Meet the Board
Cathy Collins
Founder | Board Member
Cathy and her husband Kerry are parents of three children, ages 12-19. Cathy has spent many years homeschooling her children and volunteering in various capacities, both in church and in the local homeschool community. Cathy has the heart of a servant, and when she heard of the plans to establish a new school community in her area, she volunteered to serve on the founding team. Cathy holds a BS in Biology and Business Administration and an MS in Physical Therapy.
Lora Geer
Founder | Board Member
Lora and her husband Andy live on a family farm near Winston-Salem, NC, where they have homeschooled their five children, ages 6-22. Lora has worked extensively in women’s ministry and the pro-life movement. She directed and helped to found Maplewood Women’s Center (one of nation’s first crisis pregnancy centers in the same building as abortion provider), where she trained and oversaw counselors, raised support and interest, and provided education and counseling to clients. She has homeschooled for 15 years and after the launching of her oldest children, Lora has felt led to focus her energy on helping establish Cathedral Oak Academy as an option for the families in her community. She has a BA in English and Studio Art from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Masters in Theology with a concentration in counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Gordon was born in Cleveland, Ohio and moved to North Carolina to attend law school at Wake Forest University. He has practiced law for over 50 years and has served as a North Carolina judge for the past 12 years. Gordon is a founding member of both River Oaks Community Church and Restoration Community Church and previously served as Moderator of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. An avid reader and former scuba-diving instructor, he is also an adrenaline enthusiast. Gordon came to faith later in life and is deeply grateful for the work God has done.
Gordon Miller
Board Member
Misty Russ
Founder | Board Member
Misty lives in Clemmons, NC, with her husband Rhett and their three children, ages 10-17. A veteran homeschool mom and a former director of Classical Conversations of Winston-Salem, she has a passion for classical-style learning and plans to pursue a graduate degree in Classical Education. As her family dynamics changed over the years, she became interested in the University-Model® schools and began to research the possibilities of establishing a school in her area. After much prayer, the Lord connected her with other interested founding families, and the vision for Cathedral Oak Academy began to take shape. Misty has a BS in Biology, a certificate in Computer Science, and three years of graduate work in Bioinformatics. Misty was commissioned through the Colson Fellows program in May 2023.
Rick Bray
Board Member
Rick Bray is a graduate of Elon University and a former Marine Corps Officer, where he served for six years. He spent 37 years in the pharmaceutical industry before retiring. He has also dedicated 16 years to coaching high school cross country and track, investing deeply in the lives of student-athletes. A follower of Christ since 1963, he is an active member of Friends Baptist Church, where he teaches a Life Class for young married couples.