EHCS Leadership
David Coltrane
Spiritual Life Director
Following the Biblical admonishments of Colossians 3:23 and 2 Timothy 2:2 — to work wholeheartedly for the Lord and to invest in training others who will, in turn, train others — David Coltrane is a dedicated educational leader with over 20 years of experience in Christian education, pastoral ministry, and organizational leadership. With a heart for developing both students and educators, David is passionate about equipping others to pursue academic excellence while growing in their walk with Christ and personal accountability to God.
As the Spiritual Life Director at East Hill Christian School, David is committed to cultivating Christ-centered learning environments where servant leadership is modeled, nurtured, and encouraged. He desires to see students prepared not only for academic success but also for meaningful impact in their communities for the glory of God.
Throughout his career, David has demonstrated strength in strategic planning, staff development, curriculum design, and school administration, always seeking to foster strong partnerships between educators, students, and families. Currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Leadership, he continues to lead by example — growing as a Christian leader, mentor, and disciple-maker — with a vision to invest in the next generation of Christ-following leaders.
On a personal note, David finds refreshment and fulfillment in investing time and energy in leading his family of six, serving in his church, writing, and various outdoor adventures.
Morgan Gleason
Operations Director
Morgan’s journey began as a three-year-old at East Hill, and she remained part of the school community through high school. After graduation, she attended Samford University, where she cheered for two years before transferring to the University of West Florida to pursue her degree in Exercise Science. This degree further cultivated her love for health, fitness, and coaching.
Starting her career as a personal trainer and group exercise coach, Morgan quickly realized that her true passion lay in coaching and mentoring. She returned to East Hill Christian School, where she had grown up, and began coaching cheerleading and gymnastics. Morgan has now been coaching at East Hill for five years and is currently serving as the Athletic Director in her second year.
Morgan’s journey into coaching is rooted in her love for athletics, particularly cheerleading, which has been a constant source of purpose and passion throughout her life. As a student at East Hill Christian School, Morgan’s involvement in cheerleading introduced her to the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders, where she realized the power of using sports to teach others about God. This transformative experience fueled her desire to coach, knowing that even in something as simple as cheerleading, she could glorify God and point athletes toward faith and purpose.
Morgan’s coaching philosophy is simple: “Love well.” She believes in respecting each athlete as an individual while recognizing their growth and development. By creating an environment where athletes feel valued, respected, and empowered, she helps set them up for success both on and off the field. Her goal is to leave every student she coaches with a sense of being loved, valued, and happy, creating an environment where they feel part of something special and look back on their time at East Hill with gratitude.
Deb Hawkins
Admissions Director
Deb Hawkins serves as the Admissions Director and Fine Arts Director at East Hill Christian School. She enjoys helping families find the right educational fit for their children while creating opportunities for students to discover and develop their God-given talents through the arts. She believes that every student has unique gifts and is passionate about helping them grow academically, creatively, and spiritually.
Deb has more than 20 years of experience in education, arts administration, nonprofit leadership, marketing, and fundraising. Throughout her career, she has developed strategic marketing and enrollment initiatives, built strong community partnerships, and led organizations through periods of growth and change. She enjoys finding creative solutions, building relationships, and working with others to accomplish meaningful goals.
Before joining East Hill Christian School, Deb served as the Marketing and Community Engagement Manager for the University of West Florida Center for Fine and Performing Arts. She also held executive leadership positions with Ballet Pensacola, the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, and the Arlington ISD Education Foundation, where she led fundraising, marketing, strategic planning, and community engagement efforts.
In addition to her work in school leadership, Deb has taught at the collegiate level, sharing her knowledge of arts administration, marketing, fundraising, and nonprofit management with future arts professionals. She enjoys mentoring students and helping them develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed both professionally and personally.
Deb holds a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and is certified to teach in Florida, Texas, and Alabama. Her background in education and the arts allows her to bring a unique perspective to both admissions and fine arts, helping students and families experience all that East Hill Christian School has to offer.
When she’s not at school, Deb enjoys spending time on the water, biking, reading, and spoiling her Australian Shepherd, Moe.
Dr. David Ortiz
Dean of Academic Development
With a deep passion for both education and philosophy, David views learning as second only to one’s relationship with Christ in importance. His dedication to mentoring and guiding others in their educational journeys is rooted in his love for research and discovery. David holds a BA in Philosophy and Greek and Latin from Boston University and both an MA and Ph.D. in Philosophy, with a focus on Greco-Roman philosophy, from the University of Florida. Over seven years of teaching experience—primarily at the collegiate level—he has developed expertise in languages, ethics, and the history of philosophy.
