BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Michael Thurston

Chairman

Michael’s desire is to be the hands and feet for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and is dedicated to personal growth, living out his faith, and positively impacting the community.

Jenna Salazar

Treasurer

Jenna is a local business owner and entrepreneur who is passionate about focusing her efforts into supporting Libertas Academy and Christian education.

Bart Rush

Vice Chairman

Pastor Bart is the Senior Pastor at Mountain Christian Fellowship in Murphys and enjoys assisting parents in the important work of discipling their children.

Mike Stone

Director

With a background in law enforcement and athletics, Mike’s focus is on the safety of every Libertas Academy student, and the development of Christian athletes.

Matt Thullen, PhD

Secretary

Bringing experience in academia, social work, and philanthropy, Matt is excited to help Libertas grow and be a blessing to other children and families in the community.

The men and women serving on the Libertas Academy Board of Directors lead, encourage, and inspire our school community in the pursuit of excellence in classical, Christian education. Guided by Scripture and a shared vision, the Board is committed to ensuring that Libertas remains faithful to its mission — developing life-long learners with a firm foundation in Christ physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Governance Model

Libertas Academy operates under the Policy Governance Model, a framework designed to promote strategic leadership, accountability, and clarity between governance and management. Under this model, the Board governs through written policies that define the desired outcomes of the school (ENDS) and the limitations placed on operational decisions (Executive Limitations).

The Head of School is the Board’s sole employee and is responsible for all operational, instructional, and administrative functions of the school. The Board focuses on vision, mission, and accountability—ensuring that Libertas fulfills its stated purpose—while empowering the Head of School and staff to lead day-to-day operations with excellence.

Our Owners

As a Christian organization, the Libertas Board understands its role is to act as agents on behalf of its identified owners. These owners are:

God, the ultimate authority and source of wisdom.
Current families, who entrust their children to the school’s care and partnership.
Engaged stakeholders, including donors, alumni, and community supporters.
Founding members, whose vision and faithfulness established the foundation upon which Libertas continues to grow.

All Board actions, policies, and decisions are made with these owners in mind, ensuring faithful stewardship and mission alignment.

Meetings & Participation

The Board typically meets on the third Friday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Dates and times are subject to change; please contact us to confirm. Each meeting begins with an open session, and parents and other interested parties are warmly encouraged to attend.

If you have questions, concerns, or would like to be scheduled on the agenda, please email us at libertasboard@gmail.com.