Helping to Guide our School
Calvary Christian School is fortunate to have an outstanding School Ministry Team (SMT), which has been established by the Board of Elders of Calvary Church of Santa Ana to provide oversight and policies for the operation of Calvary Christian School, as a ministry of Calvary Church.
Our School Ministry Team (SMT) meets ten times per year. Meetings are typically held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 5:30pm, upstairs in the Worship Center W-209. Please check with the school office one week prior for potential changes as sometimes the date or room is changed. There is a public comment period at the beginning of each meeting at 5:30pm, where individuals are invited to share feedback about the school. Please contact the school office to review the agendas or meeting minutes.
If you would like to contact the SMT please email ccssmt@ccschool.org or contact the school office.
CCS SMT Policy
(For SMT Member Selection Criteria & Responsibilities, please see Policy Sections: 4.9, 4.1, 4.2, 4.5 & 4.6)
SMT Members
Sean Connally, Chair
Sean and his wife Niccole are both public school teachers who live in Santa Ana and have five children, four of whom attend Calvary Christian School and Preschool. Sean graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Biola University and has a Master’s Degree in education from both Vanguard and Concordia Universities. Sean has taught math in middle school, high school, and online through the University of Phoenix. A strong supporter of Christian education, Sean hopes his experience in public school education will help bring new and innovative ideas to Calvary. The Connally family loves CCS’s commitment to praying for, loving and educating our children.
Josh Beneda, Vice Chair
Josh and his wife Jennifer have two children who have attended Calvary Christian School. He is grateful for how Calvary’s teachers invested in his children and prepared them well for high school. He is excited to serve on the ministry team because he is passionate about seeing the school continued success.
Tim McAveney, Elder 
Tim and his wife Jenn have three children who attended Calvary Christian School from Preschool through 8th grade! His wife grew up at Calvary, and their three children represent 4th generation Calvary members. Tim and Jenn have attended Calvary Church together since moving back to California in 2005. Tim is a physician, working as a cardiologist in Anaheim with Kaiser Permanente. He maintains a busy clinical practice in addition to serving in a leadership role. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing and coaching basketball, skiing, and playing the guitar.
Linda Cowen
In 1986 Dave and Linda enrolled their daughter in 4th grade at CCS and soon began attending church on Sunday mornings. It wasn’t long before they became members and began serving in many different ways. They both taught a 2 year old class on Sundays and later moved up to serve on the high school staff. Linda worked at Calvary School for 17 years before retiring in 2004. Linda is excited to serve on the ministry team being surrounded by godly men and women who love the Lord, and to know that each and every student is loved and prayed for.
Michael Welles
Michael has been on staff at Calvary Church for over 20 years and currently serves as the Executive Pastor leading the administrative team focused on the facility and finances of the church and schools. Michael grew up attending a Christian school and his parents, sister, and wife Kelly have all taught in various Christian schools so he is a strong advocate for Christian education. His daughter attends Calvary Christian School and loves the teachers she’s had and the friends she has made. Michael and Kelly are so grateful for the investment of Calvary in their daughter’s life and look forward to having their second daughter attend when she’s old enough. Michael graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Biola University and an MBA from California State University of Fullerton. He also has his CPA license, teaches accounting classes at Biola, and serves on the boards of SIL International and Children’s Ministry Resources International.
Scott Van Essen
Scott has worked in sales & marketing in the technology industry since graduating with a business marketing degree from Biola University. As an alum of Christian education, he is passionate about excellent Christ-centered education and has witnessed the lasting Kingdom impact in the lives of his family and friends. Scott and Robin have been married 24 years and live in Santa Ana. Their two daughters are successful graduates of Calvary Christian School.
Allison Yates
Allison has attended Calvary Church her entire life. She and her husband Todd met at Calvary when they were kids and have been married since 1990. They have 3 adult children who all attended Calvary Christian School. Allison is a big supporter of Christian school, having attended one herself as a child. She has a strong desire for the family and school to be in sync in order to make the early school years ones that are based on a Christian worldview. She is grateful that her 3 children were able to have a wonderful experience growing and learning during their time at CCS. Allison has served in youth ministry for the past 10 years and is also currently serving in women’s ministries and the lay counseling ministry.
Chip Chop
Chip and his wife Janet live in Santa Ana and have attended Calvary Church for over 30 years. They have four adult children and 12 grandchildren. Two of their children attended Calvary Christian School from preschool through 8th grade. They now have 3 grandchildren attending Calvary Christian School. Chip has a certificate in manufacturing from Coast College. His background is in manufacturing and sales in the electronics industry. Chip now owns and manages rental properties in Orange County, Arizona, and Florida. He is a Life Group leader and co-president of the Encourager’s Class. Chip can see the benefits of his children attending Calvary School and has talked to many people about these benefits.
Alyssa Burgess
Alyssa has been a member of Calvary Church and involved with youth ministry since 2007. She is an alum of Calvary Christian School, Foothill High School, Point Loma Nazarene University and Fuller Seminary. (Can you tell she is passionate about Christ-centered education?) She currently works in full-time ministry and keeps busy as the Area Director for Tustin Young Life, as well as serves in several different leadership roles in the Southcoast Young Life Region. Alyssa is passionate about youth ministry because she believes there is no greater privilege than getting to walk alongside the next generation as they experience Christ and learn to grow in their faith. Some fun facts about her: she loves Jesus, the beach, reading, iced vanilla oat milk lattes and ALL things related to Christmas.