Cross Schools

Meet the newest creative addition to the Cross Schools family, Heather Ballis!

Heather recently made the move from Florida to beautiful Bluffton and brings a wealth of creative experience to Cross Schools. After studying Fine Art Photography in New York City, she built a career spanning photography, videography, graphic design, interior styling, event planning, and leading creative teams in both ministry and marketplace settings.

Alongside her creative work, Heather has spent years teaching art through workshops, private lessons, and elementary classrooms, where she discovered the joy of helping students grow in confidence and express themselves through creativity.

This year, Heather will be teaching Middle School Art, and she's excited to help students discover the beauty of creativity while pointing them toward the greatest Creator of all.

Outside the classroom, Heather is a proud aunt to two wonderful nieces, enjoys mentoring women in their faith, and loves searching for unique vintage and antique treasures.

Her favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 3:20–21, a reminder that God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.

Please join us in giving Heather Ballis a warm Cross Schools welcome! We can't wait to see the creativity, encouragement, and faith she brings to our students and school community.

Success on Friday nights is built long before the lights come on.

It starts with early mornings. This morning, our Varsity and Middle School football players were putting in the work—bear crawls, weightlifting, and countless repetitions that build strength, discipline, and resilience.

For our varsity players, the morning began even earlier as they helped Father Owens move boxes from his office. Because at Cross Schools, being part of a team means more than preparing for game day. It means serving others with humility and stepping up wherever you're needed.

Wins are earned through discipline. Character is built through service. We're proud to see both taking shape every day.

Rooted in Faith. Growing in Strength.

Please help us give a warm Cross Schools welcome to Andrea Gutshall!

With nearly three decades of experience in mathematics education, Andrea joins Cross Schools as one of our high school math teachers. She brings 30 years of teaching experience, including the last 16 years at a high school in Gulf Breeze, Florida, where she helped students build confidence and succeed in mathematics.

Andrea earned her bachelor's degree in Applied Psychology from Georgia Tech and her master's degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of Alabama. Her passion for teaching is matched by her love for animals—she recently made the move to Hardeeville with her border collie/lab mix, Moose, and has spent many years fostering puppies in need of loving homes.

Andrea is excited to be closer to family, including her niece Nora, who is part of the Cross Schools Lower School community. Most of all, she's looking forward to building meaningful relationships with her students and helping them grow both academically and personally.

We're excited to have Andrea as part of the Cross Schools family. Please join us in welcoming her!

We are so excited for Stingray Football to start! It’s going to be a great season!

End Zone Preview: Cross Stingrays Cross returns to 11-man football after a difficult 2025 season in 8-man, jumping to Class 2A with a bolstered coaching staff and playbook.

Please join us in welcoming Julie Houchin to the Cross Schools family!

Julie joins Cross Schools as our new Administrative Assistant, serving Kindergarten through 12th grade. With years of experience supporting schools, she brings a heart for students and a talent for creating organized, efficient systems that help everyone thrive.

A Bluffton resident for the past 12 years, Julie has previously served in office roles at both Pritchardville Elementary School and May River High School. She earned her bachelor's degree in Marketing from Eastern Kentucky University and later completed her Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.

As the wife of a military veteran, Julie's journey has taken her across the country, where she gained experience supporting real estate professionals in Maine, landscape architects in San Diego, and serving as a U.S. Navy Ombudsman in Virginia Beach. Today, she continues to serve the Lowcountry as Secretary of the Board for Backpack Buddies of the Lowcountry, helping provide food to children and families in need.

When she's not at school, you'll likely find Julie enjoying the outdoors—whether she's exercising, walking with friends, spending time on the water, exploring a National Park, or making memories with her children, Molly and Sam, and their dog, Tilly.

Her favorite verse is Proverbs 31:25:

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."

Welcome to Cross Schools, Julie! We're so glad you're here.

The next face may look a little familiar and for good reason!

Please join us in welcoming Brandie Fitzgerald to the Cross Schools family! While many in our community may recognize her as the wife of Fr. Joey Fitzgerald, the new Rector of the Church of the Cross, we're excited for you to get to know Brandie a little better for who she is: a passionate educator with a heart for students and a remarkable background of serving others.

