School Board

Board Overview

The Beacon Academy School Board is made up of 9 voting members, 5 teachers, 3 parents, and 1 community member. Original MN charter school law calls for a teacher majority on the board of directors and Beacon still follows this framework. Terms are three years with the exception of the community member which has a two-year term. Board members may run for one additional term. The board chair must be a parent member. The Executive Committee oversees the Principal position and is comprised of the Board Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.

The Governance Committee oversees the election process which runs from March to May of every year. Each parent or guardian of a student at the school and each employee has the right to cast one vote for the board candidates. Board member terms run July 1 to June 30.

School board meetings are open to the public. Meetings are typically on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm at our school at 3415 Louisiana Ave N, Crystal MN. Check the school calendar for up-to-date school board meeting dates and times.

Board Meetings 2018-2019

July 19th
August 16th
September 20th
October 16th (Tuesday)
November 15th
December 20th
January 17th
February 19th (Tuesday)
March 21st
April 18th
May 16th
June 20th

School Board Members

Nick Meyer, Board Chair
boardpresident@nullbeaconacademy.com

I have been a Beacon Academy parent since 2012 and am thrilled to serve this wonderful community of teachers, students, and parents. Our family was first drawn to the school because of its character development and rigorous curriculum. But it is really this community of families and educators that has kept us here. Beacon Academy is more than just a school, it is the sum of what each one of us has put into it. That is what makes it so great. I live in Crystal with my wife Michelle, son Liam, and daughters Alysandra and Eloise. All three children attend Beacon and love their school. As a family, we enjoy playing games, watching movies, dancing to music, and going to the park.

Parent seat, term expires June 2019

Eldred Bach, Vice Chair
ebach@nullbeaconacademy.com

Thank you to everyone that voted me into this important leadership role at Beacon Academy. I have served as a kindergarten teacher for three years at Beacon and one of the best parts of my job is introducing new students and families to our school! Throughout my time at Beacon Academy, I have served in a variety of roles which include a paraprofessional, a member of the finance committee, a member of the facility planning committee, and a leader of our student council. I really enjoy attending school events to further develop that strong community connection Beacon Academy is known for. I love to see the excitement of our students as well as engage with our parents. I hope to provide a meaningful voice for our elementary team on the school board. I look forward to exploring the endless opportunities we will have at our new home in Crystal! As for my background, I grew up in a small farm town in Southern Minnesota. I have a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education as well as a Master's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota. In my free time, I enjoy going back to the farm, playing sports, and going to the local gym.

Teacher seat, term expires June 2019

Aaron Price, Board Treasurer
mailto:aprice@nullbeaconacademy.com

I am the proud parent of three wonderful children. Two of my children currently attend Beacon Academy and one more will attend when old enough. I have been a licensed foster parent for Hennepin county and have participated on several for-profit and non-profit boards. I feel very privileged to serve the Beacon Academy community in this way. My wife, Johanna, and I are strong proponents of Beacon’s approach to education, character building, and community.

Parent seat, term expires June 2012

Paige Roth, Board Secretary
proth@nullbeaconacademy.com

I am the 7th and 8th grade mathematics teacher at Beacon Academy. I began teaching here in the 2014-2015 school year and have felt proud to be a part of this community since the beginning. During my time at Beacon, I have been a member of the Equity and Curriculum Committees. I have also served on the board, Friends of Beacon, which oversees the property ownership of our Crystal location. As a member of the board, I hope to maintain and expand on the foundations of our school. Character education, strong community values, a thorough curriculum, and daily Spanish are just a few of the reasons our school is so outstanding.

Before joining Beacon, I worked as a preschool teacher in Eden Prairie and before that, I was an assistant director at Huntington Learning Center. I believe that my experience working with students ages pre K-12 will give me a wide perspective when making decisions on the board. Outside of Beacon, I enjoy spending time with my dog, Bentley, reading, and visiting new places with my family around the Twin Cities.

Teacher seat, term expires June 2020

Kris Gapinski, Board Member
kgapinski@nullbeaconacademy.com

I am a 5^th grade teacher at Beacon Academy. I first came to Beacon Academy as a long term substitute in 6^th grade math and social studies, then in 5^th grade. I enjoyed my experience so much that I decided to join the great staff as a permanent member. My license is K-8, middle school language arts. I am currently perusing a reading licensure with a masters in literacy. I have been involved in committees, such as Facility Planning, Leadership, Transition, Friends of Beacon, and Curriculum.

When I am not at school I enjoy time with my husband, Steve and our 2 children Brittany and Ben. I enjoy Indy Car races, reading, sewing, scrapbooking, and cross-stitching.

Teacher seat, term expires June 2020

Heather Greibrok, Board Member
hgreibrok@nullbeaconacademy.com

Teacher seat, term expires June 2021

Cameron Ward, Board Member
cward@nullbeaconacademy.com

Teacher seat, term expires June 2020

Teacher Seat Currently Open - process underway

Teacher seat, term expires June 2018

Community Seat Currently Open - process underway

Community seat, term expires June 2019

School Board Committees

Beacon Academy has six board-level committees. These committees meet monthly, receive direction from the board, and report back to the board as appropriate. The committees are made up of board members, staff members, and parents, and all meetings are open to the public.

Curriculum Committee
The Curriculum Committee reviews the school's curriculum on a defined review cycle and makes recommendations to the school board based on their findings. They meet once a month while school is in session. Refer to the school calendar for meeting days and times.

Employee Retention and Compensation
The Employee Retention and Compensation Committee explores avenues for retaining our quality employees through monetary and non-monetary compensation. Meetings take place when school is in session. Refer to the school calendar for meeting days and times.

Facility Planning- currently inactive
The Facility Planning Committee plays an active role in the expansion efforts for Beacon Academy.

Finance
The Finance Committee works closely with the Business Manager, the Board Treasurer, and the Principal to ensure financial accountability and stability for Beacon Academy. The Finance Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the same day as the board meetings in conference room 1. If the board meeting date/time changes, so does the Finance Committee meeting. Refer to the school calendar for confirmation of meeting days and times.

Governance
The Governance Committee reviews and creates the policies for Beacon Academy. They meet monthly all year around except for July and December. This committee meets one Monday night a month. Refer to the school calendar for meeting days and times.

Technology
The Technology Committee reviews the technology needs for Beacon Academy and creates a cycle for maintenance and implementation. They meet monthly all year round except for July. Refer to the school calendar for meeting days and times.