Start Up Board Members
Tom Marino - Vice Chairman/Director
Drew Sippel - Executive Director/Director
Jay Harvill - Chairman
Qualifications
Senior Vice President, LIpscomb and Pitts Insurance Agency
Founding board member of Service Over Self and Binghampton Development Corporation
Leader in his community and his business
Education
University of Memphis, Bachelor's Degree with majors in International Relations and Political Science
"At a core level, education provides
the foundation upon which healthy societies are built. As our urban
areas
have continued to suffer, we can trace many of the symptoms back to a
suffering
educational system. Cornerstone Prep does not believe we will
solve all the problems with our approach but I am convinced that our
model can
provide some key solutions to these educational problems. I am involved
with Cornerstone Prep because I see education as one of the core needs
in our
community and one that can provide impact for generations to come. This
school
is a part of the solution for healing this community and our city as we
offer
educational opportunity and hope to the students we serve.
Christ has
taught us that each individual matters and Cornerstone Prep can and will
make a
difference in the lives of the children with whom we come in contact."
Steve Jackson - Director
Qualifications
Olivet College, BA
University of Virginia, MEd
Experience
Teacher
Technology Curriculum Coordinator
Assistant Principal
Headmaster
Tom Marino - Vice Chairman
Qualifications
Mississippi State
University, 1982, B.PA.
(Professional Accountancy)
Memphis Theological
Seminary, 1994, M. Div.
Experience
Former Certified
Public Accountant
Staff of Christ
United Methodist Church, including Director of Youth Ministries, Director of Missions
Executive
Director and Founder of Service Over Self (SOS)
Currently Executive
Director of The Poplar Foundation
The greatest need in
our city is in the area of education. Cornerstone Prep will give any
child in Memphis equal access to a quality education, and we will
balance
academic rigor and achievement with leadership development and service
to others. All of this will be done in the context of faith and sharing
with these children the love of God.
What a school! What a mission!
There is nothing that is more needed in our city.
Paul Edwards - secretary/Director
Qualifications
Vanderbilt University, J.D.
University of Mississippi, B.A.
Experience
Evans Petree PC, Director, Primary practice - Real Estate
Board Member, Christ United Methodist Church and Chrysalis
I believe too
many promising students do not get the educational opportunity they deserve and
I am excited to know that Cornerstone Prep is providing this to so many
families. Cornerstone Prep is bringing a quality education to the residents of Binghampton
and I believe this benefits not only the family but the entire community.
I am
honored to be a part of this important work.
Laura Whitsitt - Treasurer/Director
Qualifications
University of Memphis, BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering
Experience
Smith and Nephew, Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation, Orthopedic Implant
I became interested in being involved with Cornerstone Prep because of
my passion for education and inner city children. I have been blessed
with great educational opportunities and wonderful parents who
encouraged me throughout my education.
I know that all children do not
have this opportunity, and I feel that God's plan for my life includes
working through me to help these children. Cornerstone Prep will
provide a unique opportunity for young inner city children to get a
great start on an outstanding education, focused on instilling Christian
values and developing leadership skills. I am proud to serve on the
Board for Cornerstone Prep and am looking forward to all God has planned
for the children He brings to the school.
Debbie Isom - Director
Qualifications
A. A. from Okaloosa Walton Junior College
B.A. from University of West Florida
M.Ed. from University of Memphis
Experience
1978-1999—classroom teacher at Hutchison School
for Girls
1999-2004--5 years administration at Hutchison
School for Girls
2005- present--administration at Presbyterian
Day School
It is an honor to serve on the Board for Cornerstone
Preparatory School where the Christian mission is at the core of all of our
planning as we strive to build God’s school.
The children are our future. Though it is a cliché, the truth remains that our future
rests in the hands of our children.
These are not other people’s children. They
are God’s children; they are our children. We must embrace the task of equipping future generations,
and there is no greater responsibility or privilege than meeting the needs of
our children now.
