Leadership
Joseph Almeida, Head of School
Joseph earned a Bachelor of Science in Childhood Development and Learning with teacher licensure from Maryville College and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and an Educational Leadership Certificate from Buffalo State SUNY. He recently completed his EdS in Christian Educational Leadership through Gordon College. Mr. Almeida has experience as a teacher, coach, and administrator in Tennessee, Brazil, Georgia, and South Carolina. He has worked in public schools, international schools, and private Christian schools throughout his career in education.
He, his wife, Kathleen, and their five children reside in Bluffton. They are members of The Church of the Cross and they both coach at CrossFit843. Mr. Almeida loves to be outside playing with his kids, throwing a frisbee on the beach, or doing CrossFit.
John 15:12 is a verse he tries to live by every day: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
Cayla Wilson, Head of Finance and Operations
Cayla Wilson leads the Business Office which includes overseeing accounting, tuition, human resources, and facilities. With over 18 years of experience as an Accounting and Human Resource professional, she ensures the smooth and efficient operation of financial and administrative functions.
Cayla received her MBA in 2017 while originally working for Cross Schools as the Business Manager. She went on to work for a large nationwide corporation in their accounting department before God brought her back home to Cross Schools. She is thrilled to be working in a God-centered environment with the wonderful staff at Cross Schools.
Kim Duke-Clark, Head of Early Education
Kimberly Duke-Clark serves as the Head of Early Childhood Education at Cross Schools, where she brings decades of experience, leadership, and a deep commitment to children and families. She holds a degree in Social Work and began her career serving the State of South Carolina in Child Protective Services and adoption services, advocating for the well-being of vulnerable children.
A lifelong champion for children, Kimberly has served on the Executive Board of Directors for the Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA) and Open Arms Children's Shelter since 1998. Her dedication to early childhood development led her to found, own, and operate three successful Lowcountry Day Preschool locations, positively impacting countless families throughout the region.
In addition to her educational leadership, Kimberly serves on the Cross Schools Board of Trustees as Finance Chair, helping guide the school's mission and long-term vision. Alongside her husband, Mike, she is also co-owner of May River Pet Resorts and Commercial Developments.
Kimberly is the proud mother of two children and grandmother of two grandchildren. Her life and work are guided by her favorite Bible verse, Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” This scripture reflects her lifelong passion for nurturing, educating, and empowering children to reach their God-given potential.
Stacie Greene, Head of Upper School
Ms. Greene previously taught Honors English 2 and the AP/Dual-Enrollment Teacher Cadet class at May River High School in Bluffton. She also served as a Teacher Mentor and Evaluator. Ms. Greene is in her sixteenth year of education in which she has served grades 6-12 as a teacher, Literacy Instructional Coach, English Department Chair and Team Leader. Ms. Greene is highly-qualified in Secondary English Education with a Bachelor of Arts in English from The University of Georgia (‘01) and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Piedmont College (‘04).
Previously, she taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade English in her hometown of Gainesville, Georgia, as well as Charlotte, North Carolina and at Bluffton’s H.E. McCracken Middle School. In her ten years at H.E. McCracken Middle School, she also served as Literacy Instructional Coach, English Department Chair, Team Leader, Teacher Mentor, ADEPT/SAFE-T Evaluator, and the School Literary & Art Magazine Advisor/Editor. In addition, Ms. Greene has served as an editor for NCATE (National Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) and has presented at district, state, and national educational conferences.
Aside from her professional accomplishments, Ms. Greene feels “Being an educator has been one of the greatest honors in my life. As an educator, my hope has always been to empower students with finding his or her authentic voice so they can affect change in the broken systems they see around them.” Ms. Greene is excited about her new journey with Cross Schools. “I am looking forward to utilizing all of my experiences as an educator, teacher, and most importantly, a Christian as we build onto the existing K-8 program and develop a plan to continue a purpose-filled education for all students that ultimately serves our Lord and Savior.”
Ms. Greene is excited about her role as Head of Upper School and the opportunities that Cross Schools offers students and the Bluffton community in regards to academics, emotional and social support and growth, and authentic mission opportunities. She is a member of The Church of the Cross. In addition, her son, Logan Greene, is a Cross Schools Upper School student.
Doug Pesce, Head of Middle School & Director of Strategy
Mr. Pesce joins Cross Schools as Head of Middle School and Director of Strategy beginning in the 2026–2027 school year. He brings a strong background in Christian education, most recently serving at Calvary Day School in Savannah, Georgia, as Director of Education and Strategic Planning and previously as Head of Upper School.
Before moving to Savannah, Mr. Pesce spent ten years as Head of Middle School at King’s Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he led a middle school of approximately 300 students and 30 faculty members. Throughout his career, he has helped cultivate school communities rooted in academic excellence, intentional discipleship, student leadership, and strong relationships.
At Cross Schools, Mr. Pesce will lead the middle school and partner with the leadership team to support strategic planning, accreditation, and the continued growth of the school community.
Kassie Sikes, Head of Lower School
Kassie Sikes earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of North Florida. Additionally, she is nearing completion of her Masters in Educational Leadership from Gordon College. She taught pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade for many years where she developed a passion for teaching English Language Arts. She became a Literacy Instructional Coach and a Reading Interventionist and enjoyed working with both students and teachers. Mrs. Sikes also spent time teaching middle school and serving as an Academic Coach to support teachers in reading instruction. Prior to coming to Cross Schools, she was an Academic Development Coordinator at Calvary Day School where she focused on curriculum development and alignment. She enjoyed supporting students, teachers, and families while promoting and supporting best teaching practices.
