The Academy’s Board of Governors is comprised of up to 10 parents and friends of The Academy, representing a mix of The Academy’s campuses (Midtown/North/South), schools (Grammar/Dialectic/Rhetoric), and educational models (Blended/Traditional).
Purpose
Following a strategic governance model, The Academy Board’s role is to safeguard the vision and mission of the school. It does so in several ways, but the primary means is in hiring, overseeing, and advising the Headmaster. The Board keeps the Headmaster accountable for the goals set for the school, which are set jointly by the Board and Headmaster. The Headmaster is then responsible to hold faculty, staff, parents, and students accountable in their educational roles and commitments.
Joining the Board
Each year a new Class of members join the board to serve for a three-year or six-year term. New members are typically drawn from individuals who have served on one of the school’s committees. See below for more information about volunteering to serve, or for nominating another for Board or Committee service.
Communication
Have a question for the Board of Governors? Send your questions here. The Board desires to be accessible and known. Members of The Academy community are welcome to approach board members with questions and topics of interest.
Permanent Directors
Tony Capucille
Tony Capucille is a founding board member. As a native Oklahoman, he was educated at Oklahoma Baptist University graduating with a degree in Biblical Languages and Finance. He recently decided to leave the financial technology industry and explore other interests predicated on sustainability and building cultures that promote human flourishing. Tony and his wife Christy have 3 daughters and a son at the Academy. He enjoys reading, gardening, basketball, travel, and time outdoors. Tony is a part of the BrandComm and fundraising committee. He provides the perspective of all three grade levels, grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric, Tony also represents our North and Midtown campuses.
Curt Stafford
Curt graduated from The University of Oklahoma with a BA in Political Science in 1985. He returned to Norman in 1986 with his wife, Karla, to raise their three children, Carolyn, Stephanie, and J. C. (one of our first graduates). Curt is a CPA and is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Energetic Systems, Inc., a manufacturing company located in Norman. In addition to being one of our founding board members, Curt brings his financial expertise to our finance committee and is a grandparent to students in our blended and traditional models at the South campus.
Term Ends 2025
Joe Broome
Dr. Joseph Broome has a degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, he earned his medical degree at the OU College of Medicine. Dr. Broome serves the OKC area as a family medicine physician at Total Healthcare Partners. He is a father of four children, three of which attend the Academy at the Dialectic and Rhetoric schools. Joe loves planning vacations and traveling with his family. He enjoys golfing and spending time with his friends. He is passionate about the Academy’s mission and feels blessed to serve on the board.
Leslie Poe
After homeschooling classically for five years, Leslie’s three sons came to the north campus of The Academy in 2020 and have participated in the blended and traditional models at the grammar and dialectic levels. Leslie is a proud graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and holds an M.S.Ed. in higher education student affairs from Baylor University. She has overseen various elements of the co-curricular experience at Baylor, OBU, and The University of Memphis, and has served as an adjunct faculty member at OBU while raising her children. Currently, Leslie is a deacon and the Director of Women’s Discipleship at Frontline Church Downtown where her husband, Jonathan, also serves as an elder. They love raising their family in the heart of OKC.
Micah Leydorf
Micah Leydorf is currently an author, editor, publisher, cabi stylist, and the Parish Programs Coordinator at St. Francis of Assisi. Classically educated, she has a bachelors degree in American Studies and European Studies from Hillsdale College in Michigan as well as a masters in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. Before she and her husband Tom made a quality-of-life decision to move from Washington DC to be closer to family in Oklahoma following the birth of their first son, she worked as press secretary and deputy chief of staff for Congressman Ernest Istook for almost a decade. The family recently moved from Norman to Heritage Hills so their two sons, Elijah and George, could walk to school at the Midtown campus. They attend church at Frontline Downtown as well as St Francis of Assisi.
Abby Schill
Abby grew up in Norman and graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Her family started at the Academy in 2012 upon returning home to Oklahoma following her husband’s time in the Navy. She and her husband, Ben, have three children in grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric levels in both the blended and traditional models. Abby has served as a house parent at the south campus and serves on the athletic committee. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, and spending time with friends. Abby and her family are active members at Providence Road Church in Norman.
