Peter Hartwig was moved to tears during an April 2024 chapel service in which the boys loudly showed their approval for his hiring as the next Chaplain.
He was ordained as a deacon in January 2026 and will be ordained as a priest in October 2026.
Mr. Hartwig has been at Christ School for five years now and previously served as Director of Spiritual Life, a role in which he oversaw the chapel program and anchored the school pillar of Spirituality. He has also taught Public Speaking and three other religion courses.
Mr. Hartwig was an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia, receiving his B.A. in Religious Studies & Classics in 2016. He then went on to receive master’s degrees from the University of Cambridge (Master of Philosophy) and Princeton Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity).
Mr. Hartwig's employment before Christ School included posts at Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., and the Westminster Theological Centre in the United Kingdom. He was also a Communications Associate for Global Endowment Management, LP out of Charlotte.
Mr. Hartwig lives on campus.
Point guards are the glue that holds any good basketball team together.
Associate Director of Admission and Basketball Program Director Erasto Hatchett has always led from the front and has strengthened Christ School with his depth of educational knowledge and experience.
Mr. Hatchett grew up playing basketball in one of the hotbeds for the sport (Lexington, Ky.) and was a point guard at the college level for Johnson C. Smith University. He knew then how to motivate and make teammates better, lessons which he carried into roles in administration, admissions, teaching, coaching, and as a case manager at schools in Charlotte and Raleigh for 22 years.
Prior to coming here in 2023, Mr. Hatchett was Athletic Director, head basketball coach, and a physical education teacher at Charlotte’s Northside Christian Academy from 2016 to 2022, and prior to that was Assistant Director of Admissions at Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh from 2010 to 2016.
He has been married for more than 20 years to his wife, Tiffany, and they have two daughters, Aaliyah and Madison. Mr. Hatchett’s hobbies include basketball, naturally, as well as pickleball, table tennis and barbering.
History instructor Daniel Hicks can motivate and relate to boys, whether the setting is the classroom or the dugout.
The former college baseball player – and barely “former” as he was on the Kings University roster as of spring 2025 – joined the faculty only months later.
Mr. Hicks graduated from Rhodes College in 2024 with a B.A. in History, then used his fifth year of playing eligibility to pursue a master's in Business Administration as a student-athlete at King. He formerly interned at the Memphis Museum of Science and History.
Daniel's passions outside of baseball and school are fly-fishing and hanging out with his wife, Jazmin, and their cats.
New Spanish instructor Henry Hirschfeld found his vocation by being an independent school student himself.
Mr. Hirscheld credits his middle school and high school teachers for demonstrating the value of cross-cultural fluency and sparking in him a deep curiosity of the Spanish-speaking world. This curiously led Henry to study at Kenyon College, where he graduated with distinction in 2022.
Mr. Hirschfeld spent the first four years of his professional career in the financial services industry, educating and advising clients on retirement planning.
In his free time, he enjoys weightlifting, trail running, and laughing with his two older siblings.
Dean of Students Drew Hyche '94 continues to be a beloved mainstay of the administration in his 27th year.
Mr. Hyche was a natural choice to be the 2023 winner of the Water Carrier Award, which annually goes to a faculty or staff member who largely works behind the scenes and embodies the ideals of compassion, humor, a sense of history, humility, loyalty, the ability to teach, and an unshakeable commitment to the Christ School community.
"You won't find many people working here with more personal knowledge of Christ School," Head of School Dr. Sean Jenkins P'29 said at the time.
After graduating from Clemson University in 1998, Mr. Hyche came back to his high school alma mater to work as an intern in Residential Life and to coach basketball and tennis. Since then, he has worked in Student Activities, Admissions, and Student Life.
Mr. Hyche also serves as one of the Administrators on Duty and as one of the advisors to Form VI (12th grade). He lives on campus with his two children, Harper and Burns.
Aspiration, boundless energy, and a keen relatability among all constituents help to characterize the leadership driving recent growth and innovation seen at Christ School.
Sean K. Jenkins, Ph.D. was appointed as the 14th Head of School in July 2021.
The Board of Trustees approved the first strategic plan of his term a year later, and then a campus master plan. The faculty and staff have followed Dr. Jenkins's example – always striving for more with a strong sense of mission, while maintaining a reverence for community traditions of the past 126 years. And in turn, students have never been better prepared as citizens, scholars, and young men for the world that awaits them following graduation.
Some highlights:
Enrollment remains at or near record levels – the 2026-27 student body is expected to draw from 14 different states and 10 countries. A total of 308 boys for the start of the 2024-25 academic year was a Christ School record.
