Lincoln received his B.A. in History from the University of Notre Dame, his J.D. from The University of Florida College of Law, and his Ed.M., Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University. In December 2002, Lincoln assumed the responsibilities as Academy Prep Center of Tampa’s Head of School, and since 2005 has also served as Vice President of Operations overseeing the operations of all Academy Prep campuses. In 2001 and 2002, he was Chairman of English for the Children of Massachusetts, the successful initiative petition campaign to reform the bilingual education laws of Massachusetts. He was subsequently invited by Governor-elect Mitt Romney to serve on Mr. Romney’s transition team through January 2003. From 1997 to 2001, he was Principal of Chelsea High School in Chelsea, MA, as well as the lead principal of Chelsea’s two middle schools. He has also served as Assistant to the President of Boston University, Secretary to the Boston University Board of Trustees, Assistant to the Chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Education, a community columnist for the editorial board of the Tampa Tribune, and a member of the Board of Trustees for Jesuit High School (Tampa). He currently serves as a member of the boards of trustees for the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa Bay History Center, and Cristo Rey High School of Tampa. Lincoln also serves on the Citizens Review Board for the Tampa Police Department and on the Community Advisory Board of the Junior League of Tampa.
Terri earned her accounting degree from the University of South Florida. Terri is also licensed by the Internal Revenue Service as an Enrolled Agent and has been the president and owner of Balanced Accounting and Tax since 2009. Additionally, Terri worked for 10 plus years as a staff accountant for Dwight Darby and Co. and Ennis CPA Associates, PA. Her private industry experience has been in the non-profit area where she has held the position of CFO for both the Tampa Bay Builders Association and The Cambridge School, a pre K3 through 12th grade Christian school. Terri and her husband Ron, who was previously the IT Coordinator at Academy Prep, have five children and four grandchildren. Terri is honored to help Academy Prep fulfill its vision by helping our students reach their fullest potential.
Director of Information Technology, Academy Prep Foundation
Chris originally hails from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Millersville University with a BA in Music Business and Technology. Before he started working in schools, Chris worked for Apple in New York City as a Certified Technician and Trainer for almost ten years. He has previously worked as a Technology Specialist for independent schools on the Upper East Side in NYC, and in Potomac MD, just outside of Washington D.C. Chris relocated to Tampa with his family over the summer of 2020, and he’s thrilled to be a part of the Academy Prep team.
Director of Marketing and Communications, Academy Prep Foundation
Originally from Wisconsin, Sarah McDonald brings a dynamic background in visual storytelling, branding, design, and creative arts to her role as Director of Marketing and Communications for the Academy Prep Foundation. Prior to joining Academy Prep, she built a successful career as a professional photographer, graphic designer, and business owner. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in Advertising with a minor in Public Relations from the University of Wisconsin, as well as a degree in Digital Photography. The daughter and wife of educators, and a former adjunct professor herself, she is deeply passionate about the transformative power of education and believes that the future of our society depends on how we support and empower the next generation. Sarah spent seven years serving Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg in the Advancement department before joining the Foundation team, where she now supports all campuses in sharing Academy Prep’s mission and impact with the broader community. She is also the founder of the Student Leadership Council at the St. Petersburg campus, where she continues to inspire scholars to grow as leaders, change-makers, and lifelong learners.
Kelly Cockerham is a seasoned professional grant writer experienced in researching and developing grant proposals for corporations, private foundations, and government entities. With 20+ years ofexperience writing and editing projects across both business and nonprofit sectors, she has developed a particular passion for youth development, mental health, arts, workforce development, and animal welfare causes. She received a BA in Creative Writing from the University of South Florida, and an MFA in Writing and Literature from the Bennington Writing Seminars. She has a smattering of poems published in literary journals, including The Leveler, Soundzine, IthacaLit, and Pebble Lake Review. When not chasing words and counting characters in grant proposals, she can be found reading a book, working in her butterfly garden, or in the service of her cats. While she has lived in several places across the country, she is thrilled to be back where her heart resides, Tampa Bay.
Originally from New Jersey, Andrea earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Statistics with a concentration in Data Analytics from Florida Southern College. Passionate about the transformative potential of data, Andrea is excited to be able to use her skills to enact positive change. In her free time, she enjoys geocaching, reading, and enthusiastically following baseball, finding joy in not just the game, but in the shared passion that brings people together.
Originally from Spain, Hector relocated to Virginia Beach, Virginia, at the age of 10 and later moved to Tampa, Florida. With a remarkable tenure of over 10 years in the IT field, he is currently pursuing his B.S. in Cyber Security and Network Security from Norwich University. Previously, Hector held the esteemed positions of IT manager and Software Developer at a financial blog company situated in Saint Petersburg, Florida. His enthusiasm knows no bounds as he eagerly anticipates joining the Academy Prep team, ready to contribute his expertise and passion to the organization. Hector currently serves the Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg campus.
A Florida native, Dan was born in Tampa and has called Lakeland home for many years. Before joining the education field, he spent nearly two decades in radio—starting out as a board operator and fill-in DJ, and eventually advancing to become the IT Director for an independent radio group. At Academy Prep Center of Lakeland, Dan brings his technical expertise and passion for learning to support students, staff, and campus operations. His wife, Andi, is also part of the Academy Prep team, teaching science on the Lakeland campus. Together, they share a home with two dogs, two cats, and a shared love of curiosity, science, and education. Outside of work, Dan is an avid reader with a strong interest in cosmology, space exploration, and philosophy. A lifelong music enthusiast, he’s been collecting records since his teen years and continues to explore music across all genres.
William Smith brings more than 15 years of experience in technical and IT support, having worked in the field since 2011. Originally from Greenville, North Carolina, William earned his associate degree from ITT Technical Institute and is a proud U.S. Navy veteran. Throughout his career, he has enjoyed using his technical knowledge and problem-solving skills to help others, and he is excited to bring that same service-minded approach to his role. Outside of work, William is a proud father of two sons and enjoys spending time with his family. In his free time, you can usually find him playing video games or watching sports, especially soccer and football. William is excited to be part of the team and looks forward to helping others while putting his years of IT experience to work.
