Board of Directors – The Hawbridge School

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.

Board Meetings

Board meetings are open to the public and held on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Upcoming Meetings

June 28, 2023 (Virtual)
August 23, 2023
September 27, 2023
October 25, 2023
November 15, 2023*
December 13, 2023*
January 24, 2024
February 28, 2024
March 27, 2024*
April 24, 2024
May 22, 2024
June 26, 2024
July 24, 2024

* An asterisk denotes a date that deviates from the usual fourth Wednesday of the month to accommodate breaks in the school calendar.

Current Board of Directors

April Williams (2020-2023), Chair

[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.

Renee Lynch (2020-2023), Vice Chair

[email protected]
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.

Nick Harrison (2022-2025), Secretary

[email protected]

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.

Amanda Rose (2022-2025), Treasurer

[email protected]

Amanda is a CPA and works as the Vice President of Finance at Buckner Heavylift Cranes. She obtained a B.A. in Anthropology and Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill and spent several years working at a group home for individuals with autism. She later attended UNC's Kenan Flagler business school where she obtained a Master of Accounting degree. Amanda has lived just outside of Saxapahaw for nearly 15 years. She always appreciates seeing the Hawbridge students exploring the local community and environment and embraces the school's unique mission and vision. Amanda especially enjoys traveling, backpacking, and eating good food with her daughter and spouse.

Natalya Barker (2021-2024)

[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.

Christina Fisher (2020-2023)

[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.

Megan Glancy (2021-2024)

[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.

Joshua Horton (2022-2025)

[email protected]

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.

Years before his four-year-old daughter was born, Josh was fascinated by the integral role Hawbridge plays in the local community and how the school uses the stunning beauty of Saxapahaw's natural spaces to supplement students' educational experiences. Josh looks forward to serving Hawbridge and the community during his 3 year Board term.

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 Lower School Director and the Upper School 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
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:

BYLAWS
2022-23 Hawbridge Policy Manual

Past Meetings

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]

Committee Meetings

Committees focus on individual aspects of the school and assist the Hawbridge Board of Directors in fulfilling their governance responsibilities. Four active committees currently operate on behalf of the Board of Directors:

Board Selection Committee – Next Scheduled Meeting: Thursday, May 4th
Fundraising Committee – Next Scheduled Meeting: Tuesday, May 30th, 4:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Strategic Planning Committee – Next Scheduled Meeting: Thursday, June 15th, 6:00 p.m. (Virtual)
Assessment and Evaluations Committee – Next Scheduled Meeting: Thursday, June 1st, 10 a.m. (Virtual)

Minutes from Hawbridge committee meetings are available upon request.

Serving on the Board

If you are interested in serving on The Hawbridge Board of Directors, please email [email protected] for more information. Board terms run for 3 years and begin on July 1.

Contact the Board

You may contact the Board at [email protected]