Laurie Gourley was born and raised in the Midwest.  After marrying her husband, Terry, in 1987, they moved from Missouri to Chicago where they lived for 15 years.  In 2000, they relocated to California.  They have 4 adult children and 5 grandchildren.

After graduating college, Laurie began her teaching career by working with illiterate adults.  She branched out and began tutoring children who had difficulty reading and became a reading and composition specialist.  At the same time, she homeschooled her three oldest children for 12 years and for three years worked at CASA, a homeschooling group in Camarillo, as a composition teacher.  She then moved on to teaching at Grace Brethren Junior/Senior High School as a 7th grade English teacher, while also taking on the role of Activities Director.  In 2009, she became the Director for Living Oaks Middle School Academic Alliance (LOMSAA).  Along with several other families, Laurie helped to build LOMSAA from the ground floor and helped it thrive as a successful Christian middle school for fifteen years.  

After retiring from LOMSAA, Laurie went on to become a Family Advocate, an initiative that advocates for the development of educational and personal tenacity. Her experience in education for thirty-five years, as an instructor throughout, an administrator for twenty and the Director of a school for fifteen has prepared her well to step into the role of Executive Director of Crossview Christian School, working with a passionate team of parents to see this vision fulfilled. In this role, Laurie oversees the launch of CCS, recruiting the head of school, faculty and staff, meeting with prospective families, establishing curriculum, and developing policies and processes to ensure the successful opening of Crossview Christian School.