Term Ends 2026
Annie Morris
Annie graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught second, third grade, and visual art at Stanley Hupfield Academy in the OKCPS system. When looking for a good educational fit for their four children, Annie and her husband, Dan, were thrilled to discover the Academy’s blended model program. This is their tenth year at the Academy and they currently have one blended student and three traditional students at North campus. Annie and her family love living in midtown OKC and attend Britton Christian Church. Annie enjoys reading, painting, and tennis.
Jake Abbott
Dr. Jake Abbott is originally from Norman and graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in Psychology in 2002. He followed this with medical school at the OU College of Medicine and did his training in General Surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He subsequently practiced surgery in Rockwall, Texas for the next 9 years, and served as Chairman of the Board of Providence Academy, a blended classical school. Jake, his wife Erin, and their 4 kids moved to Oklahoma City in 2019 to be closer to family, and Jake works as an attending surgeon at Mercy Health Care. All of their children are in the traditional model, but their family has been at both North and South Campus, as well as Midtown. The Abbott’s attend City Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, where Jake serves as an Elder.
Term Ends 2027
Chris Scaperlanda
Chris Scaperlanda studied philosophy and theology at the University of Notre Dame before attending law school at the University of Texas. Chris is a partner at the law firm McAfee & Taft. Chris and his wife Mary have five children at the Academy, soon to be six, and have been attending The Academy since 2019. Chris teaches 6th grade religious education at St. Francis of Assisi Church, where the family attends. Chris is an avid reader, is passionate about the fine arts, and loves to visit national parks with his family.
Kimberly Steele
Kimberly earned her Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 2007, specializing in Human Resource Management. Upon graduation she began her career and later earned her Masters of Business Administration from Oklahoma City University. Kimberly is married to Greg and has four children. After the birth of their first child, Kimberly left her career as a Human Resource Director to raise their children. They have four grammar students all in the blended program at the south campus. She and her family are active members of Southern Hills Baptist Church.
Non-Voting Officers
Cassie Jackson (Board Secretary)
Cassie has a mechanical engineering degree from Oklahoma State University and started her career at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX before leaving the workforce to raise children. She homeschooled her children full time, using the classical model of education, for several years before coming to The Academy, where her children have participated in both blended and traditional models. She and her husband Garrett have 3 children: Lily, a sixth grader at South campus, Quinn, a 10th grader at Midtown Campus, and A.J. a recent Academy graduate who is attending Gonzaga University. Cassie has recently rejoined the workforce as an Electronics Engineer in the 76th Software Engineering Group at Tinker Air Force Base. She and her family live in Choctaw, OK and attend Eastpoint Church.
Board Committees
The vision of the Academy’s Board of Governors is executed through the work of several board commissioned committees. The committees include parents, staff, board members, and other friends of The Academy and are representative of the full Academy community.
We are always looking for candidates who are willing to join one of our committees! If you are interested in being considered to serve on a committee in the future, please review the committee descriptions below and submit an application.
Education Committee
The Education Committee provides stewardship and oversight of the academic programs and policies of The Academy and serves as a sounding board for evaluating new educational opportunities This committee is supported in its work by the curriculum subcommittee, scholars and experts in their respective disciplines.
Fine Arts Committee
The Fine Arts Committee supports the Fine Arts Chair in overseeing the Performing and Fine Arts of The Academy, including choir, music, painting, drama, debate/forensics, and more. Members of the Fine Arts committee are masters of at least one of The Academy’s areas of emphasis.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee reviews monthly financial reports, sets strategic financial priorities, and proposes The Academy’s annual budget.
Building & Land Committee
The Building & Land Committee makes recommendations for capital improvements, property acquisition, and provides oversight of construction projects.
Fundraising Committee
The Fundraising Committee assists The Academy in recruiting participants in The Academy’s Giving Society and providers oversight of fundraising campaigns and initiatives.
Athletics Committee
The Athletics Committee supports the Athletic Director in determining the strategic priorities and initiatives of Academy Athletics, including oversight of The Academy’s Community Sports.