These board members are passionate about the opportunity this new school has to maximize kingdom impact and bring glory to God in the greater Fox Valley area. The board is committed to maintaining and growing upon the strong foundations of academic excellence, discipleship focus, and a culture of community, and to see that the heart, soul, mind and strength of each student is developed to follow Christ into the world. This board was established in July of 2025 and can be reached at board@harvestchristianacademy.org.
Meet the Amazing Team
DEE ARNOLD- PRESIDENT
Dee Arnold brings a strong legal background and eight years of direct experience on a Christian school board to her new role.
Dee has been a licensed attorney since 2002, practicing in various areas, and for the last ten years as the owner of WillCounsel, LLC, an estate planning law firm. She previously volunteered her time and helped establish an offsite church legal clinic with Administer Justice, a clinic providing services to meet the needs of low-income individuals facing civil legal matters. For the past eight years, Dee has served on the School Board at Westminster Christian School, holding multiple officer roles and partnering closely with school leadership. Dee received her Bachelor’s degree from Bradley University, and her Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School (n/k/a University of Illinois Chicago School of Law). She and her husband, Eric, attend The Village Church of Bartlett and are passionate about gospel-centered, discipleship-based education. They have two children, Jake (17) and Abby (16), who have been in Christian education their whole lives. Outside of work and serving, Dee enjoys walking, reading, outdoor activities and traveling with her family.
SAM BOORAS- TREASURER
Sam Booras brings over two decades of Fortune 500 business experience and a history of leadership in his church and community to our school board.
Sam is a Senior Director of Client Services at LogicSource, a procurement services and consulting firm, where he is responsible for managing client relationships and delivering cost reductions in his clients’ expenditures. Prior to joining LogicSource, Sam held leadership roles at Motorola Solutions and HCL Technologies. Sam has also served in leadership roles in the community, including previously on the elder board at Harvest Bible Chapel and as president of his homeowners’ association. Sam holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Supply Chain Management from Western Michigan University, and an MBA from University of Illinois Chicago in Finance and Management. Sam met his wife, Sarah, at Harvest Bible Chapel, where he has attended since 1995. At Harvest, Sam has served in student ministry, as a budget coach, a small group leader, and deacon, as well as an elder. Sam and Sarah reside in Elgin with their four children, Alayna (16), Marcus (15), Kylie (13) and Stevenson (13), who have attended HCA since preschool. Outside of work, Sam enjoys coaching baseball/softball, playing golf, skiing, traveling, barbecuing, and playing games with his family.
CHARLOTTE CANNING- SECRETARY
Charlotte Canning comes to the school board with extensive executive leadership in the private sector and a commitment to Christian education that will be invaluable to our board.
Charlotte is the Co-CEO and a third-generation owner of Hoffer Plastics Corporation, a global leader in custom injection molding. In her executive role, she oversees human resources, marketing, and all internal and external communications for the company’s 350+ employees. She began her career at Northwestern Mutual before moving into a leadership role with PepsiCo. Committed to community and industry advancement, Charlotte currently serves as a Trustee on the board of Judson University, and previously on the boards of Cal’s Angels, Westminster Christian School, and The Boilermaker Alliance. Charlotte holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and Marketing from Purdue University. Charlotte and her husband, JC, have been married for 23 years and for the last 15+ years have attended Christ Community Church. They are proud parents to daughters Colbie (15) and Cora (11), who attend Westminster Christian School. Charlotte enjoys traveling with her family, as well as cooking and baking.
NED COOKE- BOARD MEMBER
Ned Cooke offers valuable business acumen and a heart for serving his church and family to our school board.
