Faculty, Staff, & Board

919-977-8811 ext. 102 

I am husband to my wonderful wife, Rebekah, and the father of five amazing children, and I have been a part of Iron Academy long before it even had a name. I have taught many classes at IA and I serve as the school’s principal. I am also a veteran of the US Air Force and I have been teaching for over 30 years.  I enjoy travelling with my family, dates with my teen daughter, and of course with my wife. I also relish father/son trips with our sons, absolutely anything that involves learning, and the simple, but life changing truths of Scripture. I am also an avid photographer; and as such, I am thankful that the Lord provides glimpses of HIS wonderful attributes throughout HIS Creation, so that I may capture them to the best of my ability. I am honored to be a part of the educational journey of the young men at Iron Academy as we partner with their parents to lead them to Christ.

Some of my favorite books are: The Cost of Discipleship, The Pursuit of God, Life Together, The Sovereignty of God,  Habits of the Household, How Now Shall We Live, The Reason for God, Return of the God Hypothesis

919-977-8811 Ext. 105 

I am married to Nick and we have 4 children, 3 sons and 1 daughter. Our oldest son is an Iron Academy graduate and our other 2 sons are current students. Our daughter, of course, attends a different school, but benefits greatly from Iron Academy by having brothers who are learning how to be gentlemen and treat her accordingly. I have been involved in church ministry, missions, and youth discipleship for over 15 years. I love traveling, cooking, baking, and listening to music. 

My rolls at Iron Academy include admissions & enrollment, event planning, communications, app & website management, and senior year activities.

Fun Fact: Mr. Hahn and Mr. Anderson were teachers of mine in high school! After earning two degrees and a bit of traveling, I returned to Raleigh and loved hearing about the mission of Iron Academy. It was and is truly an honor to partner with the staff and parents in training up this generation of young men to genuinely love and lead in service to the Lord. I first worked for IA from the fall of 2017 through the spring of 2019. After living in another state for a few years, I again moved back to Raleigh and back to Iron Academy.

I graduated from Grace College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Counseling and from Liberty University with a Master of Education degree for School Counseling. I was first drawn to the counseling field, because I loved the idea of building one on one relationships with students. The Lord has guided me to now pursue teaching and discipleship as a part of my passion for watching students grow and develop. I have taught in various capacities and in various subject areas for a total of 8 years.

I have a son, Barrett, who adds so much joy and light to my life. God has been so good to us, and I can hardly believe that Barrett gets the opportunity to look up to the wonderful young men and staff at Iron Academy.

When I’m not teaching or following behind my toddler, I love going to the beach, camping and hiking, learning new artsy and creative skills, getting sucked into a good movie, or traveling to learn and experience new cultures. I attribute my love of reading and history to my mom. She was also a teacher and always used books to make historical places come to life when we vacationed growing up. I count it as a privilege that I get to bring these young men on a journey through different lands and periods of time through literature!

It has been my honor teach the young men of Iron Academy since the spring of 2023. Before the Lord called me to become a teacher in Christian education, I had worked in factories, kitchens, on farms, as an ice cream truck driver, in stock rooms, and even as an aircraft mechanic. My degree is in English with a minor in Christian Ethics from The College at Southeastern (Judson College). The subjects I teach are high school literature and eighth grade English Language Arts, and I incorporate Christian philosophy and ethics throughout. My goal is to teach our young men to think critically about the literature and media we create and consume so that they may approach the culture with wisdom and discernment.

In 2013, I married the love of my life, Addie, and together we have three excessively beautiful and good-looking children: Ashur, Gideon, and Adalia. Our favorite activities are gaming, reading, and being with our church, Faith Baptist in Youngsville. We have lived in Franklinton since the summer of 2024.

My favorite book? So glad you asked; C.S. Lewis’s Perelandra. Favorite poem? Poe’s “Eldorado” for most of the week, but Paradise Lost if you’re willing to call an epic just a “poem.” Favorite film? Sergio Leonne’s “Once Upon a Time in the West” if you can find it.

