Board of Trustees
Trinity Oaks Christian Academy is governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees made up of up to 18 members. The Board has four officers and a variety of committees, some of which are standing committees and some of which are formed on an ad hoc basis to meet the needs of the strategic plan. Board members serve terms of three years, which are renewable one time for an additional three years. After that, board members may serve additional one-year terms at the discretion of the Board.
The Board's Role
The Board (as described in the Bylaws) is charged with ensuring the long-term, mission-based, sustainable success and viability of the school. As such, it is concerned with the needs of the school over several generations; therefore, its focus is setting the strategic direction of the school. The Board does not manage the day-to-day or tactical operations of the school. The Board hires a Head of School and delegates day-to-day managerial responsibility for the entire enterprise to the Head, within the general parameters and principles that it has established. The Board meets regularly in closed sessions to pray for the needs of the school, to set broad school-wide policies and to monitor progress of the school’s strategic plan.
Tim Barak works as a consultant in 2-way radio communications for mission-critical industries. Prior to that, he spent 26 years in various roles for Motorola in the telecommunications industry. Tim and his wife, Barbara, have been married for 25 years and have 3 children who have attended Trinity Oaks since kindergarten. Two of their children graduated from TOCA and are currently attending Olivet Nazarene University. Their youngest son is a current high school student at TOCA. The Barak family attends Living Grace Community Church in Cary. Tim has served on the Board of Trustees since 2014.
Curt Brookens received a bachelor’s degree in business management along with a minor in Real Estate from Western Michigan University. He has worked for Marc Realty for 32 years and is currently the Director of Property Management. He and his wife, Margo, have been married for 23 years. Curt and Margo have 2 daughters. Hannah is a first-year student at Iowa State University and Abby is in 7th grade at TOCA and a member of NJHS. The Brookens family attends Harvest Bible Chapel in Crystal Lake. Curt enjoys golf, various outdoor activities and cheering on the University of Michigan teams.
Tony Ebel
Tim Fraser is the founder of Fraser Wealth Management, a local boutique wealth management firm established 15 years ago. Tim and his wife, Logan, have three children who have all attended Trinity Oaks since pre-kindergarten. He has been actively involved in the TOCA community coaching basketball for the past three years. Tim has contributed his expertise and commitment to the Trinity Oaks Board of Trustees for over 8 years. He has also served on several other non-profit boards, including First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake and Family Alliance of Woodstock.
Scott Gast grew up in Cedar Falls, IA and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in Accounting in 1992. After passing the CPA exam, he spent the next three years in two accounting jobs. In 1995, Scott switched to a career in finance and has not looked back. He currently serves as a Senior Managing Director at NXT Capital. Scott and his wife, Michelle, have been married for almost 30 years and have two children who attended Trinity Oaks. He has faithfully served on the Board of Trustees at TOCA since 2017.
Ben Klimek
David Petrovich graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Business. He is currently a pilot with United Airlines. David and his wife, Corryn, have been married since 2011 and have three children that all attend TOCA. Both David and Corryn are Trinity Oaks alumni, having graduated from 8th grade. The Petrovich family attends The Evangelical Church of Crystal Lake.
Shelly McCarthy graduated from California State University Fullerton with a degree in biological sciences. She and her husband, Brian, have been married since 1992 and have two children. Their children are both TOCA high school graduates and attended Trinity Oaks all the way from kindergarten through high school. Shelly has served on the Board of Trustees since 2011 and is currently filling the role of Board Secretary.
Prudence Rowe has a BA in Social Work as well as a MSW (master’s in social work) from Aurora University. She and her husband, Eric, have been married since 2006 and have three children who all attend Trinity Oaks. Prudence has been involved with TOCA since 2013 and has served on the Board of Trustees since 2016. She also serves our littlest Huskies as a Pre-kindergarten aide.
Meredith Thomas received a bachelor’s degree in biology/pre-physical therapy from Augustana College and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Midwestern University. She has been a part of the Trinity Oaks Christian Academy community for twelve years and has been a member of the school board for five years. Meredith has been married for 21 years to her husband, a worship pastor at Foundations Church in Loveland, Colorado. Their three children all attended Trinity Oaks before their move to Colorado in 2021. The Thomas children now attend Resurrection Christian School in Loveland, CO.
William Walkiewicz received a B.S. in Business/ Accounting from Portland State University in 1982. He has worked in the Office Supplies industry for over 35 years, owning several businesses providing product distribution services and consulting services. Bill and his wife, Carman, have 2 adult children and 3 grandchildren. Their granddaughter has attended Trinity Oaks since pre-kindergarten and plans to graduate in 2025. Bill has served on the Board of Trustees since 2010 and has served as the Chairman of the Board for the past 8 years. He continues to be active in the school community by serving as the technology teacher. The Walkiewicz family attends Living Grace Community Church in Cary.