We enjoy the leadership of a diverse, creative and hardworking Board of Directors. If you are interested in discussing potential Board service, please reach out to David Higuera at 520-310-3919 or david@explorebuildlearn.org.
Board of Directors
Anthony Wisz, Deputy Director, Southern Arizona Legal Aid
President
Cece Aguilar Ortiz, IDEA School Parent, Nonprofit Professional, Community Advocate
Vice President
Debbie Towle, Early Childhood Education Expert; Reading Specialist; IDEA School Counselor; TUSD Classroom Teacher (retired)
Secretary
Treasurer currently open.
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Frieda Baker, NAACP; UA College of Education; Pima County Retired Teachers Assoc; TUSD Classroom Teacher (retired)
Serene Harrison, SVP Tucson Partner; Mom; Community Advocate
Hans Hutchison, Musician, Tradesman; Former Classroom Teacher (BASIS Tucson)
Claudia Kappl Joy, IALD, CLD, MIES, WKO, Founder and Owner, C L L . C o n c e p t L i g h t i n g L a b
Katie Kurtin, Kindergarten Teacher, Flowing Wells School District; Master’s in Education, Emphasis on Equity and Social Justice in the Classroom, Univ. of Arizona
Marjorie Miller, Progressive Educator and Advocate; TUSD Classroom Teacher (retired)
Staff Representative(s) to the Board (elected each Fall by fellow staff members):
-TBD for 20/21
In Memoriam:
Mark A. Wasko, BSH Builders; Educator and former public school teacher; Lover of life
Past Presidents:
Jean Schroeder (2017-19)
Nicolle S. Bornstein (2015-17)
Mellow Dawn Lund (2014-15)
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Co-Founders
Jaime L. Johnson, IDEA School Parent; Collaborator; Director of Curriculum & Instruction
David R. Higuera, IDEA School Parent; Director of Finance and Development
Head of School
Bahne M. Kuehne, M.EDL, IDEA School Parent; co-founder and former director of the Community Montessori School of Bisbee
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Advisors
We also benefit from the wise counsel of local and national experts in the fields of education, the arts, entrepreneurship, community development, innovation and finance. We are grateful for their guidance and support!
Pam Bateman, Founder of the Civano Community School, Vail Unified School District; IDEA School Volunteer
Angela Baurley, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Affinity Wealth Management
Nicolle S. Bornstein, Founding Board Member of IDEA School; Community Advocate; Mindfulness Practitioner
Jennifer Chenault, Founding Board Member of IDEA School; Sales Executive, Lovitt & Touche; Past President, Greater Tucson Leadership
Debi Chess, Dunbar Coalition Executive Director
Anita Fernandez, Ph.D., Director, Prescott College, Tucson
Director, Xican@ Institute for Teaching and Organizing
Barbara Lewis, Dunbar School Alumnus, Dunbar Coalition Vice President, Community Advocate
Natalie Luna Rose, Founding Board Member of IDEA School; Community Advocate; Candidate for TUSD School Board
Mellow Dawn Lund, Founding Board Member of IDEA School; Co-owner, MAST
Maggie McKiernan, Founding Board Member of IDEA School; Founder and Owner, QualityTime Educational Ideas and Services, Early Childhood Expert
Robert Ojeda, Founding Board Member of IDEA School; Chief Programs Officer, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
Erik Rice, Director, College and Career Readiness, San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)
Eric Schindler, CEO, Child & Family Resources
Jean Schroeder, Founding Board Member of IDEA School; TUSD Educator (retired); National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE), Children’s Literature Assembly; Tucson Festival of Books
Gever Tulley, Co-Founder and Director, Brightworks and the Tinkering School
Morgan Wells, Curator of Education, Tucson Museum of Art