Meet the Board of Trustees
The primary responsibilities of the Board of Trustees are to establish, from time to time reexamine and refine, the institutional identity, mission, and core values and beliefs about education that define the nature of the school, as outlined in the Blueprint.
Based on this foundation, the board selects and supervises a day-to-day Head of School, whose job is to select and supervise the school’s faculty and staff, admit students and families, ensure that they are provided with an authentic Montessori program and kept safe (physically and emotionally), oversee the school’s financial resources and physical plant, and nurture a sense of community among children, teachers and staff, parents, and friends of the school. Thirdly, the board establishes policies and makes decisions that are consistent with the school’s core values as set forth in this blueprint, and ensures that day-to-day operating policies established by the Head of School are likewise consistent with the school’s core values as set forth in the blueprint.
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Kristen Stocker Holder
She/Her/Hers
President
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Nicole Royer
She/Her/Hers
Vice Chair; Governance and Policy Committee Leader, Committee on Trustees Committee Leader
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Carla Catalán Day
She/Her/Hers
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Eranda Jayawickreme
He/Him/His
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Leslie Russell
She/Her/Hers
Secretary
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Paige Lester Niles
She/Her/Hers
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Mitchell Currin
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Frank Brainard
He/Him
Ex-Officio
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Margaret Borrego Brainard
She/Her
Ex-Officio
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Cheryl Raymond
She/Her/Hers
Ex-Officio
FAQs
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Our Board is comprised of community members and parents. The bylaws call for a voting majority of community members (not current parents) to current parents.
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Potential board members can apply by submitting a letter of interest and resume and going through an interview process with the current Board and the Head of School. Know a qualified potential Board Member? Please connect us through the Board email address at trustees@wsmontessori.org.
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The Head of School is a non-voting member, meaning the HOS joins for Board conversations to share important insight into school operations and key issues, but does not vote on key issues.
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Terms are 3 years and Board Members may serve 2 consecutive terms, for a total service of up to 6 years consecutively. Officers – President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary – are elected to their roles annually, and may serve as an officer for up to 3 years, after which bylaws require that they step down for at least 1 year.
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The Board will focus on continuing to build our next 5-year strategic plan with key community involvement, and continuing to advise, as needed, on the operations of WSM.
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Yes! We are excited about continuing to add qualified Board Members, community members and parents alike, in the coming year. Our by-laws call for a Board of 5-10 members; we aim to maintain 7-9 board members at all times.
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No, it is a volunteer role – neither were any Board members paid as Acting Head of School.
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Our seven board members would give you seven different thoughtful answers, including – because we want to help invest in our faculty and staff; because we want to give back to an institution who provided a wonderful education for our children. We can agree, however, that to a person, we’ve joined because we’re passionate about a Montessori education and the value it brings to the children of WSM – and of the world!