Stephen Gay, Executive Director
Stephen Gay joins Bradford Prep as Executive Director and brings 30+ years of educational experience. Stephen is a graduate of NC State with a BS in Secondary Math Education. Stephen’s administrative training occurred at Appalachian State University, earning a Master’s in School Leadership, an EdS. in School Administration, and coursework toward his EdD. Stephen’s educational journey has spanned over thirty years. He taught high school math at Hickory High and became an administrator with Hickory Public Schools, and was the bus coordinator for the district. In 1999, Stephen helped open American Renaissance Middle School in Statesville as the first Principal. In 2007, ARMS was the first charter school in NC to merge with another charter to form American Renaissance School, which continues to thrive in downtown Statesville. In 2013, Stephen joined East Wake Academy as their Superintendent, where he oversaw the growth of the school and six consecutive years of growth prior to the COVID Pandemic. With twenty-plus years in charter schools, Stephen has had the opportunity to work with and for so many great educators, but he is most proud of the many opportunities put in place for kids to find success. Stephen has been married for thirty-one years and lives in Statesville. Stephen and his wife, Kathleen, both graduated from NC State and are both educators. They have three grown children. Family is important to both of them, and they live by the motto "family first."

Kelly Painter, Director of Student Services
Kelly, a co-founder of the school, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a minor in Psychology, and a Master’s Degree in Counseling. Prior to beginning her graduate work, Kelly was the Director of the non-profit organization Robert H. Mollohan Family Charitable Foundation. During her graduate work at UNC Charlotte, Kelly worked in the Department of Special Education as a graduate assistant for a federal grant program focused on developing a literacy curriculum for students with moderate and severe disabilities. Kelly completed her counseling practicum and internships in the Cabarrus County Schools and then went on to work as a school counselor in Cabarrus County.  Kelly has three children that attend Bradford Prep.

Karin Drescher, Director of Operations
Co-founder of the school, Karin, holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management.  While Kelly manages the academic side of the school, Karin handles the business side of running the organization.  She spent most of her professional years in Information Technology before developing a food service business from the ground up. Karin has led the facility development effort for the school as well as the enrollment process and has overseen the technology program at Bradford Prep.Karin and her husband James have four children, three girls, and a boy, and live in Highland Creek.

Shelly Staton, Finance Director

Mia England, EC Director
Hello!  I'm Mia England, a 1992 graduate of East Carolina University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Special Education. I have taught in Virginia, Texas, and South Carolina; however, most of my time has been in North Carolina. I am a native of North Carolina, originally from the eastern corner of the state, from a town with one stoplight. I earned my master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Queens University. I have two wonderful, grown sons who mean the world to me and a dog named Brooklyn. When I’m not at work, I can usually be found at my favorite Crossfit box. I am excited to be a part of the Bradford team.

Monica Chapman-Williams, Lower School Principal 
Monica Chapman-Williams graduated, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, from the University of Georgia in 1998. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education at the University of North Carolina Charlotte and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership and School Administration at Queen's University. She has been in the field of education since 2000, with a few years off to care for her young children. She taught 1st through 5th grades in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and a private Christian school in Mooresville, NC. In addition, she coached beginning teachers, in the public school system, as an instructional coach. In 2016, she transitioned to Bradford Preparatory School. Monica lives in Huntersville and is passionate about her faith, her family, and serving women and children in the community. She enjoys reading, gardening, writing, exploring the great outdoors, and being a mommy to her three children and one fur baby, Mason.

Angel Oliphant, Lower School Assistant Principal
Angel served Bradford Prep as the Lower School Instructional Coach last year and will take on the K-4 Assistant Principal & K-5 Curriculum Coach roles for the 2024-2025 School Year.  Angel graduated from UNC Charlotte with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Supervision.  She earned an additional Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Scranton University.  She is also proud to share that she earned National Board Certification in 2001.  Angel has served as the Elementary Director in Cabarrus County Schools and as a principal in Iredell-Statesville Schools for the past 13 years.  Prior to that, she served in various roles in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for 15 years. Angel lives in Charlotte with her wonderful husband, three kids, and a dog named Kali.  She is very passionate about ensuring all students are provided a high-quality education from effective teachers and is excited to share her knowledge, experience, and expertise with the Bradford  Prep community.

Chris Locke,  Middle School Principal
Chris Locke graduated with his Bachelor's degree in Childhood Education from SUNY Cortland in 2007. He went on to earn his Master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction Design in 2014 from Ashford University. He taught 5th grade in Mecklenburg County for 7 years before moving to Bradford Prep in 2014. He taught 5th and 6th grade Social Studies at Bradford for 2 years before moving into Administration. He has been at Bradford since it opened in 2014 and has had the opportunity to help develop multiple programs and curriculums. He is passionate about students and his family. Chris lives in Charlotte with his wife, Jessie, and three sons, Jackson, Brady, and Anderson. He enjoys time with his family, woodworking, and spending time outside with his boys.

Sarah Grafton, Middle School Assistant Principal
Sarah Grafton graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 1996.  She went on to earn her Master of Arts in School Administration from Appalachian State University. 
She has served in education from birth to high school in private, public, and charter schools beginning in 1996.  She has served as a teacher, accountability and curriculum coordinator, assistant principal, and interim principal.  She served as the Dean of Students for grades K-6 at Bradford and will take on the 5th-8th Grade Assistant Principal role for the 2024-2025 school year.
Sarah lives in Concord with her husband, Rich.  Her two sons attend classes at UNCC.  She is passionate about her faith and family. She also enjoys reading and taking pictures. 

Billie Little, Upper School Principal
Billie Little earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Queens College in 1987 and her Master of Arts degree in School Administration from Gardner-Webb University in 2007. She taught Social Studies for 18 years at East Mecklenburg High School. After leaving the classroom, she was the testing coordinator and the Dean of Students before becoming an Assistant Principal. Billie coached cheerleading, volleyball, basketball, and softball during her time at EMHS. She retired in 2017 after 30 years at East Mecklenburg HS. Billie joined the staff at Bradford Prep in the summer of 2017 as the US Principal. She lives in Matthews with her husband and three children, Olen, Hannah, and Luke. In her free time, she enjoys cheering for her children at their athletic events, traveling, and spending time with her family, especially her two granddaughters.

Dr. Colleen Grosse, Upper School Assistant Principal
Colleen E. Grosse joins Bradford Preparatory School as the High School Assistant Principal. She brings a deep belief in education as a collective effort and has already felt the warmth, dedication, and community spirit that make Bradford such a special place.A first-generation college graduate, Colleen’s path to education was anything but traditional. She earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers Business School in Marketing and Criminology, where her experience developing and teaching a first-year course sparked her passion for education. After becoming certified in high school mathematics, she moved from New Jersey to Charlotte and began her career teaching math at Garinger High School. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of roles, teaching multiple levels of mathematics, earning ESOL certification, and supporting students across diverse learning needs. Colleen earned her Master’s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University, where she studied the neuroscience of learning, and later completed her Doctorate in Education at UNC Charlotte. Her doctoral research focused on teacher retention and the principal behaviors that influence educators to stay in Title I high schools. She has served as an assistant principal at both the high school and middle school levels, most recently at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. Across every role, Colleen’s greatest joy has been supporting students, staff, and families and building genuine relationships at all levels of a school community. She looks forward to supporting Bradford Bears as they grow academically, socially, and behaviorally on their path to college and beyond.