This year marks his first teaching experience outside higher education, where he continues to inspire students through an approach centered on discovery, argumentation, and the practical and abstract understanding of the material. Recognized for his excellence in teaching, David has received awards from both the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. He finds joy in witnessing the moments when students grasp complex concepts and draw connections across disciplines, fostering a love for learning and critical thinking.
Outside the classroom, David enjoys weight training, reading Greek and Latin literature, and spending time with his wife, daughter, and cat. His ultimate goal is to inspire students to strive for excellence, demonstrating that with focus and hard work, they are capable of achieving great things.
Beth Ann Owens
VPK – 12th School Principal
Beth Owens brings 25 years of dedication to the field of education, with a career that spans classroom teaching, administrative leadership, and curriculum development. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in K-6 education from the University of Pittsburgh of PA with a minor in Psychology Cum Laude, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and School Building Leader Certification from St. Bonaventure University of New York, and she is Florida teacher certified (soon to be Florida Educational Leadership certified), as well.
Throughout her career, Beth has taught kindergarten through sixth grade and served as an instructional aide, curriculum coordinator, team leader, International Baccalaureate Coordinator, vice principal, and principal. Her experiences have given her a well-rounded perspective on fostering academic excellence and personal growth in students.
Her love for teaching lies in shaping young lives, nurturing their potential, and building meaningful relationships with students, families, and colleagues. A strong advocate for creativity.
As a principal, Beth models servant leadership, inspired by Jesus’ example of humility, compassion, and grace. She strives to create a collaborative culture where teachers, students, and parents work together with mutual respect, accountability, and excellence. Empowering educators and recognizing their potential is a daily highlight of her leadership.
Beth’s passions extend into amateur photography, sewing, reading, writing (children’s books and a novel in progress), playing the keyboard, kayaking, motorcycle riding, and beach adventures. These hobbies reflect her creative spirit and love for life.
Board of Directors
It is our great honor to welcome you to East Hill Christian School and invite you to get to know our diverse and lively community. Nothing will compare to experiencing our campus and meeting our faculty and students, but our website will provide an introduction to our distinctive programs, including academics, athletics, arts, and leadership.
The foundation of everything we do here at East Hill Christian is with our mission in mind: “to educate students morally, intellectually, and physically, based on the Word of God, in a loving, Christian environment.” Our faculty challenges our students to become lifelong learners. We do not want to teach our students what to think, but how to think. We strive to help them develop intellectual curiosities and find their passions. Our college-prep program educates our students in a way that they can enter into the most successful universities and careers and speak confidently. Our goal is to develop their faith in a way that they can not only be effective participants in their church communities but also be meaningful contributors to their communities and the world.
Here at East Hill Christian School, we do not want to just educate our students but also empower them to be leaders. Our students gain a wide variety of leadership experiences through athletics, student government, student leadership, the Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy, and community service. We must instill in every one of our students the importance of being the hands and feet of Jesus. Christ was the greatest example of servant leadership, and we want every graduate to be empowered to serve like Christ.
Lastly, we aim to elevate everyone who walks the halls of EHCS. Elevating our students begins with building strong relationships with each member of our community. Our faculty and staff take time to actively listen to our students, recognize their efforts and talents, and celebrate their successes. We celebrate each child and the uniqueness that they bring to our community.
East Hill Christian is an incredibly special place, and we want to invite you to come and experience it for yourself. It won’t take long to understand why students, teachers, and parents love the East Hill family. We welcome you to come to campus, so we can share with you exactly what we love about East Hill Christian!
Blessings,
EHCS Board of Directors, President

East Hill Christian School is directed by a Board of Directors elected to serve a three-year term. The Board is elected by an annual meeting of the membership, by a single slate of names having been presented by the nominating committee and approved by the current Board of Directors. The Board plays a crucial role in setting policy and shaping the school’s vision.
Scott Ginnetti President
Ali OhlerVice President
Stephen Watson Treasurer
Nick Newkirk Secretary
Jonathan Daniel
Lydia Lovett
Denise Myrick
Jeremy Garrett
Travis Garrett
Ryan Mattox
The board can be reached by email at ehcsboard@ehcseagles.com.