About Graybeal & Associates

Transforming Christian school/ministry leadership since 2001.

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.

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.

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Dr. Stephen Reel

Managing Member, Senior Consultant

Stephen Reel has served for over 35 years in Christian school ministry as a Bible teacher, school administrator, adjunct professor and Executive Vice President, Acting CEO for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). He is currently serving as the Head of School for Mitchell Road Christian Academy in Greenville, SC. Prior to his Christian school career, he served two tours of duty in the United States Marine Corps as an infantry sergeant, tactics instructor, marksmanship instructor, and competition shooter.

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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.

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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.

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Stephen Novotny, J.D.

Special Advisor, Senior Consultant

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

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 38 years, Melanie, have three children and three granddaughters.

Stephen’s focus at Graybeal & Associates, LLC is Governance training, Executive Search, Strategic Planning, 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.

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.

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