Ned is a partner at Joseph M. Wiedemann & Sons, a family-owned independent insurance agency located in the Chicago suburbs, where he is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Prior to joining Joseph M. Wiedemann & Sons, Ned operated a start-up internet service provider before selling the business in 2005. Ned has served as a Trustee at Christ Community Church for the last two years, as well as serving on the School Board at Westminster Christian School. Ned graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a degree in Risk Management and a minor in Economics. Ned and his wife, Jessica, have attended Christ Community Church for nearly 23 years and both are active in serving, with Ned previously serving as a coach leading the volunteers at Wednesday night youth group, and also leading a men’s group for the last 15 years. They have three children: William (22), Samuel (20) and Esme (15, attends WCS). In his free time, Ned enjoys serving at church, spending time with his family, vegetable gardening and bird hunting with his dog in the winter.
BILL DORAN- BOARD MEMBER
Bill Doran joins our board with an impressive 40 years of experience in public education and a deep dedication to Christian service.
Bill has spent four decades in public education, serving in various capacities including teacher, coach, principal, assistant superintendent, and CEO. He has also shared his expertise as an adjunct professor at Judson University. Additionally, Bill currently serves on various local boards, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Northwest Chicago, Algonquin Rotary Club, and the District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence. Bill received his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Teaching from Judson University, and went on to receive his Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University Chicago and his Doctor of Education from Northern Illinois University. Bill and his wife, Joan, have been active members of Harvest Bible Chapel for 17 years. They currently lead a community group for married couples, and Bill contributes to the men’s leadership team, developing ministry events for the men in the church. Bill and Joan live in Gilberts and have two adult children, son Drew, and daughter Mikayla Harrison. Mikayla graduated from HCA in 2017 and with her husband, Conner, have a one-year-old daughter, Lily. In his free time, Bill enjoys biking, photography, golf, and spending time with his family.
CARLYE HAY- EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER
Carlye brings a wealth of experience, strong spiritual leadership, and deep educational expertise to this role.
Carlye has served in a variety of roles within education, including Head of School, principal, teacher, Supplemental Education Services (SES) coordinator, and instructional coach. Her leadership is marked by wisdom, grace, and a genuine love for both students and teachers. These qualities have been clearly demonstrated during her time at WCS as the current Head of School and throughout the process leading up to this exciting new partnership. Above all, Carlye is a devoted follower of Jesus and is passionate about Christ-centered education. She holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, a Master’s in Special Education, and an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Administration. She is currently completing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Carlye is married to Pastor Don Hay, who is the campus pastor at Christ Community Church in Huntley. They have four children: their recently married son, Jacob, and his wife, Grace; daughter, Abby, who has just graduated from college; and twin daughters, Maya and Olivia, who will be entering their senior year of high school.
TONY LANGFELD- VICE-PRESIDENT
Tony Langfeld contributes extensive human resources and non-profit experience, along with a strong passion for Christian education, to our school board.
Tony has been involved in the Human Resources / Professional Employment / Staffing industry for over 20 years, holding diverse leadership C-Level positions within Human Resources, Risk Management, Employee Benefits, and Operations. Tony also brings a wealth of experience within the non-profit sector, having served for 13 years on the Board of Directors of Bartlett Learning Center, an organization consisting of a therapeutic day school for over ninety co-ed students and a group home for men that have intellectual challenges, including the last 7 years as Vice President of the board. Tony received his undergraduate education at Ball State University, studying Political Science and History, as well as his Certified Human Resources Specialist (CHRS) certification through Michigan State University. Tony has been attending Harvest Bible Chapel since 2010, where he found salvation in Christ in 2012, and has been serving in men’s ministry via small groups for many years. He has also volunteered with the Make-A-Wish foundation as a wish granter for 11 years. Tony and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 22 years and reside in Elgin. Their two sons, Owen (18) and Zander (17), have attended Harvest Christian Academy for their entire scholastic careers; Owen just graduated in 2025 and will attend Judson University, and Zander will be a senior at HCA this fall. In his free time, Tony enjoys watching his sons play basketball, watching his favorite Chicago sports teams play, listening to music and spending as much time with his family and loved ones as possible.