Dr. Chitwood is in his 26th year of Christian school leadership and in his 4th year leading Mingo Valley Christian. He has an Ed.D. in Professional Development from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), an M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from UALR, and an M.Div. in Theology from Vanderbilt University. He also has a B.S. in Physics from Rhodes College. Dr. Chitwood has served in leadership for growth in excellence in Christian schools from enrollments of 300 to 1200 in Arkansas, Florida and Connecticut before coming to Oklahoma.

“As with parenting our children for their good and God’s glory, Christian education is a hard and high calling. It also is such an incredible privilege that our Lord calls us to join His work in the lives of these children. They need the hope and the truth of a Christ-centered worldview to navigate a challenging culture, and they need His grace ministered through our loving relationships with them to grow strong in the certainty of Christ’s love for them.”

Mrs. Padgett is Mingo Valley Christian’s admissions director and office manager. She has served our school for ten years, and she’s the parent of three MVC students. She’s often the first interaction new families have with MVC, and her warmth and professionalism helpfully guide those seeking information about the school.

“It is very rewarding to walk parents through the admissions process from their first tour to ultimately helping them feel settled in their new school home. In my role, I’m able to observe faculty interactions with students and families’ interactions with other families, and I am blessed every day by the way our school family loves and support each other. I love telling new families about this community and helping them find their own place here.”

Mrs. Chatham has been our school nurse for four years, and she also teaches a high school nutrition class. She has a B.S. in Nursing from West Texas A&M University, and she has taught pediatric nursing at the college level. She is well equipped to handle everything from scrapes and bumps to significant chronic medical conditions. She also teaches a 7th grade health class, and coaches our jump rope team and pom squad.

“I feel like I have over 200 children! I love that God has trusted me enough to be a stand-in mom for these kids during the school day. I love my relationships with them, and that they come to me with spiritual or medical problems. When a kid comes to me and they’re sick or scared, I’m able to get down on their level and provide comfort. For kids with serious medical issues, I feel blessed to be on their healthcare team and help their parents feel safer about their child’s school day.”