Board of Directors

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The Hawbridge Board of Directors is a 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. 

Board Meetings

Board meetings are open to the public and held on the fourth Wednesday of every month unless noted on the school calendar.

Upcoming Meetings
    • December 16, 2020

Current Board of Directors

Todd Nicolet (2020-2022), Chair

tnicolet@hawbridgeschool.org
Mebane, NC

As vice provost for digital and lifelong learning at UNC Chapel Hill, Todd provides leadership for Carolina’s online and professional education opportunities. He holds degrees in English from Eckerd College and UNC Chapel Hill, a degree in higher education administration from UNC Greensboro, and a faculty appointment at UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Education. He is a parent of a Hawbridge student and is continually impressed at the skill and dedication of Hawbridge faculty as they create meaningful learning experiences for our students. He loves to travel with his family, hike in the NC mountains, and brew beer in the backyard.

Natalya Barker (2018 – 2021), Vice-Chair

nbarker@hawbridgeschool.org
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.

Dawnya Bohager (2019 – 2022), Treasurer

dbohager@hawbridgeschool.org
Saxapahaw, NC

A local business owner and parent, Dawnya earned her B.S. in Psychology at Arizona State University and her M.S. in Experimental Psychology/Psychopharmacology at Tufts University prior to working as a lab coordinator at the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at UNC Chapel Hill. While working at UNC, Dawnya moved to and fell in love with the Saxapahaw community and subsequently shifted professions to open Haw River Farmhouse Ales here in the village with her husband and business partner. Dawnya was initially impressed by The Hawbridge School’s dedication to place-based learning after observing teachers utilizing the natural setting available here in Saxapahaw as a part of their classroom, and now sees the school as a vital part of our community life and livelihood. Dawnya loves hiking the trails with her family.

Kathryn Brown (2019 – 2022)

kbrown@hawbridgeschool.org
Saxapahaw, NC

Kathryn supports several medical practices in Alamance County in her work as a Care Guide for Cone Health. She is passionate about connecting seniors with community resources and is committed to helping her patients overcome barriers to staying healthy and creating positive outcomes for their well-being. Kathryn earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Western Carolina University. Prior to her work in the medical field, she was a project manager for an early childhood music and movement publisher. Kathryn serves as Chair of the Fundraising Committee for The Hawbridge Board. She has been impressed with the school’s focus on stewardship, conservation, and respect for nature. She is excited to see these efforts expand within the Saxapahaw community, especially the upcoming addition of the new Hawbridge school. Kathryn spends most of her free time outdoors on the trails, working in the garden, or running with friends. She lives in Saxapahaw with her husband, their young daughter, and their two dogs.

Matt Buckmaster (2020-2023)

mbuckmaster@hawbridgeschool.org
Graham, NC

Matt is Assistant Dean of Global Education and Associate Professor of Music and Education in his fifteenth year at Elon University. He coordinates the global education curriculum and teaches study abroad and interdisciplinary courses within the Elon Core Curriculum. A former K-12 music educator, Matt also has extensive trombone performing experience in a diverse array of musical genres, most notably performing at Walt Disney World for eight years before coming to North Carolina. The mission of Hawbridge School resonates deeply for Matt, who is a strong proponent of experiential and place-based education. An avid gardener, he also enjoys reading, travel, and spending time with family and friends.

Christina Fisher (2020-2023)

cfisher@hawbridgeschool.org
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.

Dianne Ford (2018 – 2021)

dford@hawbridgeschool.org
Saxapahaw, NC

Recently retired as electronic resources and science librarian at Elon University, Dianne has also worked as a biologist and native plants professional. She holds degrees from Wake Forest University and UNC Greensboro. Her interest in The Hawbridge School began with a community meeting about the school expansion project, and her work on the Board includes a year as secretary as well as service on Board Selection, Communication, and Fundraising committees. An avid hiker and gardener, Dianne is committed to the positive impact of native plant landscaping and is excited about plans for habitat creation at our new school site.

Renee Lynch (2020-2023)

rlynch@hawbridgeschool.org
Saxapahaw, NC 

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.

April Williams (2020-2023), Secretary

awilliams@hawbridgeschool.org
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.

Board Responsibilities

The Hawbridge Board performs a number of duties in support of the school, including: 

  • Ensuring the school’s mission and vision are the guiding focus of the school
  • Maintaining the school’s financial health
  • Hiring and evaluating the Executive Director
  • Creating, approving, and maintaining school policies, with appropriate input from administration and other stakeholders
  • Taking responsibility for facility acquisition or modification
  • Creating a strategic plan for the charter school and using the plan as a guide for decision-making
  • Communicating the work of the Board and providing updates on our school expansion project to communities of interest
  • Supporting and celebrating the work of the Hawbridge faculty, staff, and administrators

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.

Bylaws and Policies

The Hawbridge Board is guided by the following school policies and bylaws:

Past Meetings

2020 Meeting Minutes
2019 Meeting Minutes
2018 Meeting Minutes
2017 Meeting Minutes
2016 Meeting Minutes

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 Executive Director, Mya Ciccotti- mciccotti@hawbridgeschool.org.

Serving on the Board

If you are interested in serving on The Hawbridge Board of Directors, please email board@hawbridgeschool.org for more information. Board terms run for 3 years and begin on July 1.

Contact the Board

You may contact the Board at board@hawbridgeschool.org