About the Bernards
Our Story (filmed July 2022)
Rony serves as the Founder of Pignon Christian Academy, supervising the administrative staff and overseeing all current and future building projects. Rony's intimate connection to the community and his background in business uniquely position him to serve in this leadership role. Together, Rony and Lauren guide the direction of Pignon Christian Academy and ensure that the students are taught in a Christ-centered, student-focused learning environment where the staff, teachers, students, and families are valued and honored.
Rony was born and raised in the countryside town of Pignon, Haiti. As a child, he watched his parents work very hard and make sacrifices in order to send Rony and his siblings to school. At the same time, Rony observed other families who could not make ends meet and were forced to choose daily food over education. This early experience shaped Rony's heart for others and instilled the value of education.
Rony was in Port-au-Prince, Haiti attending business school when the devastating earthquake of 2010 struck. In coordination with his church, Rony helped to place children without caregivers into host/foster families while he and his immediate family assumed the financial responsibility of paying school tuition for these 16+ children. This faithful commitment to "Rony's Kids" continues to this day in order to ensure these youth have access to education and, thus, a future.
While Rony was responding to the needs of children in Haiti, his now wife, Lauren, was obtaining her counseling psychology degree. Lauren is a licensed clinical professional counselor who specializes in trauma and related disorders. She has also taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels as an adjunct instructor. Rony and Lauren met through their local church and were drawn together through their shared love for the Lord and desire to serve people in need. Together, Rony and Lauren have two little girls and live in the Greater Baltimore area of Maryland and Pignon, Haiti. They are passionate about bringing quality, Christian education to Rony's hometown of Pignon!
Pignon Christian Academy