Grace International Educational Foundation was founded in 2008 to support Christian Education for missionary families serving overseas.  Take a moment and get to know our officers:

Tom Matyas

President and CEO

Tom Matyas has an extensive background in sales, marketing and management. He worked in the metal fabrication and travel industries, where he owned and operated businesses. His professional experience includes serving in positions from District sales representative to CEO.

His interest in missions dates to 1995. He’s been involved with missionaries and mission agencies, both personally and as chairman of his church missions’ team. Through this, he developed wide-ranging international travel and cross-cultural expertise.

Tom first became involved as a friend and supporter of Grace International School (Thailand) during its conception in 1998. During the 2005-06 school year, he and his family lived in Thailand when his wife, Janet, served as the school’s librarian. Through the years, they have been active advocates for the school.

In 2008, Tom was a driving force behind the establishment of Grace International Educational Foundation, becoming its first President and CEO. He also serves on the GIEF Board of Directors.

Lawrence Gene Foltz

Chairman, Board of Directors

Mr. Foltz has a strong background in missions, education and business.  He and his family spent 23 years in Thailand.  Gene served as field director for New Tribes Mission, founded two schools (Grace International School and Cornerstone Language Center) and started 7 businesses. He also co-planted and co-pastored an International Church that now has over 400 in attendance. 

 

Since returning to the USA in 2002 to care for aging parents, Gene established the Development Department for NTM International , served as Executive Director of the Chamberlain Foundation and is now working as an independent missions and development consultant and conference speaker.  Gene is an elder at Faith Community Church in Orange City, Florida.  Presently Gene and his wife, Sherrie, live in DeBary, Florida and both of their children are in full-time ministry, and married (with a total of 5 grandchildren).

Don Williams

Board of Directors

Don Williams has an extensive background in education. He has worked as a classroom teacher for 10 years in both public and private education, as an administrator for twelve years and as an educational consultant for six years.  He was awarded a Fulbright teacher exchange to British Columbia arranged by the governments of the United Sates and Canada.  As a consultant he worked with mission schools throughout SE Asia, Central and South America and with public schools across America.     

Don first became involved with the concept of Grace International School (Thailand) in 1994 along with the school’s founder Gene Foltz while serving as an educational consultant in SE Asia.   Early on in Grace’s development Don was asked by Gene to come and lead the school when it opened in 1999.  It wasn’t until the 2005-06 school year that he and his family moved to Thailand when he began to serve as superintendent.  The 2009-10 school year begin his fifth year serving at Grace. 

Bill Clark

Board of Directors

After stepping out of the Navy as a Lt. Commander, Bill Clark earned his PhD in electrical engineering and taught at the University of Texas, Austin and the University of California, Berkley. Then for 31 years he did research and later was a senior manager for Hughes Aircraft.  

When he retired, because of his love for missionary kids—including his own grandchildren in Germany—Bill heard of a great need at Grace International School and moved to Thailand to teach science and math for four years.

Bill now enjoys speaking to students at American colleges. He shares the vision and need for teachers, prayer and support for the school’s future.