Mrs. Sikes and her husband, Charles, have a daughter and a son who both attend Cross. They enjoy spending time outdoors and the beach is their favorite place to be.
Kassie Sikes feels very called to Christian education and believes providing students with a high-quality education through a Biblical worldview gives them a foundation to support them in all aspects of their lives. She is thrilled to be at Cross Schools and loves the wonderful community of fantastic staff and families.
Leslie Albert, Director of Faith Formation
Mrs. Albert's connection to Cross Schools began in 2006 when her children enrolled as students. In 2009, as a volunteer, she spearheaded the creation of the Cross Schools Library and later served as the school's librarian for two years.
Mrs. Albert joined the Faith Formation team in 2016 and spent the next nine years teaching Bible classes and helping students grow in their understanding of God's Word. Her passion for discipleship, combined with years of experience serving the Cross Schools community, prepared her for her role as Director of Faith Formation.
In her current role, Mrs. Albert oversees Faith Formation programs across all divisions, coordinates mission projects and service opportunities, and works alongside students, faculty, and families to support the spiritual growth of the Cross Schools community.
Mrs. Albert holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Florida. Prior to her work in education, she held positions in event planning, recruiting, corporate development, and membership services. She and her husband, Gerrit, have three children and enjoy living in the Lowcountry. Mrs. Albert enjoys traveling and reading.
Contact Mrs. Albert at l.albert@crossschools.org.
Brandon Andrews, Director of Technology
Brandon Andrews aims to bring a practical, hands-on approach to solving everyday challenges through technology. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Computational Science from the University of South Carolina Beaufort. With a passion for cybersecurity, he looks forward to building solutions that are not only secure and reliable, but also make life easier for students, teachers, and staff. He is excited to support the continued growth of Cross Schools by advancing its technology in a way that reflects its mission and values. A creative problem-solver at heart, Brandon is committed to using his skills to enhance learning, protect data, and serve others well.
Brandon and his family reside in the Lowcountry. He is a proud husband and father of two girls who feels blessed to be part of a Christ-centered school where faith and purpose guide work and growth each day.
Psalm 127:1-2 (NLT) are Brandon’s favorite verses and ones that he tries to constantly remind himself of:
“Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”
Contact Mr. Andrews at b.andrews@crossschools.org.
Brett Chatt, Director of Facilities
Kelly Kimball, Director of Admissions
As Director of Admissions at Cross Schools, Kelly Kimball is passionate about welcoming new families and helping students discover a place where they can thrive spiritually, academically, and socially in a Christ-centered environment. She loves building authentic relationships with families throughout the admissions journey and considers it a privilege to walk alongside them as they explore all that Cross Schools has to offer.
Kelly received her bachelor’s degree from Sheffield University in England and brings a relational, compassionate approach to her role. She and her husband are blessed with two amazing girls who are proud members of the Cross Schools community, giving her both a professional and personal connection to the mission and heart of the school.
One of Kelly’s greatest joys is sharing the unique culture of Cross Schools and helping families feel seen, supported, and connected from their very first visit to campus. Whether cheering on students at athletic events, celebrating milestones with families, or simply building community each day, Kelly is grateful to be part of an environment where faith and education go hand in hand. Go Stingrays!
Ken Shaw, Director of Athletics
Ken earned a Bachelors in Religion from Kingswood University and has achieved both the Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) and Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA) from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrator Association (NIAAA). Ken has coached for 30 years and has served as an Athletic Administrator for 20+ years in independent private schools in FL, NC and GA.
He and wife, Stefoni, live in Bluffton and attend Church of the Cross. They have three adult children, Nate, Gracie and Mary Kathryne. Ken's interests include pickleball, golf and fantasy baseball.
John 3:30 is a verse Ken tries to live out each day, "He must become greater. I must become less."
Kristi Wheat, Director of Communications & Executive Assistant to the Head of School
Originally from Plano, Texas, Mrs. Wheat relocated to Bluffton, South Carolina, in 2005. She married her husband, Aaron, in 2006, and together they are raising their two children.
Prior to joining Cross Schools, Mrs. Wheat built a diverse professional background that includes marketing and advertising roles with Fortune 500 homebuilding companies, as well as executive administrative positions within local government. Her experience has equipped her with strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills that serve her well in her role today.
Faith has always been a cornerstone of Mrs. Wheat’s life. The Christian values instilled in her from an early age continue to guide her personally and professionally. These values led her family to choose Cross Schools for their children's education beginning in Early Education and ultimately inspired her to join the Cross Schools community when the opportunity arose.
Mrs. Wheat’s favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
Kelly Williamson, Director of Marketing
Kelly Williamson holds a Bachelor of Science in Design from Clemson University and a Master of Science in Interior Design from Florida State University. In addition to architecture and interior design, her professional background includes event design, graphic design, marketing, communications, sales, and experience in higher education.
She is passionate about creativity and is grateful for the opportunity to use that gift each day in her work at Cross Schools. Inspiring and encouraging young people has always been important to her, and she has volunteered in multiple youth ministries, including Young Life and The Church of the Cross.
Outside of work, Miss Williamson enjoys spending time with her family and her four-legged family members. She is an avid animal lover and shares her home with her rescue dogs and cats. Miss Williamson is also proud to be joined at Cross Schools by her mother, Jenny Williamson, who serves in the Lower School Division, and her niece, Clara, who is a student in the Lower School.
One of her favorite Bible verses is Romans 8:38–39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers... will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”