I am excited about the decision to support the children and
families of the Binghampton community. I believe we can give these children a
vision of who God is and who God intends for them to be. If we succeed in giving the children of
Cornerstone Prep the tools needed to live lives of integrity, service,
leadership, and hope, we will have been true to our calling to touch lives and
change the future. We must not write off our children because of geography. All of our children need the
opportunity to learn to dream big and the courage to chase those dreams.
drew sippel - Director/Executive Director
Qualifications
University of Mississippi, Bachelor, Finance
Wake Forest University, MBA
Union University, Master of Arts in
Education
Experience
Christ United Methodist Church, Church Administrator
Mueller Industries, Division Controller
Drew has been deeply involved with local missions at
Christ United Methodist Church for more than 14 years. As the Director of Local
Missions for the past three years, he has strategically focused on the
Binghampton area to develop the socio-economic and spiritual capacity of the
area.
He has been a board member for both the Binghampton Development
Corporation and Service Over Self, both self-sustaining organizations making a
difference in the Binghampton community as well as affecting thousands of volunteers’
lives by highlighting the brokenness of the city and the need to thoughtfully
address the issues of the city.
Drew recently accepted the position of Executive
Director of Cornerstone Prep after studying the education needs of the
community for the past 3 years. “The Bible tells us that God hates injustice
and oppression, and I believe that it is unjust for a child to be destined to
receive an inadequate education simply for being born in a particular
neighborhood. A child born in the inner-city of Memphis has a 40% chance of
dropping out of high school before graduating, and if the child does graduate,
he or she will receive a high school education that equates to an 8th
grade education of a suburban student. That is unjust and I am committed to
bringing glory to Christ by fighting this issue as the Director of Cornerstone
Prep”.
Drew has researched and visited many of the
highest-performing urban schools in the country, as well as attending the
Building Excellent Schools program in Boston, MA. He is bringing the best practices from these schools to Cornerstone
Prep, learning from the success of others and combining it with a
Christ-centered approach to education.
Drew has a very clear picture of success for a Cornerstone
Prep student. “Our school will be successful when a Cornerstone Prep student
becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, graduates from the 5th grade,
attends a challenging middle and high school, receives a scholarship to a
prestigious university, and then returns to Memphis with a degree to invest his
or her life serving this community as a leader in his or her chosen field,
seeking God’s favor for the people of this city.”
This exciting and long-term vision
motivates Drew to make Cornerstone Prep a life-changing school for students,
families, and the Binghampton community.
Lisa Settle - Principal
Qualifications
Bachelor
of Arts, University of Memphis (Criminology/Criminal
Justice)
Master
of Arts, University of Memphis (Criminology/Criminal
Justice)
Doctorate
of Philosophy Candidate, Capella University (Criminal
Justice – August 2010)
Master
of Arts, Union University
(Elementary
Education – May 2010)
Experience
Chair of Arts & Science, Crichton College
Criminal Justice Professor, Crichton College
Subject Matter Expert – Criminal Justice, American
Intercontinental University, Online
Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice, American Intercontinental
University, Online
Assistant Chair of Social & Behavioral Sciences,
LeMoyne-Owen College
Criminal Justice Professor, LeMoyne-Owen College
Curriculum Developer, Career Education Corporation
Adjunct Professor of Sociology (Criminal Justice), Christian
Brothers University
Adjunct Professor of Criminology/Criminal Justice, University of
Memphis
Director of Education, The Justice Network
Anyone who knows me knows how much I
value education. I decided to step into the role of Principal after much prayer
and discussion with my husband, Dewun, and my pastor, Dr. Malone.
I have been blessed to have had good
teachers throughout my life. They
challenged me to excel and to give my all to my work. They pushed me and would accept nothing but my best. At Memphis Central High in the college
preparatory program, they prepared me for college and the degrees I have earned
since. Everyone should be prepared and their academic achievements should be
celebrated!
I know I am not the reason for my
success and I know God placed each teacher in my life when He did. These
teachers may never know the impact they had on my life but it was tremendous.
My mission is to have students who
are aware of their community needs and understand the big picture and the steps
necessary to accomplish goals. It is my mission to cultivate dynamic leaders
who impact our community and our world through the academic and leadership
success they have earned. Finally, my mission is to force area middle schools
to have to adjust their curriculum upward because Cornerstone Prep students are
so prepared for the work and the rigor.
I do not take this job of being
Principal of Cornerstone Preparatory School lightly. Moreover, it’s not just a
job, this was truly orchestrated by God and I am where He wants me to be. I am
doing what He wants me to do and I am humbled by the opportunity.
Why am I doing this? I am doing this
because I must. I am an educator and I am a leader. I am doing this because my
prayer is and always has been “Use me Lord…”