Parent Advisory Board

I’ve been married to my better half (Christina) for 25 years.  We have three children; my eldest two boys have both attended SCS for 13 years, graduating in 2022 and 2024.  My daughter is currently a sophomore and has been attending since kindergarten.  We choose SCS many years ago, because we felt that the faculty was going to shepherd our child’s heart, all while giving them a biblical worldview in the education process.  We have not been disappointed!  Not only do the teachers take a vested interest in our children’s education, but they have challenged them to follow Christ, glorifying Him in all things!   SCS has been our second home through the years. My wife and I have emersed ourselves in the SCS family, volunteering where we were needed.  Our children have also participated in many activities at SCS, Fine Arts, Bible Quiz, Debate, as well as sports.  As my time as a parent begins to draw to end at SCS, I hope that my many years of experience at SCS will give some insight to help guide the Parent Advisory Board and SCS into the future.

I am a Christ follower, have been married for 13 years, and am the mother of three children. Our family attends Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, where I am actively involved in serving in both women’s and children’s ministries. Professionally, I hold a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential and served as an elementary school social worker for 12 years. Through this work, I gained extensive experience supporting students’ academic, social, and emotional needs while partnering closely with families and school staff. I love working with students and families, and value being actively involved in the SCS community. Outside of my volunteer commitments, I enjoy staying active through running and supporting my daughters as they participate in a variety of activities.

Our family is deeply grateful to have found Schaumburg Christian School for our two daughters. We value that their education is intentionally grounded in learning about Jesus throughout the day, guided by Christ-centered educators, and rooted in Gospel truth. SCS provides an environment where students are known, loved, and encouraged to grow both spiritually and academically. We appreciate the strong academic expectations, the meaningful friendships our daughters have formed, and the variety of opportunities available for students to develop their gifts and interests. SCS has been a blessing to our family, and we are thankful for the partnership it offers between home, church, and school.

I am excited about the opportunity to serve on the board as the school plans for the future and works to strengthen and grow its student body for Christ. I am grateful for the opportunity to engage in thoughtful discussion, prayerful decision-making, and strategic planning that supports the long-term health and mission of the school. I am especially interested in contributing my experience in education and student support to help strengthen systems that serve students, staff, and families well. It will be an honor to work collaboratively with fellow board members to steward SCS with wisdom, care, and faithfulness.

I am an SCS mom of 3. I became a Christian in my 20’s, when I met my husband, Tim. I’m a working mom, currently as an SVP in Banking.

I love SCS because it is a safe place for my children to learn and grow up. My 2 youngest have been at SCS since they were in Kindergarten. SCS is part of us because of the community, the culture, environment, and faith-based curriculum.  

I’m thrilled to join the Parent Advisory Board so I can have a closer pulse on the plans at SCS. I’ve been a champion and advocate of SCS, so I’m hoping God will use me and my family to help other families find their place here, and perhaps work through concerns that they may have. I also commend SCS for including parents in their decision-making considerations because there is value in considering all perspectives (administration, staff, parents and students) when shaping the current and future state of SCS.   

I am the father of an SCS student, Titus David, and two older children, Chloe (27) and Noah (22). I’m married to Kate David. We live in Palatine, IL, attend church nearby, and have been part of the Chicagoland area since I graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign in 1993. I’ve been a Christian since I was 16.

Having experienced public schooling, private Christian schooling, and a bit of homeschooling, I’m thankful that SCS exists close to home. It came at the right time and gave our family an option when we needed it most. I’m grateful for the church and staff who work and sacrifice to provide a truly safe and supportive environment where my son can grow, learn, and feel like part of a family. SCS is a good place for Titus. I also appreciate the cultural and ethnic diversity of the school and the way SCS brings families together around a shared purpose.

I feel both excited and a bit nervous. The opportunity to play even a small role in helping SCS continue to grow, serve students and families, support school leadership, and bless the Lord is truly meaningful to me. I’m grateful for the chance to contribute to a strong, faith-driven future for the SCS community.

Letara Arthur is a proud mom of two, and her youngest is a vibrant 7th grader at Schaumburg Christian School who is deeply involved in school life. As a parent, Letara loves the rigorous academics and the incredible fine arts opportunities at SCS, but what she treasures most is the school’s commitment to cultivating a gospel-centered environment where students learn to live out biblical principles every day.

Professionally, Letara serves as the Director of Administration and Family Ministry at her congregation, bringing together strategic leadership and a genuine heart for families. Since 2015, she has worked in family ministry, and she previously served as the Director of Operations at the International Network of Children’s Ministry. She also holds an MBA, which supports her passion for building healthy systems that help communities flourish.

Letara is excited to serve on the Parent Advisory Board, partnering with school leadership and fellow parents to strengthen communication, support the mission of SCS, and help enrich the overall experience for students and families. She counts it a joy to invest in the school community she loves.

Lucy Gross is an active member of Bethel Baptist Church and a believer saved by grace through faith. She is married to her husband, Derek Gross, and is a proud mother of four and grandmother of four. Lucy has served as an IT Project Manager at Aldi for 19 years, bringing experience in leadership, organization, and strategic planning to her role on the Parent Advisory Board.

