Leadership
Meet Our Team
Sarah Bruce
Founder and Head of School
Sarah Bruce arrived in the Classical education movement by God’s gracious calling, following a career as a Change Management Consultant leading public and private global organizations in technology, leadership and business transformations.
Since moving to the Midwest in 2018, she has immersed herself in Classical Christian education, homeschooling her children in the Charlotte Mason tradition, launching a co-op, and investing in their education at The Field School in Chicago alongside her graduate studies. With her husband, Michael, she discerned a call to plant a diverse, Christ-centered Classical school on South Bend’s west side, where they raise their four children and serve in the children’s ministry at New City Presbyterian.
Sarah has a Master’s in Education Leadership for Classical Schools from Gordon College as well as a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia, and a Major in French Language & Literature.
Brian Guinto
Board Chair
Brian Guinto was born in the Philippines and grew up in the Bay Area after moving to the US when he was eight years old. Before being called to South Bend, Brian served as an Associate Pastor in Olympia and received his M.Div from Westminster Seminary in California. He currently leads the congregation at New City Presbyterian and also volunteers at Neighbor to Neighbor with his wife Laura, extending hospitality and welcome to immigrants and refugees in our city.
He is grateful to share life with his wife, Laura, and three children—Amos, Maisie, and Jesse—along with their dog, Rupert. As a Christ-follower, husband, father, and pastor, Brian is deeply committed to walking with others in faith and helping form lives of all stripes that are shaped by the love, mercy, and likeness of Jesus.
Stephen Love
Board Clerk
Stephen Love is a South Bend native who came to faith in Jesus Christ through his father’s church plant at a young age. He holds a B.A. in Pastoral Studies from Moody Bible Institute, an M.A. in Theological Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary (Orlando), and a certificate in History from the University of Oxford, England.
Stephen accepted the call to gospel ministry in 2002 and has served the church in pastoral leadership for more than two decades, including as Assistant Pastor and Elder at New Life Fellowship Church in Waukegan, Illinois. In 2019, Stephen and his family returned to South Bend to plant Redemption City Church, which launched in September 2020 and is committed to faithful preaching, discipleship, and community engagement.
Stephen is married to his wife, Mandy, and together they are raising their four children. He is an enthusiastic Notre Dame and Denzel Washington fan.
LaSonya McGraw
Board Treasurer
LaSonya McGraw has a background in Accounting with a Master’s degree in Accounting & Finance. She is currently working as a Post-Award Administrator for Emory University. She has worked in Research Administration for more than 18 years serving most of that time at Indiana University in Indianapolis. She manages a grant portfolio of $23 million for several faculty / physician researchers.
LaSonya has always been very involved in her community, mostly through church outreach with a passion for the education and character development of youth. Whether serving as a volunteer for United Way’s ReadUp program or a volunteer / administrator for church outreach initiatives such as Adopt-A-School, DREAM Single-Parent Ministry or Friday Recess, she believes in investing in future generations. She also enjoys gardening, website design and social media content creation. She is married to Tony McGraw who is a bi-vocational pastor and social worker.
Why The Willows Academy?
Choosing a school is a deeply meaningful decision. Parents are choosing not only how their child will learn, but who their child is becoming.
At The Willows Academy, we partner with families to offer a Christ-centered education where faith, curiosity, and character take root—nurturing each child’s mind and heart within a caring community where joyful growth can flourish.
If you’re wondering whether The Willows Academy might be a place where your child could truly thrive, we invite you to start your enrollment path and continue the conversation with us.