2019-2020 Board of Directors
Dr. Glenn Holzman, president, has over 40 years in public and private education as teacher, principal, and Head of School. He has two adult children and four granddaughters, and recently added a grandson to the count with the adoption of a foster child in Houston. His heart for ministry and his academic credentials and experience are shown below.
- Ph.D in Educational Administration, Iowa State University
- M.Ed in Educational Administration, University of Wyoming
- B.A. in Special Education, University of N. Colorado
- B.S. in Business/Marketing, University of Colorado
- Superintendent of Shiloh Christian School in Arkansas
- Head of school for Northwest Academy, Houston
- Head of school for Cypress Christian School, Houston
- Adjunct professor for the Graduate School Education at Liberty University
- Special Education teacher and director
- Leader of multiple ACSI accreditation teams
Mrs. Bridget Hughes, vice president, has over 7 years in public and private education as a classroom and special education teacher. In addition, she has over 28 years directing and developing National Institute for Learning Development (NILD/Discovery) programs for Christian schools in Texas and Georgia. Mrs. Hughes is married and has two grown children.
- M.Ed. in Special Education, Prairie View A&M
- B.S. in Elementary Education, Texas A&M Texarkana
- NILD Lifetime Professional Certification
- Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist, International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
- Texas State and ACSI Teaching Certifications
- NILD/Discovery Director-Founder, Houston Christian High School , Houston
- NILD/Discovery Director-Founder, Grace Christian School, Longview
- Instructor, consultant and speaker for the National Institute for Learning Development
Ms. Kim Shelby, secretary, currently serves as the Associate Director of Children’s Ministry at Houston’s First Baptist Church. Prior to going into full-time ministry, she taught 19 years at Christian schools in the Houston area, including Kindergarten-Fifth grade at Northwest Academy/First Baptist Academy and Cypress Christian School. She loves to see kids succeed in academics and grow in their love for the Lord. Kim has a real heart for Elim Christian School in part because of her personal experience. She started out in a Special Education school at 3 years old in Dallas, Texas. Her parents were told that she would never “be above average” and would probably never make above a “C” on her report card. With the help of the Lord, her parents, and her teachers, she graduated Valedictorian from Northwest Academy and then went to Texas A&M. She majored in Elementary and Special Education and graduated Cum Laude from Texas A&M. She has a passion to provide education for kids of all learning abilities in a Christian school!
- B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies and Special Education, Texas A&M
- Lifetime Texas Teacher’s Certificate (Elementary Self-Contained Classroom – Grades 1-8; Generic Special Education – Grades PK-12; Elementary Reading – Grades 1-6; Elementary Reading –Grades 1-6; Elementary Math – Grades 1-6)
- Presenter at Texas Teacher Conventions
- Served on several ACSI Accreditation teams
- Teaches Kid’s Sunday School and an Adult Sunday School every week at Houston’s First Baptist
- Elementary Chapel speaker
Mr. Daniel Williams is the Minister to Special Needs Families at Houston’s First Baptist Church. Prior to entering the ministry, he worked for several decades in the legal and corporate worlds. He and his wife of over 25 years, Mary Lynn, have two daughters and a son, who also happens to have Classic Autism Disorder. After living the life of a special needs parent for 15 years, Daniel heard the call to work with special needs friends and their families full-time. He views disability as a platform to display the works of God (John 9:3).
- Juris Doctor, Baylor University School of Law
- B.A. in Business Analysis (Management Information Systems), Texas A&M University
- Former Senior Services Manager, GE Oil & Gas – Drilling Division
- Partner, Williams & Overstreet, P.C. specializing in Estate Planning and Probate Law
- Former Chairman and Committee Member of First Kids Early Childhood Development Center, Houston’s First Baptist Church (NAEYC accredited)
- Former Scoutmaster, Boy Scout Troop 789, First Baptist Academy, Houston, Texas
- Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
- 20+ years Sunday School teacher in Special Needs, Youth, Children’s, and Preschool Divisions, Houston’s First Baptist Church
Mrs. Velda Desadier is an Educational Diagnostician in private practice for the last 12 years. Prior to that, she was a special education teacher in the public school system. Velda is married and has four grown children who are all characters in various stages of transition. Some of her credentials are as follows:
- Ph.D. Candidate in Educational Psychology, University of Houston
- M.Ed. in Special Education, University of Phoenix
- B.S. in Finance, Texas Tech University
- Level III trained Educational Therapist through the National Institute for Learning Development
- Completed certification requirements for Educational Diagnostician at Sam Houston State University
- TEA Certified Educational Diagnostician
Mrs. Ali Smith is the mother of three, one of whom is a young adult on the Autistic spectrum. Her son is a graduate of Elim and is now in post-secondary educational training in the area of computer coding and game design. Having spent years trying to find the right fit for two of her kids who have learning differences, she knows the struggle this can be for families, including the financial burden. She is committed to seeing Elim be a place where children and families can feel accepted and successful.
In 2007, Ali, helped found Eden Home, an online store specializing in organic goods for the home, with revenues of over $30,000 a month upon her departure in 2010. Her involvement in this company was born out of her passion to research products for the home that were beneficial to kids on the Austin Spectrum and others suffering from sensory disorders.
Ali is married to Wayne, who is the Pastor at Bethel Church of Houston where she is heavily involved in the care ministry, women’s ministry and small groups ministry.
- B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Spanish, University of Memphis
Mrs. Karen Hurst, treasurer, is a wife and a mother of three, the youngest of whom is a student at Elim Christian School. Karen has a heartfelt desire to see the school grow and succeed so it can not only continue to provide a nurturing educational environment for her child, but can serve many others like him in the future.
- B.S., Texas A&M University
Previous Boards
2018-2019
Dr. Glenn Holzman, President,
Mrs. Bridget Hughes, Vice President
Mrs. Karen Hurst, Treasurer
Ms. Kim Shelby, Secretary
Mrs. Velda Desadier
Mr. Daniel Williams
2017-2018
Dr. Glenn Holzman, President,
Mrs. Bridget Hughes, Vice President
Mrs. Karen Hurst, Treasurer
Ms. Kim Shelby, Secretary
Mr. Tom Stephens
Mrs. Velda Desadier
Mr. Daniel Williams
2016-2017
Dr. Glenn Holzman, President,
Mrs. Bridget Hughes, Vice President
Mrs. Kim Elgie, Secretary
Mrs. Karen Hurst, Treasurer
Ms. Kim Shelby
Mr. Tom Stephens
2015-2016
Dr. Glenn Holzman, President,
Mrs. Bridget Hughes, Vice President
Mrs. Kim Elgie, Secretary
Rev. David Hornor, Treasurer
Ms. Kim Shelby
Mrs. Karen Hurst
Mr. Tom Stephens
2014-2015
Dr. Glenn Holzman, President,
Mrs. Bridget Hughes, Vice President
Rev. David Hornor, Secretary/Treasurer
Mrs. Dianne Hornor
Steering Committee
Mrs. Dianne Hornor
Rev. David Hornor
Mrs. Bridget Hughes
Mrs. Donna Stumbaugh
Dr. Glenn Holzman
Elim Christian School admits students of any race, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, age, or disability to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Elim Christian School reserves the right to select students on the basis of academic performance, religious commitment, lifestyle choices, and personal qualifications, including a willingness to cooperate with Elim Christian School administration and to abide by its policies.
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