Meet the Trustees

Dr. Coleen R. Jackson 
Chair, TeachBeyond UK
Licensed Lay Minister

Coleen’s background is in education at school, university, and local authority level, along with working for the National College of School Leadership and the Department of Education. More recently, her professional role has included consultancy to governments and ministries of education across the world. In conjunction with her varied short term mission work in various countries, she is well-placed to support the development of TeachBeyond in the UK. Our work in education is one that can transform lives and communities. Children are our future, and children who are well educated and with foundational Christian principles and values can help shape their lives for the better and our society for the future. 

“I am privileged to chair the UK Board and sit on the Global Board where I am the Deputy Chair. In addition to this, I am the safeguarding representative for the UK and Global Board”.

Brian Callan
Brian is recently retired after having worked for forty years in government/healthcare/pharmaceuticals, and has been a long-term supporter of Open Schools Worldwide.

Brian is a local preacher with the Methodist Church in Ireland since 1988 and has been a Sunday school teacher for 20 years. Previously, he served for 20 years on the Irish Board of International Fellowship of Evangelical Students.

Ian Frost
Ian has been a senior leader in schools for 20 years and a headteacher for a decade, with experience in securing improvement in a range of contexts. In each headship, he has worked in schools facing challenging contexts, with high proportions of disadvantaged and SEND children. He has had significant experience working in different Trusts supporting primary and secondary phases, and has a particular interest in improving pedagogy, curriculum, and behaviour.

Having been a school improvement advisor, Ian is currently Deputy CEO of the Oxford Diocese Schools Trust, which is responsible for 42 schools.

As an ILM Level 7 Coach, Ian works closely with headteachers across the country to support both their schools and their own professional development.

"My experience as an education leader for more than twenty years is that education transforms society. I am committed in my work to how we are training up the next generation of educators, and it is clear to me that TeachBeyond does some inspiring work in the way in which it equips educators, schools, and organisations to serve God in pursuit of a common vision for transformational education, and I am excited about supporting that work."

Dr. Alan McIlhenny 
Global Committee member
Member of Open School Worldwide board as Co-founder and Executive Director Emeritus

Alan’s journey in education has included teaching mathematics at an elite grammar school, lecturing in mathematics and education at university level in a developing country, and serving as the founding principal of an international Christian high school. He took a break from education for some years to work with TearFund (a UK evangelical relief and development agency), which gave him hands-on experience working with street children and AIDS orphans in several countries around the world. This combination of development and educational experience uniquely prepared Alan to co-found Open Schools Worldwide, now a ministry of TeachBeyond. Alan serves on the board of Open Schools Worldwide as Co-Founder and Executive Director Emeritus, and is also a Global Committee member.

“I trust my experience as a Christian teacher overseas will benefit TeachBeyond and I have a particular concern that the most marginalised children worldwide can find hope in Christ through transformational education”.

Mark Thomas

After finishing school in the UK, Mark attended university in the USA, completing a degree in biblical education before working in church-based youth ministry. Remaining in America, he joined Torchbearers International, directing its centre in Colorado and - for a short time - the base in Texas. The work consisted of camps, conferences, and Bible teaching. He returned to the UK to be director of Capernwray Hall, the founding centre of Torchbearers International, where Bible-based, Christ-centred education is a key focus. 

Mark was introduced to the work of TeachBeyond by David Midwinter six years ago and glad to be involved with such an effective work sharing Christ through education in so many parts of the world. 

Mark and his wife Linda live a few miles from Capernwray Hall (Torchbearers) where he was director until retirement five years ago.

“The experience of teaching overseas and participation in various short term mission opportunities over the years has equipped me for involvement and support of TeachBeyond in the UK. Its focus on education that stretches beyond these shores is a great means to see lives and communities transformed. With the foundational Christian principles and values of TeachBeyond, established through the Gospel in God’s Word, this ministry has a powerful and practical means of impacting children and adults for good in this world’s needy society”.

Stephen Williams
Stephen’s background is in Primary Education, and he was the head of a Christian school in the UK. He was also a lecturer in Primary Education. Stephen is semi-retired and is also a research student (doctorate programme).

Stephen has been involved with TeachBeyond for several years in the development of a teacher education programme with teachers in Northern India, as well as working on the development of accredited postgraduate teacher education modules.

“With my wife, I continue to be involved with local Christians in developing fellowship, prayer ministry and encouragement for growing in spiritual maturity. We rejoice in all that Lord has done for us, in us and through us over the 46 years of our marriage. Our testimony is the Lord is ever kind. We love the Lord!”