Brandie recently moved to Bluffton from Newnan, Georgia, with Joey and their three sons, Sam, Jack, and Luke. Their daughter, Lila, went to be with Jesus at the age of 11, and her life continues to shape their family's faith and perspective.

Throughout her career, Brandie has served in a variety of roles, including Young Life staff, adoption consultant, case manager, pastoral care, health educator, Special Education teacher, and 6th-grade social studies teacher. This year, she joins Cross Schools as our 9th Grade Literature and Biblical Formation teacher.

"My favorite part of teaching is the opportunity to build relationships with students and make learning fun."

When she's not in the classroom, Brandie enjoys reading, gardening, and cooking.
We are grateful to welcome Brandie to the Cross Schools family and know our students will be blessed by her experience, compassion, and love for helping them grow academically, personally, and most importantly, spiritually.

Please join us in giving Brandie a warm Cross Schools welcome!

Congratulations to Cross Schools students Luna Rangel and Anna Reeves on successfully completing the Beaufort Memorial Rising Stars Youth Volunteer Program!

Through their service, Luna and Anna invested their time in caring for others while gaining valuable experience in the healthcare field. Opportunities like these reflect our mission of intentionally designing experiences that inspire students to grow through active service while preparing them to lead with compassion and purpose.

We are especially excited to celebrate Luna Rangel, who has also been named a 2027 Horatio Alger National Scholar—one of only 105 high school juniors across the nation selected for this prestigious honor.

The Horatio Alger National Scholarship awards up to $25,000 toward higher education and recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership, integrity, and perseverance in overcoming adversity. As a recipient, Luna will also receive individualized college coaching and continued support through the Horatio Alger Association's College Success Program.

Congratulations, Luna and Anna! We are proud of the way you continue to let your faith take root through service, perseverance, and leadership. Your future is bright, and we can't wait to see where God leads you next.

Please join us in welcoming Walker Covington to Cross Schools as our new Middle School Social Studies teacher!

Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Walker is a graduate of East Carolina University and brings a passion for helping students discover the people, places, and events that have shaped our world. He believes learning comes alive when students are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and make meaningful connections between history and their own lives.

Before joining the Cross Schools family, Walker and his family spent seven months traveling across the country, visiting many of America's National Parks and experiencing firsthand the landscapes, history, and cultures he loves teaching about. The journey gave him a unique perspective that he'll bring into his classroom each day.

Walker is excited to be part of a school where students are challenged to grow both academically and spiritually. He is passionate about helping young people become well-rounded, morally grounded leaders while fostering a lifelong love of learning. When he's not teaching, he enjoys spending time with his family, relaxing at the beach, golfing, hiking, camping, and exploring all that the Lowcountry has to offer.

His favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Welcome to the Cross Schools family, Walker! We are excited to see the impact you'll have as you help our students become rooted in faith, growing in confidence.

Welcome to Cross Schools, Ashley Wilson!

We're excited to welcome Ashley Wilson to the Cross Schools family as our Precalculus Honors and AP Precalculus instructor!

A South Carolina Certified Secondary Mathematics Educator, Ashley brings more than a decade of experience teaching and tutoring mathematics. Many families across the Lowcountry already know her through Lowcountry Tutoring, where she has helped students grow in confidence and achieve academic success since 2021.

Ashley is certified in Gifted and Talented Education, AP Calculus AB/BC, and AP Precalculus. Her passion extends beyond teaching formulas—she loves helping students become thoughtful problem-solvers while discovering that they are capable of more than they imagined.

Ashley and her husband, Matt, have called Bluffton home for the past 13 years, where they are raising their two children, Hoyt and Harper. When she's not in the classroom, you'll find her supporting her children's activities, spending time with family, and serving the Lowcountry through education.

Our theme verse this year reminds us to be "Rooted in Faith. Growing in Confidence." (Colossians 2:7), and we're grateful for educators like Ashley who help students build confidence through perseverance, curiosity, and trust in God's guidance.

Her favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5–6:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Please join us in giving Ashley a warm Cross Schools welcome!