Board of Directors

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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 Co-Director Bahne Kuehne at 520-589-4933 or bahne@explorebuildlearn.org. 

 

Board of Directors, 2021-22

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Katie Kurtin, President

Kindergarten Teacher at Flowing Wells SD, M. Ed,  Equity and Social Justice in the Classroom

David Higuera, Vice President & Treasurer

Co-Founder, IDEA School; Chief of Staff, Supervisor Matt Heinz, Pima County Board of Supervisors

Hans Hutchison, Secretary

Musician, Tradesman; Former Classroom Teacher (BASIS Tucson)

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Cece Aguilar Ortiz, Officer

IDEA School Parent, Nonprofit Professional, Community Advocate

Frieda Baker, Officer

NAACP; UA College of Education; Pima County Retired Teachers Assoc; TUSD Classroom Teacher (retired)

Serene Harrison, Officer

SVP Tucson Partner; Mom; Community Advocate

Marjorie Miller, Officer

Progressive Educator, and Advocate; TUSD Classroom Teacher (retired)

Anthony Wisz, Officer

Executive Director, Legal AId 

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Faffs Riederer, Staff Representitive 

 IDEA Collaborator,  

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Co-Founders of IDEA School

Jaime L. Johnson & David R. Higuera

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IDEA Co-Directors

Bahne M. Kuehne, M.EDL: Operations, Community Impact, and Family Well-Being

Laura Wilson Etter: Program, Curriculum, and Student Services

Jaime L. Johnson: Program, Curriculum, and Student Services

 

Past Presidents of the Board

Jean Schroeder (2017-19)
Nicolle S. Bornstein (2015-17)
Mellow Dawn Lund (2014-15)

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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; Deputy Director, 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

Debbie Towle, Early Childhood Education Expert; Reading Specialist; IDEA School Counselor;  TUSD Classroom Teacher (retired)

Gever Tulley, Co-Founder and Director, Brightworks and the Tinkering School

Morgan Wells, Curator of Education, Tucson Museum of Art

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In Memoriam

Mark A. Wasko, Owner, BSH Builders; Retired public school teacher; Lover of life

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