Terry W. Atchley
is the chair of the SFSC District Board of Trustees. He was appointed to the Board in 2020, representing Hardee County. A longtime resident of Wauchula, he has served the community as city manager of Wauchula since 2011. He is currently the county manager for Hardee County. Atchley was a member of the SFSC Foundation Board of Directors from 2012 to 2021 and served as president, vice president, and secretary. He is actively affiliated with these organizations: AdventHealth Heartland Division, Board of Directors member; Florida Federation of Fairs, member; Hardee County Fair Association, Board of Directors president; Hardee County Education Foundation (HCEF), Board of Directors member; Kiwanis Club of Wauchula, Division 15 lieutenant governor; Florida City and County Management Association (FCCMA), District VI director; Hardee County Chamber of Commerce, member; and Rotary Club of Hardee County, member. The Florida League of Cities honored him with the Home Rule Hero Award for three consecutive years, beginning in 2015. He attended South Florida Community College (SFCC). Atchley and his wife Filomena have two sons, Julian and Thomas.
Timothy D. Backer
is the vice chair of the SFSC District Board of Trustees. He was appointed to the Board in 2009, representing DeSoto County. Originally from St. Louis, Mo., he moved to Arcadia, Fla. in 1972. One of the college’s own, Backer graduated from SFSC with an Associate in Arts degree in 1975. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from the University of South Florida in 1983. A real estate appraiser since 1975, Backer has been adjunct faculty in real estate at SFSC since 1985. He is commander of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Auxiliary. He was a member of the Arcadia Volunteer Fire Department for 27 years, serving 24 years as chief. Backer is currently chairman of the DeSoto High School Advisory Committee. He is president of the DeSoto County Board of Realtors, an office in which he has served 12 terms. Backer and his wife, Pat, have three children–Tim, Jim, and Bryan.
Derren J. Bryan
was appointed to the Board in 2011 and represents Hardee County. A resident of Bowling Green, he is currently the chief operating officer and president of Avail Consulting. Most recently he was the information technology director and chief operations officer and president at Albritton Insurance Services from 2007 until 2022. From 2000 to 2008, he was president of Net-Pro Professional Networking Solutions Inc. From 1997 to 2007, he taught science, computer networking, and physical education and coached at Hardee Senior High School. From 1995 to 1996, he taught and coached at Port Charlotte Senior High School. His community involvement includes the Hardee County Chamber of Commerce, Hardee Athletic Foundation, Hardee County Education Foundation, volunteering as Hardee Junior High School football coach, and Hardee Youth Sports volunteer. Bryan received a bachelor’s degree from Western Colorado University. He and his wife Diane have two sons, Jace and Jorren.
John Eason
was appointed to the SFSC District Board of Trustees in 2024 and represents Highlands County. A resident of Avon Park, he has worked for the City of Wauchula for over 20 years and is currently the deputy city manager, previously serving as their chief of police for over 10 years. Eason graduated from Avon Park High School and is an alumnus of SFSC, receiving an associate degree in Criminal Justice. Eason also holds a bachelor’s degree from Polk State College in Public Administration. He remains involved in the community through his role as past president of the Rotary Club of Hardee County where he served as an assistant governor for Rotary International District 6890. Eason is also the flight coordinator for the Heartland Rotary Freedom Flight, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Wauchula, and a member of the AdventHealth Wauchula Foundation board.
Dr. Louis H. Kirschner
was appointed to the SFSC District Board of Trustees in 1999 and represents DeSoto County. Originally from Chicago, Ill., he graduated from Chicago City Junior College in 1963, attended Southern Illinois University, and graduated from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1972. He has been a chiropractic physician for 30 years. He has been chairman of the DeSoto County Republican Executive Committee since 1990.
