School Board Info

Leverne “PJ” Pertell is all about family. He learned to be a leader in his family because it is so large. His mother is one of 16 children! PJ’s family has been involved at High Point Academy when they enrolled his son during HPA’s very first year. His daughter later enrolled. Both children have thrived as part of the HPA family. PJ has grown to love our school over the years, loving the education and principals instilled. 

PJ, who is from Conway, SC, is a people person. He can have a conversation with anyone and is passionate about helping people excel. He works for Ecolab Chemical Company, but in his free time, he likes to enjoy basketball and time with family.

As a mentor and manager, Kyle enjoys the energy of a motivated team. The CFO for JM Smith Corporation and Pi Kappa Alpha regional president, he looks for ways to inspire and give back - finding pride in the success of his employees and colleagues. He is a CPA and previously served as an auditor at an international accounting firm and Fortune 500 company.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, he now lives with his wife Leslie in Simpsonville, where they often foster schnauzers. They enjoy golf, tennis, and travel. Amelia Island, Aruba, and South Africa are among their favorite destinations. 

Throughout her career, Debbie Wright has been blessed to serve in various roles that help her serve the students, faculty, and parents at HPA. She has worked in education for more than 30 years as a teacher, reading interventionist, instructional coach, assistant principal, principal, Dean of Curriculum, and educational consultant. “I have a unique perspective to view the issues through the lens of a parent, teacher, and administrator,” says the long-time educator.

Born in Asheboro, North Carolina, she now lives in Lyman, South Carolina. She believes HPA has so much to celebrate but must always keep looking forward, improving, and never forgetting why we are here - to serve our students. Married with two children, she is "Gigi” to four wonderful grandsons. While her favorite place to live is in the Upstate, she and her husband love to travel.  She also enjoys reading, spending time with her family and friends, and thrift shopping.  Debbie says, "I just love bargains!"

Dr. Sarah Hock has lived in several states including Texas, Tennessee, New Jersey and North Carolina, but she loves living in South Carolina now. Sarah is Chair of the Pediatric and Perinatal Department at Sherman College. She is married to a firefighter and has two children, who both attend High Point Academy. Three dogs round out their family.

Sarah is passionate about giving back to her community as well as child development. That makes the HPA Board of Directors a great fit. She works with future chiropractors to teach them pediatric and prenatal care as well how to be involved in their communities. She researches brain development and kids with the goal of helping people understand how important a functioning nervous system is for child development 

In her spare time, Sarah likes to garden, do yoga, hike and read. 

Teresa Rollins is a lifelong resident of Spartanburg. She and her husband, Chris, have been married for thirty-eight years. They raised two sons and a daughter and have welcomed a daughter in law into their family. Teresa and her husband live on the property where his dad grew up, where she maintains a vegetable garden, keeps flower beds and helps her sons tend to their animals as well as cut and bale hay!

Teresa is a long time employee of the JM Smith Corporation/Smith Drug Company. While working there, she earned an accounting degree. When her children were young, Teresa worked in an elementary school. She is excited to combine her love of children with her accounting knowledge to be an asset for High Point Academy. Not someone who leaves things unfinished, Teresa does not give up until an answer is reached or a task is completed. She has a lot of experience in multitasking and juggling roles as a wife, mother, employee and church leader. 

Teresa loves to read and spend time in the outdoors. One of her favorite family memories is when they went tent camping in Nantahala to go rafting in July. They had a great time, except the temperature by the river dropped from 95 in the day to the upper 50s and night and mom did not pack blankets. Their children still say they almost froze to death!