Board of Trustees
Andy Rountree, a Covenant College graduate with a degree in Business, is a partner at Palmetto Insurance, where he specializes in risk management and insurance solutions across the Carolinas and Georgia. He began his career in insurance sales, focusing on the construction industry, and now helps lead Palmetto with a commitment to growth, customer service, and strong relationships.
Andy joined the New Covenant School Board in 2018, serving on the finance committee to enhance financial clarity and long-term stability. As the first board member who is also a former NCS student, he has a deep-rooted connection to the school. A lifelong member of New Covenant Church, he is the son of the founding pastor, the husband of a former NCS preschool administrator, and the father of five current and future NCS students. Andy sees his service as an opportunity to invest in the next generation of the Church, believing that Christian education has an eternal impact. Inspired by Ephesians 2:10, he is honored to be part of NCS’s mission to equip students to be complete in Christ for generations to come.
Andy Rountree | Chairman
Jodie Hawthorne earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Early Intervention from Clemson University and a Master’s in Substance Abuse/Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from East Carolina University. She is an associate member of the Orton-Gillingham Academy and is currently working toward her certified level of membership. Her professional experience includes roles as an early interventionist, case manager with the SC Autism Society, and Learning and Behavioral Coordinator at New Covenant School. She now serves as a tutor and head tutor of the primary division at Camperdown Academy.
Jodie first joined the NCS Board in 2018, later serving on staff from 2019 to 2022, before rejoining the board in 2023. She brings a valuable perspective as a parent, former teacher, and specialist in learning needs. Originally from Seneca, SC, she has been married for nearly 13 years, and her daughter, a rising sixth grader, has attended NCS since K4. As a member of New Covenant Church, she is passionate about the school’s mission and is committed to its long-term health and development. She hopes to help ensure NCS remains strong for future generations by offering insight from her diverse experiences in education, special learning needs, and as an invested school parent.
Jodie Hawthorne
David Keese earned his undergraduate degree from Lander University and a Master’s in Physical Therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina. He began his career at the renowned Hughston Sports Medicine Hospital in Columbus, GA, working alongside top orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists. In 2004, he moved to Anderson to establish Upstate Physical Therapy, where he has been in private practice for over two decades.
Since joining the New Covenant School Board in 2016, David has played a key role in improving healthcare benefits for staff, focusing on lowering costs while enhancing access to quality medical care. Originally from Westminster, SC, he has been married to Casey for 19 years, and their daughters, Linlee and Emelia, have been at NCS since the start of their education. Previously serving on the boards of Family Promise and Hopewell Fire Department, he felt called to serve the largest ministry of New Covenant Church—one that directly impacts his own children and the broader school community.
David Keese
Dr. Kyle Locke brings a wealth of experience in both education and ministry, having earned his undergraduate degree in Secondary Teaching Mathematics from Clemson University, followed by a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Erskine Theological Seminary. He later completed his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. With a background spanning both pastoral ministry and teaching, Kyle has served as a youth leader and associate pastor in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination and has been a dedicated educator in Anderson School District Five since 2004.
Kyle and his wife, Ann-Janette, have been active members of New Covenant Church since 2011. Their four children—John Thomas ('22), Abigail ('23), Noah ('25), and Anna ('29)—are all graduates or current students of NCS. The Locke family is deeply involved in discipleship and home ministry groups, and some even lend their musical talents to the worship team. With his combined expertise in education and theology, Kyle plays a key role in shaping school policy and ensuring that NCS remains steadfast in its educational and spiritual mission.
Dr. Kyle Locke
Dr. Ronald C. Sconyers, a native of Chester, SC, is the senior partner at Anderson Family Dental Care, which he founded in 1998. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from Furman University, a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the Medical University of South Carolina, and completed a General Practice Residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. In addition to his dental career, he has served on several non-profit boards, including Habitat for Humanity, Anderson Sunshine House, Anderson Arts Council, and Anderson Free Clinic, where he was vice-chair and Dental Director.
A longtime member of New Covenant Church, Dr. Sconyers has been actively involved with New Covenant School, previously serving as board chair and on the Head of School search committee before being appointed as a permanent board member. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children—Leila Katherine ('19), Wren Elizabeth ('21), and Townes Coleman. Committed to the mission of classical Christian education, he believes in its impact on students, families, and culture for God’s kingdom and prays that his service on the board will further the work of NCS according to God's will.
Dr. Ron Sconyers
Rob Wright has been an active member of the New Covenant School community since 2018, when he joined the board. He is a dedicated father to two NCS graduates and a current student, as well as the husband of NCS’s beloved art teacher.
Beyond his involvement with the school, Rob serves as a ruling elder at New Covenant Church, where he is deeply invested in the church’s ministry and mission. An avid runner and cyclist, he enjoys the fellowship of New Covenant Church and the opportunity to support both the school and church in meaningful ways.
Rob’s motivation for serving on the board stems from his firsthand experience of the lasting impact of classical Christian education. Having seen the fruit of NCS in the lives of his children, he is committed to ensuring that future students receive the same Christ-centered, academically rigorous education. He firmly believes that investment in God's church and kingdom work is never wasted, standing on the promise of 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”