The Odyssey School - Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is made up of 10 - 15 members, including, at a minimum:

3 parents
2 teachers
5 community members
The Executive Director (non-voting member)
The Board may also include a school founder.

Each member serves for three years.
For more details, please see the Odyssey By-Laws below. To see Financials, go to the Financial Transparency Page.

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Our Data Story

2012-2013 Meetings - PLEASE NOTE - THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, ALL LINKS WILL BE LIVE SOON
Thurs, June 28th Board Retreat - Minutes
Wed, August 15, 2012 at 4PM - Agenda & Minutes
Thurs, September 13 at 5 PM - Executive Committee Mtg.
Wed, September 19 at 4 PM - Agenda & Minutes
Thurs, October 11 at 5 PM - Executive Committee Mtg.
Wed, October 17 at 4 PM - Agenda & Minutes
Thurs, November 8 at 5 PM - Executive Committee Mtg.
Wed, November 14 at 4 PM - Agenda & Minutes
Thurs, December 13 at 5 PM - Executive Committee Mtg.
Wed, December 19 at 4 PM - Agenda & Minutes
Thurs, January 10 at 5 PM - Executive Committee Mtg.
Wed, January 16 at 4 PM - Agenda & Minutes
Thurs, February 14 at 5 PM - Executive Committee Mtg.
Wed, February 20 at 4 PM - Agenda & Minutes
Thurs, March 14 at 5 PM - Executive Committee Mtg.
Wed, March 20 at 4 PM - Agenda & Minutes
Thurs, April 11 at 5 PM - Executive Committee Mtg.
Wed, April 17 at 4 PM - Agenda & Minutes
Thurs, May 9 at 5 PM - Executive Committee Mtg.
Wed, May 15 at 4 PM - Agenda
Thurs, June 6, 2011 - Executive Committee Mtg.
Wed, June 12 at 4 PM

2011-2012 Board Agendas & Minutes
2010-2011 Board Agendas & Minutes
2009-2010 Board Agendas & Minutes

Odyssey By-Laws
Governance Policy & Decision Making

You can email the Odyssey Board at board@odysseydenver.org.