I graduated in 2019 from William Peace University with a degree in Psychology and Religious Studies. I recently earned my Master’s in Divinity degree from Campbell University Divinity School. In addition to my teaching position at Iron Academy, I serve part-time with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and as the Chaplain at William Peace University. I enjoy the opportunities I have to disciple my students and watch them grow into gentlemen who “live pure, speak true, right wrong, and follow The King”. 

My name is Emily Chuchta. I taught for 3.5 years at a public school and am thrilled to be with the like-minded staff here at IA. I graduated from NC State in May of 2021 with a degree in High School Education with a specialization in Mathematics. I love hiking, UFC/TKD, exercise, and reading. I also love how God has revealed Himself to us through Mathematics, something I cannot wait to share with my students. One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 5:3-5 as it reminds me to look at the Lord in all times, especially when it gets hard! I can't wait to get to know all of the Iron Academy Family and see how the Lord grows each and every one of us!

My entrance into secondary education stems from failing to engage or to be engaged in my education until well after high school. I became a teacher hoping my students would be engaged and learn to be engaging.

From dull corporate headquarters to life in the beautiful Venezuelan Andes, working in federal prison, teaching in San Francisco, framing houses, working as a hostage negotiator, writing my doctoral dissertation in education, marrying as an immature young man, accepting Christ in 1999, and starting a school focused on biblical manhood, my own education has been a charming journey. In God’s grace and reflective of His sense of humor, He has granted me the great privilege of being a teacher. I am fortunate to have a patient, loving wife, and two children genuinely pursuing their own calls to discipleship. I attend The Summit Church at Capital Hills.

I grew up in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California. I earned a BS in Business Administration and Marketing from California State University Chico, then moved to Silicon Valley. My career includes various roles in customer support, tech support, child advocacy, and education. Outside of work I love serving at church, travel and reading. I married my college sweetheart, Chad, and we have been married for 23 years. We have two adopted children, a college freshman and a high school junior at Iron Academy. We also have 2 rescue mutts, a husky mix and a pit mix. I feel blessed to serve at Iron Academy as it is such an impactful ministry.

I am thrilled to be a teacher at Iron Academy. I am originally from the great state of Texas, but I’ve spent much of my life in Eastern Europe. My growing up overseas formed my love for history. It gave me the opportunity to visit the places most people only get to read about. I have been married to my beautiful wife, Nayab, since March ‘23. This May we welcomed our sweet baby girl, Eliza, into the world. I graduated with a BA in international relations from Liberty University and an MDiv in Ethics from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. My wife and I serve at First Baptist Church Durham.  I am also a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys, college football, and the San Antonio Spurs.

A few of my favorite things:

Movies: The Lord of the Rings, The Irony of Fate

Books: Russian literature, Tolkien and Lewis, East of Eden, and presidential biographies 

Food: bread and soup, tacos, Texas BBQ, and my wife’s Pakistani cooking

Activities: hiking, traveling, cooking, reading, playing soccer, and enjoying a fire with loved ones

919-977-8811 ext 103

Growing up in an athletic family and participating in every sport available to me, I've had the concept of teamwork and fair play sewn into my character. A wrestling scholarship to North Carolina State University brought me from Minnesota to Raleigh, North Carolina.

I've coached multiple sports for over 40 years, which, through God's plan, led me to Iron Academy where I currently coach wrestling and cross country. I have a passion for mentoring and serving and IA's mission provides the perfect opportunity to build truly biblical men. Developing, and working with, our student leadership team is a calling that I fully believe will help strengthen our culture. In my P.E. classes I pride myself in teaching leadership and life lessons while teaching new skills and activities.

I can usually be caught singing or humming and I have a daily mission to make others laugh. I do like to read history and leadership books; notably the Bill O’Reilly series, God Wrestler, and Extreme Leadership.

