Alissa Mauldin, M.S.Ed.
Head of School
I grew up as part of a large family in Dallas. I always wanted to be a teacher and my three younger sisters were my first students. I have always enjoyed reading and some of my favorite memories from childhood include going to the library, checking out stacks of books, and then staying up reading late at night…
I received a Bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from East Texas State University in 1994 along with my certification to teach grades 1-8 with a specialization in reading. I taught third and fourth grade for several years in the public school system. In 2000, I received a Masters Degree in Education Administration from Texas A&M University – Commerce, and I was an assistant principal for several years until I left the public school system to be a full-time mom to our oldest son.
I’ve been married to my college sweetheart, Shane, for 21 years and we have four children who all attend Providence. We enjoy spending time together as a family and we are very blessed to have both of our extended families nearby. Shane and I serve in re|engage which is part of the marriage ministry at our church. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a guiding verse for my life: “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”
Our family has been so blessed by Providence Academy and I am grateful to be part of the PA staff.
Rebecca Hunt, M.Ed.
Founder & Lower school principal
I grew up as the eldest of two girls and had the privilege of using my sister and her friends as my first students at the ripe old age of 8! My parents encouraged me to be a leader and raised me in the admonition of the Lord. I knew God had called me to teach my entire life and couldn’t wait to use those gifts upon graduation from college…
I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Education (specializing in Early Childhood) in 1999 from Baylor University. Immediately following graduation, I began teaching kindergarten for the Mesquite and Rockwall Independent School Districts. In 2006, I completed a Master’s Degree in Education specializing in Reading from Texas A&M-Commerce.
I am married to a wonderful man of God, Zachary, with whom we have three beautiful girls, Audrey, Katherine, and Caroline. Our lives consist of travel, game and movie nights, and attending Watermark Church. My hobbies include cooking, reading, and worshipping the Lord in song!
Upon starting a family, my views about education changed and, more importantly, it got me thinking about whom I want speaking into my girls’ lives. Because of my passion for education and youth, I was prompted to explore other options for schooling. After experiencing both traditional schooling and homeschooling, I saw a strong need in the Lake Ray Hubbard area for education that encompassed both of these. The University-Model gave me an excitement in knowing that my children can be with me the majority of time and receive a top-notch education with their peers. Thus, Providence Academy was called into existence by God in 2009 with one kindergarten class comprised of five students.
I stand upon God’s Word for direction and wisdom in my life and cling to the scripture in Jeremiah 29:11-14. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”
Lindsey Pedersen, M. Classical Education
upper school principal & humanities
I am a Dallas native with family ties to Rockwall. My family and I are now pleased to call Rockwall home and are so excited to be part of Providence Academy. …
I was among the first generation of classically educated students when the classical movement first saw its resurgence. I have since taught at the grammar level in multiple Dallas-area classical schools, homeschooled my own children, and been instrumental in founding a Charlotte Mason-based homeschool co-op. I have a B.A. in Music from Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA and finished my degree vowing that I would never teach. In the mysterious way the Lord works, He gently led me to what has become my passion and calling. I have spent the last several years earning a Master’s degree in Classical Education at the University of Dallas. While there, I worked with Angel Parham and the Nyansa Classical Community to integrate the black intellectual tradition into the classical canon. As part of that project, I helped formalize and develop multi-ethnic virtue-based classical curriculum. My family and I have also recently started the LLF Library, which offers the very best living children’s literature to the Dallas-area community.
I have three children, a loving husband, and a rambunctious dog named Ranger. We love being outside, exploring new places, taking walks, climbing rocks, and playing in the water. We consider each of those activities to be even better if we can do them in the mountains!
Paula Salter, M.Ed.
Academic Advisor & College Counselor
I accepted Jesus Christ as a child and fell in love with our Lord and Savior during my high school years in Rockwall. I received my bachelors degree from Baylor University and my masters degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. I have taught in public and private schools, taking time off to raise my three precious children. I am married to my best friend, Brad. We are the proud grandparents of one of the smartest two year olds I have ever met…
I have a passion for history! Each year as I study and teach this subject, I understand more clearly how the hand of God is revealed in history. I have a passion for middle school students!
It is such a joy to watch the lightbulbs begin to turn on as they are able to make a practical application of Biblical and historical truths. I am so honored to be a part of Providence
Academy!