Board Members as of August, 2012


	JON EXALL Odyssey Teacher Jon began at Odyssey in the fall of 2006 as Odyssey’s 6th grade lead teacher. Prior to Odyssey, he taught 7th and 8th graders in Denver and environmental education in California with 6th graders. Since his arrival at Odyssey, Jon has developed the 6th grade curriculum, including a two-week spring trip that has traditionally headed out to the Grand Canyon and back. His love of adventure has roots in his interest in backpacking, rock-climbing, tele-skiing, global travel, and competing in triathlons. Jon has been on Odyssey’s Board of Directors since the fall of 2010.
	HEATHER EVERSLEY JOVEL Clifton Jones Dvlp.
	MARCIA FULTON Executive Director I was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, the fourth child of six very loud children. To get into my family you had to sing and play cards—preferably Bridge. I graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago with a degree in liberal studies, and spent the next several years singing in three-part harmony with my two sisters around the Chicago area. After a tour of the corporate life, I decided to follow my passion for education and return to graduate school to pursue a teaching degree. I learned a great deal getting my Masters degree at the University of Colorado at Denver in Curriculum and Instruction. Most importantly, I learned to choose your classes well—I met my soon to be husband on the first day of class. Bill and I married just as I finished my program and I got a job teaching at Ponderosa Elementary in the Cherry Creek district. I taught there for nine years before coming on board as math consultant at Odyssey, thinking it was just a short term opportunity to try a new experience and to spy on the school I hoped our children, Ben and Elena, would someday attend. That day came the following year, when Elena started Kindergarten and I became the Director of Education. We moved to Stapleton just before Odyssey did, and Ben enrolled the next year. I am excited to be going into my 10th year at Odyssey and into my fourth year as the Executive Director. I love being a part of this community. It is a gift to watch all of our children learn and grow together.
	CHRIS HERNDON City Councilman, District 11 Christopher Herndon joined the board in 2012. A 1999 West Point graduate, he spent nearly seven years in the United States Army. He served in Germany where he participated in a peace keeping mission to Kosovo in 2002. He assumed command of a unit performing logistical missions in Iraq in 2003, and led a unit responsible for the training of newly commissioned lieutenants in 2004-2005. While serving, Chris earned a Masters Degree in Management from Webster University. In the spring of 2011 he was elected to Denver City Council serving far northeast Denver. He currently serves as Council Pro Tempore, as well as on several committees including Government and Finance; Business, Workforce and Sustainability. Chris graduated from the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Fellowship at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 2012. Chris believes it is our responsibility to grow our own future generation of leaders. Because of this he created Northeast Denver Leadership Week. Now in its second year, the program connects the students with civic and industry leaders. Youth receive exclusive tours, presentations and guidance from some of the most influential people in the city, and are able to dialogue with them to learn how they might grow their potential into success.
	HEATHER LAMM Past-Chair Partner-Perform Consulting Group, LLC Ms. Lamm is a Partner at Maroon Ventures, a professional services firm focused on digital media. Headquartered in Crested Butte, Colorado, Maroon Ventures connects emerging business opportunities with traditional media companies to help them execute in local markets. Prior to becoming a Partner with Maroon Ventures, Heather was an Executive Vice President at MediaNews Group, the fourth largest newspaper company in the US, with properties throughout California, the Rocky Mountains and the Northeast. From 1999-2004 Heather was Chair of the Board of Directors at Third Millennium, a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy and education organization. Heather holds an MBA in entrepreneurship and organizational behavior from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA in political science from Brown University.
	ANDREW MOHRAZ Secretary Attorney-Bryan Cave HRO Andrew Mohraz joined the Board in January 2010 as a community member. He is an attorney at Bryan Cave HRO in the firm's Denver office. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, white collar defense and government investigations, and intellectual property. Andrew previously worked at Public Strategies, Inc., a business consulting firm in Austin, Texas, and at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. Andrew holds a bachelor degree in History from Northwestern University, a master in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a law degree from Southern Methodist University. Andrew joined the Board in January 2010 and serves as a community member.
	RUFUS NAGEL Odyssey Parent CEO Aion Investments
	ILLANA POLEY Senior Associate - SE2 Illana Poley joined the Board in the Spring of 2008 as a community member. She lives in Stapleton with her husband, Mike Baksa, and is a Senior Associate with SE2, a Denver-based communications firm specializing in public issues. Her clients include a variety of for-profit, non-profit and government agencies. Much of her work involves communicating about education issues to the general public, community leaders and elected officials. Prior to working for SE2, Illana was the research director for the statewide Referendum C campaign and spent five years at the Colorado State Auditor's Office conducting program evaluations and legislative audits. Illana is a fourth-generation Colorado native and a graduate of Fairview High School in Boulder. She holds a degree in government from Harvard University.