Becky, my wife of over 30 years, 2 grown children, and a dog share this ride with me. We also share a love of camping, hiking, kayaking, bowling, and the S.F. 49ers!

Favorite Verse: Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I am a proud member of Iron Academy’s first graduating class! My time at IA was marked by numerous leadership roles and accolades. I had the honor to serve multiple times as a tribe leader and school leader! I was also chosen as our basketball team captain, a role that allowed me to lead by example both on and off the court. My efforts on the court were recognized with multiple accolades, such as All-State, First Team All-Conference & multiple Most Valuable Player awards. After graduating with honors from IA, I earned a Business Administration degree and Cum Laude Honors from Queens University of Charlotte.

I have a deep passion for sports, particularly basketball, which I have played internationally in Argentina and Costa Rica with a Team USA program. I am a proud Baltimore Ravens fan and enjoy watching collegiate and professional basketball & football. As a devoted follower of Christ, I continually seek to deepen my walk with God, grateful for His guidance throughout my journey—from my time at IA and Queens University and now back at IA! I’m thankful for the doors He has opened and strive to seize each opportunity to serve and inspire others.

Fun Facts About Me: I was born in Kenya, and a lot of my extended family lives there! My favorite color is purple (Go Ravens!). I enjoy traveling a lot and have traveled to over 10 different countries! I am a simple guy; 9 times out of 10, I’m either watching or playing sports, spending time with family and friends, or spending time in the Word with God!

I have been on staff at Iron Academy since 2021. I teach Middle School History and Bible, and I am also the Middle School Basketball Coach and Golf Coach. I graduated from NC State University. I have lived in the Raleigh area for my entire life, and I am an active member of The Summit Church. I enjoy watching sports, being outdoors, playing golf, and grilling. My favorite place that I have traveled is Warsaw, Poland, and if I could go anywhere in the world, it would be Scotland, the home of golf.

My favorite books include: To Kill a Mockingbird, My Side of the Mountain, 1984, And Then There Were None, Holiness by J.C. Ryle, and The Forgotten 500 by Gregory A. Freeman.

I grew up in a strong Christian home with parents that taught and displayed Christ's love for me. It was revealed to me at an early age that accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior was the only path to salvation (John 14:6). I have dedicated my entire life to the mission of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and am excited to be at Iron Academy serving Him. 

I have been in Christian education for over 15 years and I have over 10 years of experience as a pastor.

I enjoy spending time in the mountains with my wife and daughter. I have a BS and MS from NC State University and an M.Div from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

I have been a proud member of the staff at Iron Academy since 2024, as well as a parent of a high school student. The way I have seen my son, Tucker, grow in the Lord and become a man of biblically sound teaching and true leadership has been amazing to watch. I have been married to my husband, Judson, for nearly 20 years and we are blessed by not only Tucker, but our two younger girls, Lassiter and Liddy.

I am a Raleigh native and have a long background in non-profit fundraising in both London at the Holocaust Educational Trust, then back in Raleigh at both Carolina Ballet and Saint Mary’s School. I took about 8 years off to stay at home with my kids while still serving as a volunteer with different non-profits close to my heart, and I’m so excited to be back in fundraising for a place that is very dear to my heart.

My passions besides the Lord and my family include cooking, reading, traveling and exercising my two very energetic German Short Haired Pointers who keep me on my toes almost as much as my kids and husband!

I am very excited that the Lord has me at Iron Academy! I have been married to my beautiful wife, Cassie, since 2017. We have one son, Jaxon, who is a blessing and an absolute joy, in addition to a host of four-legged children. I received my B.S. in Meteorology from North Carolina State University in 2016 and received my M.S. in Meteorology from Iowa State University in 2021. I enjoy learning more about God through studying His creation, and I love teaching math and science at Iron Academy!

My favorite activities include practically any sport, music, and spending time in fruitful conversation, intentionally learning more about the people around me. My favorite movie series is The Lord of the Rings trilogy and my favorite movie soundtrack is practically anything from Howard Shore, John Williams, and Hans Zimmer.