Academic Rigor is never more evident with the offering of 27 Advanced Placement classes, 33 Honors classes, and six Advanced Studies classes (college-level courses not offered by AP), including four Math classes beyond Calculus. Christ School has received the highest possible designation from the AP Honor Roll (Platinum) in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The Class of 2026 earned more than $5.3 million in scholarships during their time as Greenies, a school record.
Two Programs of Distinction have been created since 2021 – the Robert Morgan ’36 Aviation Program (one of only three high school aviation programs in the U.S.) and the Global Studies Program. A competitive Robotics team began in 2023.
The Cooper Living Arts Series was introduced in 2022 with the support of alumnus Edwin Cooper ’81, P’19, P’23 and his wife, Andrea P’19, P’23, bringing nationally-acclaimed creators and performers to campus each year.
Athletics remains positioned as one of the premier programs in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association with 10 team state championships. Last year, three teams won state championships in the same school year (2025 cross country, 2025 soccer, and 2026 track & field) for the first time.
Plans are in motion for a new 15,000 square foot Academic Center and 12 faculty homes.
Originally from Knoxville, Tenn., Dr. Jenkins earned his B.A. in English from Wake Forest University and his M.Ed. from North Carolina State University. He completed his Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Virginia, where he served on the honor council and was inducted into the Raven Society.
Dr. Jenkins is a graduate of the McCallie School and a former member of its Board of Trustees. His other civic associations have included serving as senior warden at Christ Episcopal Church, as well as on the Board of Trustees for the Virginia Episcopal School (VES), and the Charlottesville Free Clinic.
Dr. Jenkins joined the Christ School community from the University of Virginia, where he served under Presidents John T. Casteen, III, Teresa A. Sullivan, and James E. Ryan as a senior assistant where his responsibilities included admissions, accreditation, development, board-governance, education policy, global programming, strategic and academic planning, and operations.
At UVA, Dr. Jenkins taught and advised undergraduate and graduate students. He was recognized for outstanding leadership and teaching by The Society of the Purple Shadows in 2015. His broad range of experience – including stints at Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill – and expertise greatly benefit our community in his role as Head of School.
Dr. Jenkins is married to Lawson P’29, a Spartanburg, S.C., native and fellow Wake Forest and UVA graduate. They live in Boxwood House along with their sons, Coleman ’29 and Jack.
Jeff Joyce enjoys teaming with Christ School’s many passionate supporters to create opportunities for enhancement and growth as Associate Director of Advancement.
Mr. Joyce fell in love with the rivers and mountains of Western North Carolina while working at a summer camp in college and has lived and worked in the area since 2008.
He served as the Director of Public Policy for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce for eight years, then transitioning to the world of philanthropic development. Before coming to Christ School, Mr. Joyce was Director of Alumni Affairs and Development for nearby Brevard College.
Mr. Joyce is a 2008 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill.
Staying active in his community has been a common theme as Mr. Joyce served as Board Chair for the Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce and as President of the Young Professionals of Asheville. When he’s not working, Mr. Joyce can be found whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, or running his next ultramarathon (he has completed multiple 100-mile races).
Jeff lives in Arden with his wife, Lucy.
Elyse King built a good rapport with the boys as an assistant track coach before becoming a full-time member of the faculty in Learning Resources starting with the 2023-24 school year.
Her knowledge as a former Division I college track athlete has proven to be instrumental to the Greenies winning state championships two out of the last three years (2024 and 2026). Additionally, she is an assistant coach for the basketball program.
Ms. King graduated from Elon University in 2021 with a B.A. in Public Health and minor in Coaching. She qualified academically three straight years for the Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner’s List.
Ms. King attended high school in the Asheville area at T.C. Roberson. Her younger sibling is Chyance '28.
Connections in local baseball run deep for Wes King P'28, P'30.
Wes was announced as Christ School's varsity baseball coach in 2020 and has since taught in the Learning Resources Department as well. His 2026 team shared the Carolinas Athletic Association championship with the program's most wins (17) in seven years.
Wes was a key player for West Henderson High School in the 1990s and continued his career at Western Carolina University, where he majored in Sports Management. Eventually, he earned teaching certificates in Business and Physical Education from Winthrop University and Mars Hill University.
Mr. King has been involved in education since 2003 and coached at the varsity level in North Carolina since 2004.
Mr. King is married to Kelli and the couple live on campus with their two sons, Sawyer '28 and Cason.
Character, scholarship, and athletic excellence come in that order and progression for Jon Lantzy.
He saw the same values in Christ School teams, further identifying with the emphasis placed on meaningful, lasting relationships here.
Christ School was pleased to announce Jon as its new Athletic Director in April 2026 following a competitive national process which was aided by The Finney Search Group.
