Master of Education in educational administration from Columbia International University, and an Educational Specialist and Doctor of Philosophy in educational administration from the University of South Carolina.

Stephen is the author of Clear Focus: Rediscovering the Most Important Aspect of Christian School Ministry (2015) which has also been published in Indonesian, Portuguese, and Spanish. He and his wife and best friend of 40 years, Melanie, have three children and three granddaughters.

Stephen’s focus at Graybeal & Associates is Policy Governance training, Executive Search, Strategic Planning, Church/School Relationships, and Coaching.

Stephen may be contacted at:

Stephen Reel, Ph.D.
stephen@graybeal.org
(864) 380-1641

Dr. Sam Barfell

Associate, Senior Consultant

Sam Barfell was born and raised in Elkhart, Indiana, and is himself a product of Christian schooling.

After high school graduation from Elkhart Christian Academy in 1978, Sam received his teaching degree from Cornerstone University (Grand Rapids, MI) in 1982. Later, he then earned his Master’s degree in Christian school administration from Grace Seminary (Winona Lake, IN) in 1989. He completed his Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University (Fort Lauderdale, FL) in the spring of 2003.

He has served professionally in Christian schools since 1983. Eighteen of those years have been in administration, and two as Director of Development. Sam served for 11 years as the Superintendent of Liberty Christian School (Anderson, IN) and then 4 years as Superintendent of Blackhawk Christian School (Fort Wayne, IN). He served in that capacity until accepting the call to serve at the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) in 2007. After eight years at ACSI, Dr. Barfell returned to Christian school leadership as the Superintendent of Southside Christian School in Simpsonville, SC.

Dr. Barfell and his wife Jenni, have 3 adult children who also are all products of Christian schooling in both K-12 and college. Sam admits that Christian education is his passion. He loves to see kids commit their lives to Christ and make a difference for the Kingdom.

His focus at Graybeal & Associates, LLC is strategic planning, governance training, and coaching.

Sam may be contacted at:

Sam Barfell, Ed.D.
sam@graybeal.org
(864) 729-1229

Dr. Phil Graybeal

Founder / Advisor

Phil Graybeal has dedicated his life to transforming Christian school/ministry leadership worldwide. He served as a Christian school teacher for three years and Head of School for 22 years while earning a doctorate in Educational Leadership. Since starting Graybeal & Associates in 2001, he has traveled widely both nationally and internationally as a full-time consultant to non-profit organizations. His objective is to help create organizational environments that will increase the likelihood of the right people doing the right things in the right way at the right time for the right reasons so that the right results will be achieved for the glory of God.

While multiple services are offered, Dr. Graybeal’s primary emphasis is training boards of non-profits to understand and implement the Policy Governance® system of leadership. After successfully using Policy Governance® in the context of the 1,260-student private Christian school that he led, Graybeal felt compelled to tell others of the benefits of the model. He received the highest level of training offered directly by the model’s designer Dr. John Carver (www.policygovernance.com) and has been assisting non-profits (Christian schools, churches, missions agencies, para-church organizations) ever since with their pilgrimage toward governing excellence.

Graybeal served as a board member of the International Policy Governance® Association (now called www.governforimpact.org) for several years and has written governance-related articles that have been published in multiple nationwide journals.

Phil and his wife Elaine have three married children and 8 grandchildren. The Graybeal’s are active in church and community service.

Want more information on our Policy Governance® Implementation Training?

To learn more about our Policy Governance® implementation training, simply fill out the form below to download a guide with information on our training options.

About Graybeal & Associates

Transforming Christian school/ministry leadership since 2001.

Learn More

Dr. Phil Graybeal, after successfully implementing the Policy Governance® model of leadership at Southside Christian School in Simpsonville, SC, felt compelled to tell others about the model. He found the principles of the Policy Governance® model to be universally applicable and biblically consistent when used according to its design. In 2001, he began Graybeal & Associates to assist Christian schools, non-profit ministries, churches, and mission agencies around the world achieve transformative results for their organizations.

As we refined our approach, we have added highly trained and experienced members to the team and the list of services has expanded. Yet our focus remains the same—Transforming Christian School/Ministry Leadership.

Dr. Phil Graybeal

Founder/Advisor

Learn more about Phil

Dr. Sam Barfell

Associate, Senior Consultant

Sam Barfell was born and raised in Elkhart, Indiana, and is himself a product of Christian schooling.

Learn more about Sam

Dr. Stephen Reel

Managing Member, Senior Consultant

Learn more about Stephen

Dr. Marc Stout

Associate, Senior Consultant

Dr. Marc Stout has been involved with Christian schools for over 40 years. He grew up in Owensboro, KY and after high school enlisted in the US Air Force as an electronics technician. During his training at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, CO, Marc met his future wife Pam who shared Christ with him and he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

After his tour of duty, Dr. Stout began working at Rocky Bayou Christian School in Niceville, FL. He served there for 10 years. In 1989, Marc was asked to be the Headmaster of Westminster Christian Academy in Opelousas, LA.

Learn more about Marc

Stephen Novotny, J.D.

Special Advisor, Senior Consultant

Learn more about Stephen

Dr. Kathy Teston

Associate, Senior Consultant

Kathy was born and lived in Texas until the age of fifteen when her father was transferred to London, England. She acknowledges this move as a transformative milestone in her life. Upon graduating from the American School in London, she attended Florida Bible College where she received her BA in Biblical Education and Theology. This was also where she met and married her husband, Mike. They’ve enjoyed 51 years of marriage, welcoming three children and 10 grandchildren into their family.

Learn more about Kathy

Dr. Kathy Teston

Associate, Senior Consultant

Stephen Novotny, J.D.

Special Advisor, Senior Consultant

Dr. Marc Stout

Associate, Senior Consultant

Dr. Stephen Reel

Managing Member, Senior Consultant

Dr. Sam Barfell

Associate, Senior Consultant

Dr. Phil Graybeal

Founder / Advisor

Want more information on our Policy Governance® Implementation Training?

About Graybeal & Associates

Dr. Phil Graybeal

Founder/Advisor

Dr. Sam Barfell

Associate, Senior Consultant

Dr. Stephen Reel

Managing Member, Senior Consultant

Dr. Marc Stout

Associate, Senior Consultant

Stephen Novotny, J.D.

Special Advisor, Senior Consultant

Dr. Kathy Teston

Associate, Senior Consultant

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