Favorite Verse: Psalm 139:1-3: “Oh Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and intimately acquainted with all my ways.”

I am very excited to be a teacher at Iron Academy! Reading has been a passion of mine since I was very young—my first loves include The Hobbit and The Chronicles of Narnia. It wasn't until upon reading Crime and Punishment by Dosteovesky—one of the most God-inspired fiction classics I have ever read—that I realized the Lord was calling me to teach. I realized then that reading literature is not just about "reading good books," but rather it is also about cultivating empathy, wisdom, Biblical virtue, and so much more! 

Originally from West Virginia, Matt has called Raleigh, NC home since 2001. He has been married to his wife for
14 years and they are raising three amazing kids who keep them on the move. When he's not shuttling someone to
practice, you will find him enjoying the outdoors with his family—camping, hiking, fishing—or cheering
on the Hurricanes and NC State Football (Go Pack!).

Professionally, Matt has spent nearly 15 years in the Information Systems field, with the past several years
focused on driving innovation and improvement at bioMérieux, a global leader in health diagnostics.

Why are you passionate about serving on the Iron Academy Board?

I’m passionate about serving on the Iron Academy Board because I believe in raising up the next generation
of godly men who lead with integrity, wisdom, and strength. Iron’s mission aligns with Proverbs 27:17—“As
iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” It’s a privilege to support a Christ-centered school that
prioritizes discipleship, character, and academic excellence. I see this as an opportunity to invest in
Kingdom work that will have a lasting impact. 

Mike is a Facilitator, Trainer, HR Consultant, Coach, and Speaker who integrates his faith and business strategy into his delivery, coaching, and facilitation.  He has provided HR, Training, Facilitation, Coaching, and Leadership Development solutions for clients on 5 continents for a wide variety of industries.  Those experiences over his 30+-year career have been with public, private, non-profit companies, churches, and schools from start-up to over 100,000 employees.

Mike has a passion for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and has led DEIB training, consulting, recruiting, and coaching since the mid-1990’s for businesses, large and small, as well as universities, high schools, municipalities, churches, and non-profit business.  He has integrated DEIB strategy into all aspects of his work with the basis of “love thy neighbor.”  

Mike is a graduate of NC State.  He and his wife, Denise, live in Raleigh and have 3 adult children, Daniel and Zachary who are in full-time ministry, and Nola Grace who has completed a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and has started her career in Charlotte.

Why are you passionate about serving on the Iron Academy Board of Directors?  

I love the implementation of our Discipleship Model along with the Educational approach that applies the essential elements of our strong education, while also aligning to critical thinking skills and applications of the lessons.  In addition, I am passionate about empowering the Iron Academy Leadership and staff to be the best role models and examples they can be for our young men and to support them in growing Biblical men.

Ross is an accomplished financial executive with more than three decades of experience leading accounting, finance, and operational strategy across diverse industries. He has overseen multi-entity operations, driven financial due diligence, and implemented systems to support growth and acquisitions. Previously, Ross held senior leadership roles as CFO, Controller, and consultant for companies in retail, automotive, mortgage lending, real estate, and hospitality. A UNC-Chapel Hill graduate in Accounting and Business Administration, Ross brings a proven track record in restructuring, financial controls, strategic planning, and guiding family-owned businesses and multi-location enterprises through periods of transition and expansion.

Herb Bales served with the United States Air Force where he was selected to attend the Defense Language Institute to learn German and Russian for duty in Berlin, Germany. After serving in the military, Herb received degrees in Accounting and in Business Management from NCSU and has worked with several real estate companies in the Raleigh area.  He continues to mentor NCSU students, serves on the Audit and Finance, and Awards and Grants Committees of the NCSU Foundation Board, and was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2020.  In addition to being a Microsoft Certified Professional, Herb currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for Atlantic Investment Management. Herb has played the piano and been a Small Group Leader in Bible Study Fellowship for decades.  Herb and Elizabeth met as students at NCSU, have been married for 40 years and enjoy traveling, taking long walks, and hosting students in their home.

