Prince Avenue Christian School is a ministry of Prince Avenue Baptist Church. All PACS Board members are active members of PABC and may serve up to six years of continuous service.
Tom Wells - Chair
Dr. Thomas Wells graduated from Georgia College and State University with a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Minor in chemistry and received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Wells has worked as an internist at Hawthorne Medical Associates since 1997. In 1994 he married his wife, Amy, and they have three children who graduated from Prince Avenue (‘16, ’18, and ’21) and one other child currently enrolled in the school. Dr. Wells began his service on the board in 2012.
Joe Taylor - Vice Chair
Joe Taylor has an ABA from Middle Georgia College and a BBA in accounting from the University of Georgia. He is the Managing Director and Founding Partner of The Avenue Wealth Management Group and a Senior Wealth Advisor. Joe married Hayley in 1994, and they have two children who graduated from Prince (’16 and ’18). Joe began his work with the board in 1999.
Jan Barham - Secretary
Dr. Jan Barham serves as Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Tate Students Center for the University of Georgia. She also serves as Graduate Faculty in the College of Education, instructing courses at the masters and doctoral level.
Jan graduated with a Bachelor of Science in communication sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She then received a Master of Science degree in human development and psychological counseling from Appalachian State University and a Ph.D. in student affairs administration from the University of Georgia.
In 2004, Jan married Ed, and they have two daughters who attend Prince Avenue. Jan joined the board in 2018.
Chad Cleveland
Chad Cleveland serves as the Controller for the University of Georgia and has worked at various levels in the University’s business office since graduating from UGA in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in accounting.
Chad married his wife, LeAnn, in 1995, and they have three sons, one of whom is currently enrolled at Prince and two who are Prince alumni (’18 and ’20). Chad began his service on the board in 2010.
Brian Elrod
Brian Elrod graduated from Luther Rice Bible College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion and Christian worldview. He is a commercial real estate broker with The Elrod Group. Brian married his wife, Kim, in 2000, and they currently have four children attending PACS. Brian joined the board in 2016.
Daniel Gowder
Dr. Daniel W. Gowder graduated from North Georgia College and State University in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in biology, earned his medical doctorate at the Medical College of Georgia in 2004, and completed his emergency medicine residency at Palmetto Health Richland and the University of South Carolina in 2007. Dr. Gowder is American Board of Emergency Medicine certified and has worked at Piedmont Athens Regional since 2010 in the Emergency Department. He served on active duty in the United States Air Force from 2007-2010 and has continued to serve in the Air National Guard since 2010 as a physician and has deployed worldwide. Dr. Gowder married his wife, Rachel, in 2002; they have four children all of whom attend Prince Avenue. He joined the board in 2017.
Scott McCall
Scott McCall works at TRS Labs as Business Manager. He graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science degree in broadcasting. Scott also achieved a Master of Business Administration from the State University of New York and a Master of Arts degree from the College of Journalism at the University of Georgia.
In 1990, Scott married his wife, Christy, who was in the first graduating class of Prince Avenue. They have two children who have graduated from Prince (’14 and ’17) and one daughter still enrolled at the school. Scott joined the board in 2018.
Tommy Murray
Tommy Murray graduated from the University of Georgia in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in middle school education and in 2001 with a Master in Education in instructional technology. He is currently the Senior Director of Talent Development for Prison Fellowship where he leads a team to develop curriculum, training, performance support, and coaching experiences for volunteers, staff, prisoners, and their families. Tommy married Cheryl in 2003, and they have two sons currently enrolled at Prince. Tommy began his service on the board in 2020.
DeAnn Harmon-Smith
Dr. DeAnn Harmon-Smith is a licensed family general dentist who has been in private practice since 1999. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in chemistry from North Georgia College in 1992 and obtained her Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree with honors from Medical College of Georgia in 1996. In 2002, Dr. Smith married her husband, Jeff, and they currently have three children enrolled at Prince. She joined the board in 2020.
Scotty Thurmond
Scotty Thurmond is the founder and owner of Oconee Foundations, LLC and Georgia Pumping Services, LLC. He is also the co-owner of Precision Poured Walls, LLC. Scotty holds an Associate Degree of Mortuary Science from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. Scotty married his wife, Kasi, in 1996 and they have two daughters, one of whom graduated from Prince in 2020 and one who is a current student. Scotty joined the board in 2021.
Karin Usry
Karin Usry is the Director of Board Relations at the University of Georgia Foundation. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and was part of two NCAA Championship gymnastics teams in 1998 and 1999. Karin is also honored to be the first collegiate gymnast to score a perfect 40 in all-around competition. Karin married her husband, Mike, in 1999, and they have two children who attend Prince. Karin joined the board in 2021.