James Valle, M.P.A
Athletic Director
I was born and raised in Miami, FL, where I earned by Bachelors in Political Science and Masters in Public Administration from Florida International University. In 2006 my career in education-based began when I was hired as a high school head girls basketball coach as well as a physical education department head in Miami. In 2015 I accepted a job at a boarding school near Cleveland, Ohio as the Director of Athletics and head boys basketball coach. It was a wonderful opportunity to lead a large athletic department of over 15 teams and 30 direct reports. As a boarding school I was able to be exposed to numerous different cultures and travel internationally for the school. My starting lineup for my team consisted of five players from five different countries. Learning how to bring players where basketball was taught very differently to them at young ages certainly made me a better coach. After a few years my family and I decided that as warm-blooded South Floridians it was time to move back to a warmer climate….
In 2019 I accepted an opportunity at Poetry Community Christian School to be their Director of Athletics and head girls basketball coach. I added the boys varsity team to my duties for the 2021-22 season as well. Over my career I’ve been fortunate to lead teams to seven district/conference championship, a 2018 NCSAA National Championship, a 2021 State Runner-Up finish and earned the 2018 Conference Coach of the Year Award. From 2010-2014 I served on the FHSAA Coaches Advisory Committee representing Region 4. Most importantly, over ten players have gone on to play collegiately from my teams and many others have gone on to be successful in their careers and accomplish great things in their lives.
My family and I are grateful that God opened a door allowing us to join the Providence Academy family. My wife Elizabeth will be on the faculty and my kids will be joining the student body over the next couple of years. We love living in Rockwall and are members at Lakepointe Church.
Sandi Davis
Office Manager & Assistant Athletic Director
I grew up in Greenville, TX. After graduating from high school, I attended Texas A&M University-Commerce, where I studied business management. I worked as an office manager and property accountant before leaving the workforce to focus on my family. I am happily married to my husband, Michael. We have 5 children, a son-in-law, and one grandchild. Our family is very active in sports, both coaching and playing, and we spend most of our free time courtside or at the ball fields. ….
Our two youngest children attend Providence Academy and we have been a part of this amazing school for over a decade. When reflecting on our school, and my hopes for my children’s future, this Bible verse speaks clearly to me. Romans 12:2: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Dawn Borges
Office Assistant
I was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but Texas stole my heart when I moved to Dallas at the age of 7. My family eventually returned to Louisiana, where I spent most of my school aged years. My mother was an educator, and I was extremely fortunate to attend a Christian School throughout primary and secondary educational years….
Alongside my father and mother, I spent many years serving in inner city ministries throughout Texas and Louisiana, and I also spent multiple summers on the mission field in Guadalajara, Mexico.
After highschool, I returned to my beloved Cowboys state and attended Southeastern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie. Unfortunately, after freshman year, I had to return to Louisiana for financial reasons. Upon return to Louisiana, I sought employment in the retail sector, where I was promoted to management within a few short months. While working full-time in retail management, I completed my undergraduate in Textile and Apparel Merchandising at Louisiana State University.
In 2007, I moved to a suburb of Portland, Oregon for work, but the call on my heart for ministry was growing increasingly harder to ignore. After 15 years in retail store management/retail banking, I began my post graduate study in Biblical Studies at George Fox University. My heart has always been for ministry, but the pressures of this life distracted me from that purpose, but it was a yearn that I could no longer ignore.
I married by best friend, Dean, in 2010 and shortly after I began Health Coaching, as I saw it as an opportunity to serve the broken and bring the way of Jesus into all areas of our personhood, the body, soul and spirit.
I pressed pause on my graduate studies to support my husband’s dream of opening a gym, and in 2012 that dream was realized when we opened our fitness studio in Sherwood, Oregon. Although I was unable to complete my graduate degree in Biblical Studies at a university level, I became a devout student of the written word of God. There is no place I would rather be than studying the Bible and deepening my relationship with my Savior.
My husband and I spent 12 years in the health industry together, where we built an amazing community of health that continues to thrive today even in our absence. With my heart longing to be home in the South and closer to family, God paved the way for our family to move to Texas in January of 2022.
In searching for a classical learning in school in the Dallas area for our son, Deacon, Providence Academy wasn’t one our options but it was our only choice. We chose to move to the Rockwall area, because we believed God drew us to Providence. We are so excited for all that God is doing in the school and in the lives of all its students and staff, and we choose to remain faithful as it continues to grow.