The Hawbridge Board of Directors is a volunteer group of parents, educators, business owners, and community members dedicated to helping The Hawbridge School thrive by providing responsive governance and attentive oversight. Each Board member shares a passion for education and a commitment to Hawbridge’s mission and vision of innovative, place-based learning emphasizing environmental stewardship and the arts. The Board brings diverse talents and perspectives to fulfill our responsibilities to the school and its constituents.Â
Applications to serve on The Hawbridge Board are now being accepted! Board terms run for 3 years and begin on July 1. During the 2023 selection process, we will be filling three full term positions in addition to one partial term position (one year of service). If you are interested in applying for an open Board seat, please submit an application to [email protected] no later than Friday, April 14, 2023.
Board meetings are open to the public and held on the fourth Wednesday of every month unless otherwise noted.
Upcoming Meetings
* An asterisk denotes a date that deviates from the usual fourth Wednesday of the month to accommodate breaks in the school calendar.
[email protected]
Mebane, NC
Part-time editor and full-time parent, April taught English literature and writing at UNC Greensboro while working toward a Ph.D. in environmental literature and rhetoric/composition. Prior to postgraduate work, April served as senior copywriter and editor for a marketing firm in Winston-Salem, NC. She is a double Demon Deacon, holding both a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University. What April admires most about The Hawbridge School is its emphasis on relationships; Hawbridge is a community that cares. When she is not caring for her own young learners (a son and a daughter) or spending time with her husband, April is often reading, walking in the woods, or playing with paint and words.
Nick works as an Information Security Officer. He holds a master's degree in Business from Western Carolina University and a B.A. in Peace, War and Defense from UNC-Chapel Hill. Nick was drawn to The Hawbridge School by its approach to individual learning, its proximity to the outdoors, and a mission that encourages both personal growth and lifelong learning. Nick lives in Chatham County with his wife, three children, and a mischievous golden retriever. When not working or volunteering, he enjoys camping, reading, and 3D printing.
[email protected]
Saxapahaw, NC
Natalya Barker works as an editor in international educational consulting. She holds a master’s degree in Liberal Studies from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Skidmore College. Natalya once owned a second-hand bookshop in Saxapahaw, Flying Beagle Books, where she had the opportunity to get to know Hawbridge students and faculty. This led to a strong interest in the mission and values of the school, and a deep appreciation for the role of the school in the Saxapahaw community and culture. Natalya is passionate about making Alamance County a better place to live for ALL its residents, and although much of her time is spent chasing after her energetic young son, she also serves as the Communications Secretary for the Alamance County NAACP and Chair of the North Newlin Voting Precinct.
[email protected]
Silk Hope (Siler City), NC
Full-time instructional systems designer, Christina has a B.A. in French Language and Literature and an M.Ed. in Education Media from UNC Chapel Hill. Christina has a keen interest in real estate. Her interest in The Hawbridge School began years ago while searching for a better educational environment for her daughter. She found The Hawbridge School’s mission and vision statements to be very compelling. Christina loves living in Silk Hope with her partner, horses, dogs, and cat, and enjoys outside farm work.
[email protected]
Pittsboro, NC
Megan was born and raised in North Carolina but has a strong passion for travel and adventure, living across the U.S. as well as abroad while pursuing her education and as a proud military spouse. After graduating from Guilford College with majors in Psychology and Women’s Studies, she pursued her advanced degree in Social Sciences at the University of Amsterdam. Since 2006, Megan has served as a lecturer and academic advisor in the department of Sociology and Anthropology at NC State, where she teaches courses on gender, race, intersectionality, inequality, and social change. Her most important work, however, is that of raising her two children, both happy Hawbridge Herons! Megan values Hawbridge’s emphasis on equity, cultural sensitivity, community involvement, and honoring the individual. The mission and values of the school align with her belief in providing safe and meaningful experiences to all students regardless of background and in support of their authentic selves. She lives in Pittsboro with her children, spouse, and menagerie of animals, where she enjoys yoga, community engagement, pollinator gardening, exploration, and the outdoors.
A resident of the Piedmont for the last 15 years, Josh is proud to be a staff attorney for Piedmont Land Conservancy, working to not only protect natural spaces for future generations, but to create public trails preserves, gamelands, and other opportunities to connect the public with nature.
[email protected]
Saxapahaw, NCÂ
Renee currently works as the Program Director of Saxapahaw Village Kids Preschool. After majoring in elementary education, she shifted her focus to early childhood education, obtaining a BA and MA in the field. Her passion for creating authentic, hands-on learning experiences in nature has driven her to become a North Carolina Certified Outdoor Learning Environment Designer through NC State University. Renee is drawn to Hawbridge’s mission to create an environment that empowers its students and hears their voices. This emphasis on mutual respect and honor parallels Renee’s belief that all children are capable, competent learners and should be actively involved in their education. Renee lives here in Saxapahaw with her two children and is an active member in the community. She spends her free time hiking, camping, kayaking along the river, or curled up with a good book.
The Hawbridge Board performs a number of duties in support of the school, including:Â
The Board is not responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school. If you have a classroom or operational issue, please address it to the appropriate teacher, administrator, or other school personnel.
The Hawbridge Board is guided by the following school policies and bylaws:
Minutes from Hawbridge Board of Director meetings are approved during the following month’s regular meeting of the Board. The approved minutes are then typically posted within one week of the date in which they are approved. A lag time may occur, however, under certain circumstances, such as if the Board Secretary is absent from a regular meeting.
Agendas and minutes for meetings prior to 2016 are available upon request from Jennifer Shelton – [email protected]
Committees focus on individual aspects of the school and assist the Hawbridge Board of Directors in fulfilling their governance responsibilities. Three active committees currently operate on behalf of the Board of Directors:
You may contact the Board at [email protected]