Lucy loves Schaumburg Christian School because all of her children have attended SCS, and she deeply values the school’s faith-based foundation. She appreciates that students are known, loved, and cared for by their teachers like family, creating an environment where both academic and spiritual growth can flourish.

She is excited to be part of this groundbreaking board because she is encouraged by SCS’s openness and willingness to partner with parents in shaping the future of the school. Lucy looks forward to contributing her perspective and experience to help strengthen and improve SCS for years to come.

I am married to my wife, Colette Pappas, and together we have three children—Fiona, Danny, and Sonia. I strongly believe in the mission of SCS, particularly its commitment to providing life-changing, biblical instruction to every student. I am honored by the opportunity to serve on the Parent Advisory Board and am eager to support SCS’s continued growth, so that more families may experience the Christ-centered education that has been such a blessing to our own family.

I'm both honored and excited to join the inaugural Parent Advisory Board at SCS.

 I'm a full-time working mom with a career in higher education (Doctorate in Higher Ed) at the intersection of entrepreneurship and public health. My husband and I also own a small business in the food manufacturing and packaging industry in Chicago. I was born in Kerala, India and moved to the U.S. in my early years and grew up in DesPlaines, attending public school during my elementary school years. Over the next decade, my family moved around to Kenosha, WI and eventually settled in Dallas, TX.

As a family, we relocated from Florida to Illinois and currently live in Palatine. We have been a part of the SCS community for the last 5 years. I have enjoyed finding ways to stay connected to the SCS community through volunteering at the different elementary grade levels, joining Moms in Prayer for the last two years and in service at various SCS school events. We attend the Orchard Evangelical church in Barrington where our kids engage in Awana, I serve as a children's ministry volunteer and we're in a life group.

I have seen the value of a Christ-centered education and how it shapes the way our children engage in conversations with friends and family. I believe an educational foundation that integrates the principles of God's word with real world application is necessary to develop a mind-set that prepares students for challenging scenarios in their next season of life. Over the years, we have been on the receiving end of the care and commitment from the SCS teachers, staff and administration. I look forward to collaborating with other parents and to contributing my knowledge and passion to see student success thrive at SCS! 

Stephen White was born and raised in the Schaumburg area and is a proud “staff kid” and Schaumburg Christian School alumnus, attending SCS from 1st through 12th grade (Class of 2006). He is now a local business owner, leading a sales agency based in Lombard, Illinois. Stephen and his wife are parents of two SCS students, with a third joining the SCS family soon.

Stephen serves as an elder and youth leader at a local congregation in Deerfield and brings a deep commitment to spiritual leadership and mentorship. He loves SCS for its strong spiritual foundation, high academic expectations, meaningful extracurricular opportunities, and the close-knit community of families and believers that feels like family.

He is excited to serve on the Parent Advisory Board as a way to give back to the ministry that invested in him during his formative years and to help ensure that SCS continues to wisely and intentionally invest in future generations of students and staff.

Steve Ku and his wife, Rebecca, have been married for over 20 years. They have four children - Alyssa, Grayson, Sophia, and Melody. Their oldest child is a sophomore in college, and their youngest is currently in the 6th grade. Steve serves on the Parent Advisory Board as the deacon representative, bridging the church and school even more.

Both Steve and Rebecca were saved at a young age and grew up in Christian homes. From early on, they have been deeply involved in church ministry.  At Bethel, Steve and Rebecca have been involved in student ministries for over six years, having previously served in children’s ministry. For the past couple of years, Steve also serves as the church’s safety coordinator.

Professionally, Steve has worked in the technology field for more than two decades. He currently serves as a support engineer for a software company specializing in VDI - end-user computing (EUC) and user experience (UX). Rebecca is employed at Bethel Church. Among her many responsibilities, she serves as the Awana and children’s ministry special events coordinator.

My name is Timothy Payne. I am blessed with a wonderful wife (Emily) and five beautiful children (Gwen, Lydia, Sam, Daphne, and Levi)! Aside from being a busy father and husband, I manage a small pest management company called Quick Kill Exterminating Company. I also serve as deacon and Director of Music for Community Baptist Church in Hoffman Estates. I feel that God has given me gifts and abilities that I am obligated to use in service towards His Kingdom and for His Glory! 

It would be hard for me not to love SCS! As an alumnus (Class of 2004), I have so many fond memories of my educational experience at Schaumburg Christian. The lessons that I learned both inside and outside of the classroom helped me grow in grace and develop my Christian worldview. Now, I am so grateful that this traditional Christian educational opportunity is available for my children to learn and grow up in a school that affirms the Christian faith that we treasure in our home. On top of that, it has allowed my wife (who is now a teacher at SCS) the opportunity to work at a school where she can live out her Christianity without any fear of hostility from the school board or administration. 

This advisory board is a great way for SCS administration to learn about the perspectives and opinions of the parents who entrust their children’s education to the staff of Schaumburg Christian School. No one has more of a vested interest in the success of SCS than these parents whose children’s futures are at stake! I feel like my unique perspective having experienced SCS as a student, as a husband of a teacher, and as parent of five current students could provide valuable insight to school administrators. Additionally, my experience in senior leadership both in business and in church world help me to make brutally honest assessments regarding different programs and situations and the collaborative skills necessary to work towards making organizations more effective and efficient at accomplishing their stated goals.