Biography

Christopher S. Helvey, Director of Finance, Freedom Preparatory Academies. Chris has served as the Director of Finance Freedom Preparatory Academy since the Charter School opened in 2003. He previously owned a wireless internet company which he sold before coming to work at Freedom Preparatory Academy. Mr. Helvey has had all his children attend Freedom Preparatory Academy. He has a strong background in government finance, working for the City of Woodland Hills, as their Director of Finance, for many years before joining Freedom Preparatory Academy. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and, after joining Freedom Preparatory Academy, earned a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership. Mr. Helvey received the Utah Charter Business Manager of the Year award in 2013. He continues to serve on many committees and boards in the state and has assisted other charter schools through their initial startup process. 

Why do you want to serve on the UAPCS Board?

To help continue in all the efforts UAPCS has done since their inception.  There is much good policy and direction going on in the State of Utah with regards to charter schools, but there seems to be continuing negativity towards charter schools and without the work of UAPCS, i'd be scared to think of where we would be today.....

What specific skills and knowledge can you bring to the board?

20 years Utah charter experience.  2 years as the board treasurer, 18 years as Director of Finance.  I have helped expand Freedom Prep into 4 campuses, including one in Washington County. I have served on several state committees.  
I also served 23 years as the Director of Finance for Woodland Hill City, in Utah County.  

Please share your prior governing board experience.

Treasurer.  However, as Director of Finance for Freedom Prep, I have developed most of their policies, budgets, rules, and worked closely with the CAO and CFO of their board. 

Where do you hope to see the Charter School movement in the next five years?

I'm hopeful a few of the restrictive rules and regulations slowing the growth of charter schools in Utah becomes less burdensome, especially when good schools (not just great schools) wish to expand, whether that expansion is via brick and mortar,  online, or something else.  There is becoming a need for more online, hybrid schools, and even schools maybe not thought of yet, as different type of demographics, family styles, disease,  educational issues, etc. arise.  

I also would like to support any continuing and current efforts UAPCS is currently working on.