The team at Rise Up Academics is built on a culture of education and community. Below, you will find a little more about who we are.

Luke UpChurch ~ CEO & Co-Founder / Board President

Luke UpChurch is renowned for his dedication to dissecting intricate problems. He identified the deficiencies in our educational system as areas worthy of pursuit. While his educational path was not conventional, he later obtained a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Furthermore, he is scheduled to complete his Master of Science in Child & Adolescent Psychology from SNHU in May 2025. Currently, Luke serves as an Associate Director of Data Protection Engineering at Humana Inc.

Carrie UpChurch - CCO & Co-Founder

As Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer of Rise Up Academics, Carrie UpChurch brings her drive around youth education to the forefront. Educated in Early Child Development, Carrie understands the culture and community that it takes to promote success during a child's journey from elementary school to post-secondary. Her focus within the organization is around helping to ensure we have a North Star in our efforts to change the trajectory for NKY students.

Sarah Brown - Board Vice President

Mrs. Sarah Brown is an educator at the Ignite Institute teaching computer science. She received her B.A. in Education at Georgetown College. Sarah received her 1st master’s degree from East Carolina University in Instructional Technology. As she continued her teaching career, she pursued a 2nd master’s degree from the University of Kentucky in Educational Leadership. Currently, she is working on her 3rd master’s degree from Northern Kentucky University in Cybersecurity.

In her free time, you can find her spending time with her family. She is always on the go with her daughter, Elizabeth taking her to swimming practices and competitions. Go Clippers! She loves helping out on her family's farm or along the coast of North Carolina enjoying the coastal activities.

Ryan Burch - Board Secretary

Ryan has been a teacher, media specialist, technology coordinator, and school administrator in Kentucky schools for 20 years. He is currently the principal at Florence Elementary School in Boone County, KY. He lives in Florence with his family and an over-abundant assortment of pets.

Kristen Ewing - Board Member

Kristen Ewing has been an art teacher in Kentucky for the past 19 years. She has taught at levels ranging from kingdergarden - 12th grade. She is currently teaching at Kelly Elementary in Boone County. Kristen loves working with children and is passionate about helping kids succeded. She loves spending time with her family and enjoys being outdoors.

Technical Consultant - Renae UpChurch

Currently a Senior at the Ignite Institute, Renae is known for her technical ability and program management experience. She is a two time winner of the NCWIT award in Kentucky (2024, 2025), and National Honorable Mention (2025). Renae is also on course to obtain her associates degree in computer science, in tandem with her high school diploma May 2025.

Video Production Consultant -

Dakota UpChurch

As a Freshman at the Ignite Institute, Dakota has created a name for himself as a key resource for our marketing videos. He is positioned to obtain his associates degree in computer science, and high school diploma, graduating in 2028.