Jim Dyer is a dedicated public servant, retired military officer, and beloved figure in the Wake Forest community. He has served as a Wake Forest Town Commissioner and is known for his unwavering commitment to giving back and making a lasting impact.

A native of North Carolina, Jim grew up at the Baptist Children’s Home in Kinston, where he first experienced the true spirit of Christmas. He later pursued higher education at Mars Hill College and UNC-Chapel Hill before embarking on a distinguished 22-year military career as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot. Retiring as a lieutenant colonel, Jim transitioned to ministry, becoming an ordained minister at the age of 55.

Beyond his leadership roles, Jim is internationally recognized as Santa Claus, a calling he first embraced in 1975. His dedication to spreading the joy and true meaning of Christmas led to his induction into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame in 2016. Whether visiting children in hospitals, greeting military families, or traveling the world to share the holiday spirit, Jim sees his role as Santa as part of his ministry.

Jim is also a passionate advocate for veterans, faith-based initiatives, and local charitable organizations. He serves on the board of trustees for the governing body of the orphanage where he was raised and actively contributes to the Wake Forest community.

Through his service, faith, and boundless generosity, Jim Dyer embodies the heart of both a leader and a giver.

Jim currently resides in Wake Forest with his wife of 56 years Ruth Ann.

Travis Kiker has been an integral part of Iron Academy’s culture since its inception. In 2012, he and his wife, Rebecca, took a leap of faith on a fledgling school committed to biblical manhood and strong family partnership by enrolling their son, Stone, in Iron Academy’s very first class. Stone went on to become the school’s first elected leader and graduated as part of the inaugural class in 2020. Travis continues to champion Iron Academy’s vision of raising up godly young men who thrive as leaders and disciples through his service on the board.

Alongside his dedication to Iron Academy, Travis has built a thriving career in the tree business. Growing up in the mountains of Western North Carolina, he learned the trade from his father, David, who worked as a logger in addition to serving as a minister. After moving to Raleigh to attend North Carolina State University, Travis worked in tree surgery and landscaping while pursuing his education. In 1993, he and Rebecca launched Little Squirrels Tree Service with a beat-up red ’78 Ford pickup, homemade flyers, and a shared determination to build something lasting. Today, Little Squirrels has grown into a trusted and established business serving families throughout the Triangle, recognized for quality work and a personal touch.

Travis’s heart for service extends beyond business. He has provided work opportunities for Iron Academy students during summers and school breaks, reinforcing the school’s culture of honor, responsibility, and biblical manhood. His son Stone's craftsmanship is also visible on campus through the large wooden cross he built and that Travis installed, which now welcomes all to Iron Academy and boldly declares its allegiance to Jesus.

Daniel Steyn is an accomplished business consultant and sales leader with a proven track record of optimizing top-line results on a global scale. Daniel successfully led national and international multidiscipline teams in technology, manufacturing and professional services companies to consistently exceed annual revenue growth expectations.  Prior to joining Sales Xceleration, Daniel held various sales leadership positions with small, mid-size and Fortune 500 organizations across the US, Europe, Middle East and Africa, including 18 years with Intel Corporation. 

Why are you passionate about serving on the Iron Academy Board of Directors?  

In my earlier years, I personally experienced the devastating consequences of a life not fully sold out to God, mirroring the truth of John 10:10a – "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." However, by God's grace, I also experienced the life-giving reality of verse 10b – "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Driven by this profound experience, I am deeply committed to serving Iron Academy in its mission to equip young men towards Biblical Manhood. I believe that by partnering with parents, we can empower these young men to live lives of purpose and integrity, sold out to the glory of God, and thereby become agents that will impact and transform their worlds, now and in the future.