	NILMINI SENANAYAKE HECOX Development Director - Stanley British Primary Nilmini is the Director of Development at Stanley British Primary School, a K – 8 independent school in Lowry that she has been with since 2008. She has over ten years of experience in philanthropy especially as it relates to the fields of healthcare, fiscal policy, theater and higher education. As a fundraiser she has raised tens of millions from many sources for organizations such as the Colorado School of Mines, the Colorado Center on Law and Policy and the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute. What Nilmini enjoys most is major gift fundraising with individual donors. Philanthropy is a calling more than a career for Nilmini. She believes that philanthropy is transformational, and when harnessed in a manner that serves both the donor and the receiving organization, can truly change the world. Nilmini holds an MA in Theater History from Indiana University, and a BA in English and Theater from Lawrence University. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Odyssey School, and on the Mentor Committee for the Institute for Leaders in Development at the University of Denver. Nilmini lives in Park Hill with her husband and two daughters where she runs short distances and practices yoga for balance and happiness.
	PETER SHERMAN Chair/Odyssey Parent DPS Principal Peter Sherman moved to Denver in 1999 to become the first Adventure Coordinator for Odyssey after teaching in public schools in California and for Outward Bound in North Carolina, Oregon, and California. His two years on the Odyssey staff were some of his most exciting professional experiences to date. Peter left Odyssey to pursue educational administration leading to two years as assistant principal at the Jeffco Open School, four years as principal at Park Hill K-8, and now in his fourth year as principal at Valdez Elementary School in northwest Denver. At Valdez, Peter has led many turn-around efforts, including the implementation of a dual-language program and “Innovation” status. Peter is thrilled to return to Odyssey as a parent representative on the Board. When working at Odyssey, Peter met his wife Linnea Krizsan. They now live in Stapleton with their two sons Ry and Max. Ry is in first grade this year.
	JASON SHIROFF Odyssey Teacher I am proud to be one of the few Denver natives around and an alumni of the Denver Public Schools. After graduating from the International Baccalaureate program at George Washington High School, I studied Environmental Biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. While there, I also earned certificates in Peace and Conflict Studies and social change/community organizing. My post college days brought me to Guatemala where I was a Peace Corps volunteer for two years. I learned Spanish, developed eco-tourism projects, and began my teaching career. I taught environmental education in small village schools in the beautiful Guatemalan countryside. Upon returning to the US I completed a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Colorado at Denver and began teaching full time. I’ve taught in private, public, and now charter schools. With each school deepening my practice and experiences. I love teaching at The Odyssey School because of its focus on character as well as academics. I appreciate the vision set by our design principles. It is an honor and a pleasure to work in such an intentional, caring, and rigorous environment. Outside of school, I am part of the Denver Writing Project leadership team. I run my own small web design business. My hobbies include riding my recumbent bicycle, spending time outside, writing, and enjoying music. Most importantly, I am a father to a wonderful toddler who amazes me and makes me laugh everyday.
	JUSTIN SILVERSTEIN Tresurer VP Augenblick, Palaich & Assc. Justin joined the Board in the Spring of 2010 as a community member. He is a Vice President of Augenblick, Palaich and Associates, a Denver based education policy consulting firm. Justin’s focuses on school finance issues and works with both states and school districts in addressing the fiscal issues facing public schools. He lives in Stapleton with his wife Jenn and their two kids, Cooper and Chloe. Justin has helped coached the Odyssey tennis team the past three years. He is a Colorado native who attended Heritage High School in Littleton and then went on to study accounting at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
	ERIN WILHOITE Chair-Elect VP HotHouse Media Erin is the Vice President of Sales & Marketing at HotHouse Media, a consultancy in the multi-channel video industry (cable and satellite) specializing in product strategy, content development & distribution. With over 15 years experience in domestic and international telecommunications and cable, Erin's expertise is in brand and product positioning, consumer and b-to-b promotional marketing, and sales strategy. Erin has held various marketing & sales positions with such companies as British Telecom, Discovery Networks, AT&T Broadband (Comcast) and Charter Communications. Erin also serves on the Board of Directors of the Women in Cable and Telecommunications (WICT) association. Erin holds a degree in Foreign Affairs & Spanish from the University of Virginia. She, her husband and two children live in Park Hill.
	ERIC WILLIAMS Odyssey Parent Eric Williams was elected to the Board in 2012 as a parent representative. Eric is the President and CEO of Frontier Renewal, a niche real estate firm that specializes in the acquisition, cleanup, and re-positioning of environmentally-challenged real estate. He's also the Chairman of the Board of Directors for a sister company, Frontier Environmental Management. Eric applies his business knowledge and experience to the Odyssey Board, including raising funding from private and public sources, corporate governance, communication to stakeholders, and leading teams in a collaborative environment. His hobbies include almost anything active in Colorado, including running, mountain biking, triathlons, rock climbing, skiing, hiking, backpacking, and about any other outdoor adventure. Eric's twin daughters, Reese and Lindsey, are first graders at Odyssey.