High School

High School Administration

David Patterson, High School Principal

David Patterson graduated from Asbury College in 1978 with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. He received his Masters in School Administration from Louisiana State University in 1989. David has worked in Christian School Administration for the past twenty years. David has successfully managed capital campaigns and formulated long range building programs at previous schools before accepting the Lord’s call to relocate to Jacksonville as the Upper School Principal at Providence. David and his wife, Susan, have two children.

Dan Coffey, Assistant Principal of Student Services

Mr. Coffey retired from Georgia Public Schools in 2001, after serving for 30 years as an Administrator, Teacher, and Coach. He received his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and master’s degree in educational leadership from Georgia Southern. Mr. Coffey served for ten years as an assistant principal, and three years as athletic director.

He has had extensive training in evaluation of teachers, media personnel, special education teachers, administrators, guidance, and school staff personnel. Mr. Coffey has served on student support teams, and as a member of numerous board-appointed tribunals. He was a member of the Georgia Association of Educators for 30 years and the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association for 17 years. Mr. Coffey has taught social studies, science, math, and driver education. He has coached football, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls track, softball, and baseball.

Dan and his wife Michelle attend New Life Fellowship Church and have one son who attends Providence School.

Kim Wilkins, Assistant Principal of Guidance and Counseling

Since earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, a master’s degree from Wake Forest University, and a second master’s degree from the University of North Florida, Mrs. Wilkins has been actively involved in all aspects of education by teaching at both the secondary and post-secondary levels. Mrs. Wilkins has been with Providence since January of 1999 and, as a member of the English Department, has taught at least one year of every level of English from 7-12th grade in the Providence Upper School. Mrs. Wilkins joined the Providence Guidance Department in the fall of 2002 and began in administration in the fall of 2005. Mrs. Wilkins is a member in good standing of several professional organizations including the American School Counselors Association, the Florida Counseling Association, and the First Coast Counseling Association. Kim and her husband, Victor, have one son who attends Providence School and one daughter who attends the University of Florida.

Education:
University of North Florida, Jacksonville Florida
Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling
August 2004

Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina
Master of Education in English Education
August 1996

University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Bachelor of Arts in English
May 1994

Professional Affiliations:

Member American School Counselors Association
Member Florida Counseling Association
Member First Coast Counseling Association

Dr. Paige French, Vice Principal of Curriculum and Instruction

Dr. Paige French graduated from Armstrong- Atlantic University in Savannah Georgia with a BA in History, earned her Masters in Secondary Education and her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida.

She retired from the Duval County Public schools after teaching social studies and gifted students, supervising instructional programs in exceptional education as a district administrator, serving as a school-based administrator and principal in high school. She is a member of several professional organizations and has taught as a part-time professor in the Jacksonville University master’s program and as a supervising professor for interns with Nova Southeastern University.

Most recently God called Dr. French to be on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ as the city coordinator for after school programs. In this capacity, she trained and supported staff that provided Christian character development curriculum for over 2,000 children in northeast Florida.

Dr. French and her husband, Ric, have three adult children and ten grandchildren all living here in Jacksonville. They attend Christian Family Chapel and have a heart for teachers in the Ukraine.