One month later, Jon went out on top with a NCISAA Division I state championship in his 19th and final year of coaching lacrosse at Durham Academy (his 34th year overall). He and his wife, Suzanne, have an adult daughter who just completed an NCAA Division III All-American and national championship career playing field hockey at Middlebury College in Vermont. Katherine is beginning her professional life as a teaching fellow at Culver Academies (Ind.).
Jon will be stepping away from all coaching duties to run the Christ School Athletic Department, which offers 19 teams in 11 championship sports, along with the Robert Morgan ’36 Aviation Program (one of only three like it in U.S. high schools), a robust and year-round Outdoor Program, a competitive Robotics team, and Theater. The Greenies have won 11 team state titles in all sports since 2020, making Christ School one of the most successful boys programs in the NCISAA, regardless of classification.
Jon has served as Assistant Athletic Director, Middle School Sports Coordinator, and Middle School Basketball coach at Durham Academy, all of which he balanced with teaching Physical Education and Health.
Jon’s real passion from a sports perspective is lacrosse. He has been the owner and youth director for Fusion Lacrosse, Inc., out of Durham since 2006 and directs the King of Spring Faceoff Classic, which is the nation’s largest regular-season, intersectional boys and girls high school event with 40 teams from eight states and Canada.
Jon began his coaching career at Buffalo’s Canisius College in 1992, the same year he received his undergraduate degree in Urban Planning from Michigan State University. Jon later earned his master’s in Athletic Administration from Ohio University in 2012.
Former college football player Bradley Lidberg channels his competitive fire in different ways now.
The 2026-27 academic year will be his third as Assistant Director of Admission, always on the lookout for the next Greenies.
Mr. Lidberg graduated from North Dakota State University with a B.S. in Sport Management and then received his master's in Sports and Recreation Management from the University of Iowa in 2022. A year later, he bolstered the Greenie football coaching staff as Special Teams & Recruiting Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach.
Mr. Lidberg's playing career at Concordia College lasted from 2015 to 2017.
With great power comes great responsibility and Wyatt Long welcomes it all.
Mr. Long continued his emergence as a young leader amongst the faculty by taking on the role of Dean of Student Development for the 2025-26 academic year. He has been at Christ School since 2020.
Mr. Long's responsibilities are directing leadership development and a reenvisioned pillar of the Dignity of Manual Labor with school-wide larger job prospects by advisory. He teaches English, serves as the Head of Gardner House and is an assistant coach for lacrosse.
Wyatt graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in English from Hartwick College in 2019. After that, he returned to his high school alma mater (Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J.) to work in communications and coach lacrosse.
Mr. Long enjoys fishing, kayaking, hiking, cooking, and cheering on Philadelphia sports teams.
More than two decades of teaching at independent schools gave John Manganiello P'29 the tools to strengthen Christ School's History Department.
He was named Teacher of the Year for the 2024-25 academic year.
Now in his sixth year here, Mr. Manganiello was born and raised in New Rochelle, N.Y., and began his career in the Empire State at Windward School in White Plains, N.Y., where he spent 15 years as a teacher, mentor, coach, department chair, and team leader. Mr. Manganiello wanted to experience other educational philosophies and take on a variety of administrative roles and did so, becoming the Assistant Head of the Masters Middle School in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. Here, he discovered his love for boarding schools and embraced being part of the school community.
He next became Headmaster of the Beacon School in Stamford, Conn., where Mr. Manganiello was proud of the school’s ability to provide a truly individualized learning experience to gifted and twice-exceptional students. After his stint at Beacon, Mr. Manganiello became Director of both the Prospect and Bridge programs at the Wooster School in Danbury, Conn., helping students with language-based learning disabilities by offering an appropriate learning environment and instruction while keeping the students in a mainstream setting.
Mr. Manganiello completed his undergraduate degree at Lemoyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., where he double majored in History and Religious Studies. He completed his graduate work and earned his master's in Special Education, with a concentration on learning disabilities from the College of New Rochelle. He later earned a second master's in History from Iona College.
Mr. Manganiello and his family always envisioned moving to North Carolina one day. They became more confident it was the correct decision when they visited the Christ School campus and met so many wonderful people, he said.
Mr. Manganiello also coaches in the Athletic Department and lives on campus with his wife, Joanne P'29, and their son, Chase '29. During his free time, he enjoys cooking for his family and friends, playing sports, biking, writing, and playing with his son.
Over time, what began as an artistic outlet and hobby became a profession for Jessica Martin.
Christ School’s new Photographer and Social Media Manager worked for 17 years in health care and went back to college as a nontraditional student to earn her B.A. in Photography from UNC Asheville last spring. She graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average.
Mrs. Martin purchased her first camera in 2007 and has been shooting since then, taking on a wide range of jobs that included commercial photography, family portraiture, and weddings. She favors documentary-style photography as she believes it is the most impactful way to use the medium.
