Meet Our Staff

Mrs. Stephanie Burley

Principal

Upper Learning Center Supervisor

Mrs. Burley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but within just a few months, she and her parents moved to Lima. Pilgrim Christian School opened its doors as Mrs. Burley was heading into second grade. She was privileged to attend PCS from grades 2-12, and graduated in 1994. Mrs. Burley attended God's Bible School and College and graduated with a B.A. in Christian Teacher Education in 1998. She was employed by PCS in May of 1998, just following college graduation. Since that time, she has served as Upper Learning Center Supervisor,

Learning to Read Supervisor, and most recently as Principal and Upper Learning Center Supervisor. Mrs. Burley holds a graduate degree from Liberty University. She and her husband have four children, three of which are PCS graduates.

Rev. Donald Nichols

Founder & Pastor/Administrator

Pastor Nichols grew up in the plains of south central Illinois. He felt the call to ministry at a very young age. After giving his life to Christ, he accepted the call and left his home state to enter Bible college in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 1977, Pastor Nichols, along with his wife and young daughter, moved to Lima, Ohio to pastor the Pilgrim Holiness Church. In 1983, Pastor Nichols and his wife led the church in fulfilling the vision of opening a church school. Since that time, Pastor Nichols has filled a variety of roles within the school, and currently serves as Pastor/Administrator. Pastor Nichols has three married children, eleven grandchildren, and one very spoiled Cocker Spaniel. He and his wife, Ruth, enjoy spending their time leading the Lima Pilgrim Holiness Church, as well as serving as Conference President of the Pilgrim Holiness Church, a group of approximately 35 churches in the midwest and Carribean. Pastor Nichols holds an undergraduate degree from God's Bible School & College, and a graduate degree from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Rev. Caleb Zeigler

Learning Center Supervisor

Pastor Caleb Zeigler was born in Evansville, Indiana. He grew up experiencing life in the parsonage, as his dad was also a pastor. Part way through his childhood, ministry took his family to Shoals, Indiana. Pastor Zeigler graduated from Stone City Christian Academy in Bedford, Indiana and enrolled at Penn View Bible Institute in Penns Creek, Pennsylvania. During that time, God called Pastor Zeigler into ministry. He graduated in 2019, and served as Student Recruiter for the school the following year. In 2020, Pastor Zeigler became Youth Pastor at Lima Pilgrim Holiness Church, as well as a staff member at PCS. In 2021, he became Assistant Pastor at Lima PHC. Pastor Zeigler is married to Autumn and they have one daughter, Elsie. The Zeigler family resides in Elida, OH.

Mr. Evan Burley

Middle Learning Center Supervisor

(Levels 4-6)

Mr. Evan Burley was born and raised in Lima, Ohio. He attended Pilgrim Christian School from Kindergarten through 12th level, and attended Pilgrim Holiness Church with his parents all through his growing up years. Mr. Burley graduated from Pilgrim Christian School in 2019, and enrolled at Hobe Sound Bible College in Hobe Sound, Florida to pursue his bachelor's degree. During Mr. Burley's time in college, he traveled for two years with Legacy Quartet as part of the school's public relations department. During his senior year, he served as a resident assistant in the men's residence hall, and traveled with Covenant Quartet. In May of 2023, Mr. Burley graduated from Hobe Sound Bible College with the degree Bachelor of Arts in Ministerial Studies.

Mrs. Brenda Hunter

Preschool and Learning to Read Supervisor

Mrs. Hunter was born and raised in Bluffton, Ohio. She enrolled in Pilgrim Christian School at its opening in 1983, and graduated in 1989. Mrs. Hunter served as a nurse aide for several years before marrying her high school sweetheart. The next few years, Mrs. Hunter spent her days in the home caring for her children. In 2010, she returned to PCS as a Supervisor's Assistant in the Learning to Read Classroom. In 2017, Mrs. Hunter graduated from God's Bible School and College, and since that time she has served as the Learning to Read Supervisor. Mrs. Hunter and her husband have four children (three of which are PCS grads), a daughter-in-law, and one grandson. Mrs. Hunter resides in Lima.