Board

Elections will take place virtually beginning on May 24, 2021.

BIOGRAPHIES:

Jessica Waletski — Board Chair: Jessica is a parent of three boys, two current and one future Northeast College Prep students. Her oldest son was in the very first Kindergarten class at Northeast College Prep. Jessica grew up in Minnesota and she graduated from St. Cloud State University with a BA in International Relations and Political Science; she also holds an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Jessica is currently a Finance Manager at Thomson Reuters. As a board member, Jessica hopes to be a representative advocating for all NECP parents as well as use her business experience in board matters.

Joanna Schneider — Secretary: Joanna is both a board member and a founding teacher at Northeast College Prep. She graduated with honors from Winona State University in 2007 and holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and Middle School Social Studies. Before joining the NECP staff, Joanna taught for several years at Hiawatha Academies in South Minneapolis as both a first and second grade teacher. She comes to NECP with a strong background in the Responsive Classroom approach to teaching and has an avid interest in developing students who are both academically-minded and socially responsible. Prior to joining the NECP staff and board, Joanna served as a teacher board member at Hiawatha Academies for four years. Her experience as a classroom teacher allows her to bring practical insight from the daily workings of the school to board level decisions. She is also able to discern how board policies impact the lives of students, families, and staff members.

Bill Graves — Finance Committee Chair: Bill is the founding president of The John and Denise Graves Family Foundation. Prior to his work with the foundation, Bill worked in the technology and creative consulting sectors as a business analyst, writer, producer, and resource manager. He lives in Northeast Minneapolis with his wife, Mary, and daughter, Fern.

Josh Crosson — Governance Committee Chair: From local neighborhoods to the State Capitol, Mr. Crosson advocates to ensure that all Minnesota students, especially those most underserved, have access to a great education. He previously worked in D.C., where he transformed his passion for public policy into a fulfilling vocation, or, as his friends put it, made a living out of doing something “activisty”—first at the Human Rights Campaign and later on Capitol Hill. At HRC, Josh spearheaded student outreach operations and expanded the organization’s mission to incorporate LGBTQ+ students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He then spent four years writing legislation and advising his hometown congressman, Rep. Adam Smith (WA-9), on labor, health, budget, and tax issues. Josh holds a bachelor’s in Political Science and Religion from Santa Clara University. When he’s not working for Minnesota’s kids or spending time with his partner, Jon, in their North Minneapolis home, Josh operates an adult LGBTQ+ sports league that benefits local homeless youth.

Erica Ahlgren — Board Member: Erica is passionate about educational equity for all students and works diligently to ensure that regardless of her role, she is centering students and community.  She has spent over a decade in education –  starting her teaching career in Washington, D.C. before returning home to MN in 2012 to teach in North Minneapolis. After leaving the classroom, Erica supported teachers across the Twin Cities apply design thinking principles to their instructional practices. She currently supports elementary schools in implementing strategic school improvement efforts. She also serves as an adjunct professor within the Master of Teaching program at Concordia University, St. Paul. She has a Ph.D. in Culture and Teaching from the University of MN Twin Cities. Erica enjoys cooking with friends, running Minneapolis trails and her puppy, Gigi.

Andrea Wenker — Board Member: Andrea is both a board member and Northeast College Prep teacher. She holds a Master of Arts in ESL Education from the University of St. Thomas and has taught multilingual learners, early childhood through adult, in Minneapolis and St. Paul for 18 years. As a current teacher, previous charter school board member, and former program manager and banker, Andrea brings a unique perspective to the board. She looks forward to serving the NECP community in this capacity and working collectively to uphold the NECP mission and vision.

Rich Nazarian — Board Member: Rich is the retired founder and CEO of Minnetronix Medical, a technology company that over the past 25 years has developed hundreds of products and manufactured hundreds of thousands of medical devices that have been used to treat millions of patients.  Rich is an advocate for increasing diversity in technical fields through STEM education for underrepresented groups.  Rich serves on the boards of several medical technology companies as well as the Dougherty Family College at St. Thomas, a two-year college program for inspired students who want to obtain a four-year college degree and face financial or social obstacles on the way to their goal.  Rich comes from a family of K-12 educators and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University.