Jessica is originally from Savannah, Ga., and lives in Asheville. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and their cats, working on personal photography projects, hiking, traveling, attending concerts, reading, and studying the Japanese language.
Like many people, Jeffrey McAven found Asheville to be a place where he wanted to put down some roots.
The Math instructor and assistant lacrosse coach moved to the mountains six years ago, even though this will be his 21st year teaching in North Carolina.
Mr. McAven was born and raised in Michigan. He holds a B.S. in Education from Eastern Michigan University with certifications in Math and Science.
Jeffrey and his wife, Paula, live in Weaverville, N.C., and have a son, Wesley '27. Mr. McAven's hobbies include cars, woodworking, sports, and enjoying the awe-inspiring nature of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Kim Murphy P’24 and P’27 greets first-time visitors to campus, alumni, and students she knows on a first-name basis with the same level of courtesy and helpfulness. No one could be a better face of the school as Front Office Manager in Wetmore Hall.
Mrs. Murphy took on his integral job in 2019. She works in close coordination with the Student Life and Residential Life offices.
Mrs. Murphy moved to Asheville in 2015 with her husband, Tony, and their two sons, Tony Jr. ’24, and Myles ’27. After relocating, she became very involved volunteering in her children’s school as the VP, President or Committee Chair of their school’s PTA/PTO.
In her free time, Mrs. Murphy enjoys taking cooking classes, working in her garden, trying new restaurants, spending time with her family, and attending sports and comedy events.
Results matter to Hamid Najafi, an innovative professional with an excellent track record who has brought these qualities to Christ School as an Engineering instructor.
Mr. Najafi was named Teacher of the Year for the 2021-22 academic year. He is a faculty advisor for the Robotics team, which began a competitive schedule in 2023.
Prior to coming here, Mr. Najafi taught locally as an adjunct professor at A-B Tech Community College and Blue Ridge Community College, where he won the 2019 Extra Mile Award. His professional experience in engineering and as a manager dates back to 1983. From 2002 to 2010, he worked as a real estate developer, overseeing the construction of one of the first all-inclusive executive office suites in the county.
Mr. Najafi studied at Clemson University (MSEE), Piedmont Management Institute, and Midwestern State University. He and his wife, Cindy, have been married for more than 40 years. They have two adult children, Dani and Christian.
Collaboration, teamwork, and the value of experiential learning make up Lars Oehler’s teaching style, offering a glimpse into how he will approach Math and Computer Science at Christ School.
Lars graduated cum laude from Davidson College in May with a B.S. in Computer Science and comes from a family of educators – his father taught in the Chapel Hill and Durham school systems. A grandfather, grandmother, aunt, great uncle, and others have a background in teaching as well.
Lars will coach Mountain Biking in the Outdoor Program. He grew up in Durham, and so his proximity to the Asheville area allowed Lars to develop a love for many outdoor activities, including mountain biking, canoeing, and hiking. His leadership experiences in recreation include leading backpacking and canoeing trips through Davidson Outdoors and working as a raft guide for the Rolling Thunder River Company out of McCaysville, Ga.
Coco Parham P'13 continues to be a fixture and welcoming presence as an Office Manager, now entering her 23rd year at Christ School.
Mrs. Parham has been in Admission for 10 years now and previously worked for 13 years in the College Guidance Office as an administrative assistant and testing coordinator.
Mrs. Parham graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a B.A. in 1987. Her hobbies include hiking, reading, and watching a great movie. She prides herself on being an animal advocate and has volunteered in the past with the Asheville Humane Society.
Mrs. Parham is married to former Athletic Director Duncan Parham. They live in Asheville and have two children, Ellsworth ’13 and Emma.
New English instructor Jacob Parker can trace his family’s ancestry back to some of Western North Carolina’s earliest settlers in the 1700s, so a return to the area entirely suits him.
Mr. Parker attended Forsyth Country Day School from kindergarten through high school, near his hometown of Winston-Salem, before matriculating to Dartmouth College. There, he graduated with a double major in Classical Languages and English and a minor in Linguistics. He completed an honors thesis that examines the history of Hebrew education at the Ivy League school and was both President and Editor in Chief of The Dartmouth Review bi-weekly newspaper.
Jacob would go on to the University of Notre Dame and receive his M.Ed. while participating in the Alliance for Catholic Education teaching fellows program. ACE placed him at Bishop Snyder High School, where Mr. Parker has taught English for the past three years.
Jacob is an avid sports fan, who is always up for a discussion of college football, the Carolina Panthers, or Carolina Hurricanes. He enjoys reading, watching movies, and communing with nature on hikes.
