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Southern Preparatory academy

Faculty and Staff

Mark Morgan

Director of Facilities/CFO

Mark Morgan serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Facilities at Southern Preparatory Academy, where he has been a dedicated member of the team since 2018. Previously, he served as the Academic Dean, bringing more than 30 years of experience in education and leadership to the role. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and a Master of Arts from American Military University. A proud veteran, Mr. Morgan served 10 years in the U.S. Army and Pennsylvania National Guard as a maintenance officer, platoon leader, company commander, and battalion staff officer. Throughout his education career, he has served as dorm supervisor, and teacher of math, science, and history, as well as in key administrative roles including Middle School Director, Vice President of Administration and Finance, Business Officer, and Interim Head of School. Mr. Morgan’s extensive experience and steady leadership continue to strengthen the operations and community of Southern Prep.

Tyler Droke

Institutional Advancement Coordinator

Tyler Droke serves as the Institutional Advancement Coordinator, bringing a dual focused approach of high quality media and strategic innovation. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona with two Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Management and Entrepreneurship. He currently applies his entrepreneurial drive while simultaneously running a successful media company and launching a new, health-focused venture. Tyler is actively helping to build the Student Government Association at Southern Prep. And in his free time, he loves to be active and playing soccer, volleyball, and pickleball.

Lily Kowtko

Archivist

J.R. Rodriguez

Athletic Director

Julie Goree

College & Career Counselor, Registrar

Ms. Julie Goree is a graduate of Auburn University with a BS degree in Education. She began her career at Russell Corporation, where she worked for over 25 years serving in roles from Quality Control Laboratory Manager to Cutting and Sewing Department Managers.. She spent 15 years with the Alexander City Board of Education as the Site Coordinator for the school system’s after-school program before coming to Southern Prep Academy as the Registrar and College & Career Counselor, helping guide students in their academic planning and future pathways. Ms. Goree also represents District 3 on the Alexander City Council. Her professional interests include youth development, career readiness, and community engagement.

Dr. Sharon Dean

Humanities Department Head

Dr. Sharon Dean has dedicated much of her life to public service and education, with four years of military service and over 25 years in law enforcement. She received degrees from Alabama State University, Troy University, and Northcentral University in Phoenix, Arizona. After teaching elementary school for 16 years, she served as Education Director at a residential facility for four years, and is now leads the Humanities Department at Southern Preparatory Academy. She is the proud parent of three daughters and the grandparent to nine wonderful grandchildren. Dr. Dean loves teaching, reading mystery novels, enjoying the outdoors—especially in the fall—and exploring a variety of foods.

Pam Webber

Director of Technology & IT

Pam Webber is the Director of Information Technology at Southern Preparatory Academy. Originally from New Rochelle, NY, Pam holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Washington University in St. Louis (1993) and became a Certified Financial Planner™ in 2012. With over 20 years of experience in IT, her expertise includes computer programming, network analysis, project management, and implementing office infrastructure. Pam joined Southern Prep in 2017. She is married with three children, including two sons who are proud Southern Prep alumni.

Fiona Ruble

ELA & ESL Instructor

Christine Curtis

Instructor

Christine Curtis is a new math instructor in the STEM department. She joins Southern Prep after 25 years in the private sector, working as a Technology Project Manager. As a PM, she has worked in various sectors: photo, web development, health care, banking, internet search, and aerospace. She has worked for many companies, including ArcSoft, Deltanet (part of Delta Dental of CA), Wells Fargo, and Boeing. Prior to the private sector, Christine graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1994. She was commissioned as an Ensign in the Coast Guard and served her first two years as a naval engineer on the Coast Guard Cutter CHASE. The CHASE conducted Search-And-Rescue cases mostly in the Bering Sea, carried out Fisheries Law Enforcement in the Bering Sea, and spearheaded Migrant Interdiction off the coast near San Diego. She then worked at CG Headquarters in the Equal Opportunity department, and later at CG Pacific Area in the Contingency Planning department. Christine hails from San Jose, CA and moved to Alex City, AL in the summer of 2025 from Seattle, WA. She is married to a former Marine (USMC) and has three wonderful children, one of whom attends Southern Prep.

Webb Newman

Instructor

Webb Newman holds a History degree with a Religion minor from Huntingdon College. He also studied history and played football at Troy University. Before joining Southern Preparatory Academy, Webb coached baseball, basketball, and football at Montgomery Academy for four years while completing his studies. At Southern Prep, Webb has taught courses including World History, U.S. History I & II, Health, World Religion, Intro to the Bible, and Personal Finance during his tenure. He serves as the offensive coordinator for the varsity football team and head coach for varsity baseball, combining his passion for athletics and education to mentor cadets both in the classroom and on the field.

Chuck Webber

Instructor

Charles (Chuck) Webber, a former U.S. Air Force Sergeant, serves on the academic faculty at Southern Preparatory Academy. An alumnus of the Academy (1975–1977), he holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Southern Illinois University–Carbondale. During his military service, he was a Computer Programmer with the 1500th Computer Services Squadron and received the Air Force Commendation Medal for his work on the SARSAT/COSPAS system. With over 40 years in Information Technology, Chuck has led enterprise systems and business transformation projects across defense, logistics, finance, and retail, including serving as Director of Enterprise Architecture and Business Intelligence for LBrands. He has been part of Southern Prep’s faculty since 2017 and is married with five children, including two alumni of the Academy.

Andrew Morris

Technical Specialist

Andrew Morris, a 2024 graduate of Southern Union State Community College, discovered his passion for electronics at a young age. He began working with computers at just 12 years old, sparking a lifelong interest in building and repairing them. This passion led him to pursue an Associate’s degree in Computer Information Systems, making him the first in his family to earn a college degree after two challenging years of study. Dedicated to his craft, Andrew enjoys sharing his knowledge with others who share his interests and continually seeks opportunities to expand his expertise.

LTC Ed Aycock, Ph.D.

Commandant of Cadets & Dean of Student Affairs

Dr. Edwin Aycock joined Southern Preparatory Academy as Commandant of Cadets in January 2025. A distinguished U.S. Army veteran with over 30 years of service, he began as a combat medic in Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. Commissioned in 2001 as a Distinguished Military Honor Graduate from South Carolina State University, he has held key roles including Executive Officer to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Brigade Executive Officer at Walter Reed, and White House Liaison for the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Dr. Aycock holds a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Webster University and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Delaware. With extensive leadership, teaching, and counseling experience, he mentors and guides Southern Prep’s cadets to succeed academically and personally.

2LT Gabe Pless

Executive Officer

MSG Kimberlyn Burns

Junior Army Instructor

MSG Kimberlyn Burns brings a monumental 25-year career in the United States Army right into the classroom. A native of Columbus, Georgia, she has served on active duty as the Executive Administrative Assistant to a Regimental Command Sergeant Major, a position following her role as a Battalion S-3 Sergeant Major. Her career is defined by mentorship and leadership development. She served nearly five years as a Senior Drill Sergeant across both Basic Training (Fort Jackson, SC) and AIT (Fort Gordon), directly shaping the next generation of soldiers. Additionally, she has held vital roles as a Brigade Equal Opportunity Advisor and a Master Resilience Program instructor. She has also earned her degree in Information Technology and is a part of the team responsible for starting a Cybersecurity program at Southern Prep!

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