I am Dr. C. Grant Windham, and Beacon Academy marks the fourth and final charter school of my administrative career. With over 33 years in non-profit executive leadership—including 12 years directing charter schools—I am truly grateful to bring that depth of experience to our school community. Alongside my work here at Beacon, I teach leadership courses in the MBA program at Bethel University and serve on the Advisory Board for their School of Business (and yes, staying active with graduate students always keeps me on my toes!).
My core passion as an educator is supporting our students as they build character, confidence, and resilience. This ties directly into the heart of Beacon Academy’s established mission of pairing positive character development with academic excellence. As Executive Director, my goal is to champion the fidelity of our learning environment so that our programs continue to deeply resonate with our student population. By fostering that real, substantive growth, we empower our students to step out and be genuine "beacons" in today’s and tomorrow’s world.
Above all, I believe in an open, accessible leadership style. My door is always open to our staff, families, and community members—and if you ever pop by to visit, a cup of Caribou Chai Tea is always a welcome conversation starter!
My name is Eldred Bach, Jr. Currently, I am entering my 12th year at Beacon Academy, and my third year as a Dean of Students.
I have served as a kindergarten teacher, behavior specialist, special education behavior specialist, and school board member. In my free time, I enjoy going to breweries and parks with my wife and 2-year-old daughter. I have enjoyed building strong personal relationships with students, staff, and families. Beacon Academy has been my educational home my entire career, because I do believe in the pillars of Character, Community, and Rigor. We live those each day at Beacon and hope to develop those traits in our students long after they leave Beacon Academy.
I am “otterly” proud to be part of the amazing Beacon Academy community. I love working with our outstanding students, exceptional staff and incredible families!
I am excited to partner with you to provide our students with a character rich, rigorous, and well rounded education that will prepare them well for success in life. My personal mission is to always lead with the courage to do what’s best for children.
You will find that my door is always open, and I am here to support you in any possible way. Please do not hesitate to connect with me to celebrate a success, share a concern, ask a question, give a suggestion or just say hello.
Here’s to a wonderful year, Otters!
School hours are 9:00 am – 3:45 pm
