Board Mission: The Board of Trustees preserves the mission of Madison Community Montessori School (respecting children & their natural joy of discovery) by ensuring the viability and vitality of the school for the education of present and future generations of students, consistent with the standards recognized by Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).
Board Function: The Board of Trustees preserves and protects the health and well-being of the school by providing strategic leadership and governance, excluding the day-to-day operations, in accordance with the mission and bylaws of MCMS. In so doing, the Board is involved in long-term decisions, oversees financial management including establishing and reviewing the annual budget, monitors board educational strategies through hiring, reviewing and retaining a qualified Head of School, and leads the school in major fundraising efforts to ensure an excellent AMI education for the current and future children of MCMS.
Board Structure: The whole board meets periodically with an agenda primarily focused on monitoring the school’s strategic plans, staying on task pursuant to the annual agenda, policy setting and implementation, and assessment of the Head of School. The MCMS Board of Trustees appoints and oversees several standing and ad hoc committees that work to carry out specific aspects of the school’s strategic plan and mission. Each committee is chaired by a member of the Board, and some committees include additional non-Board members. The standing committees are the Executive Committee and the Committee on Trustees. Presently, the ad hoc committees are Development, Finance and Head Support & Evaluation.
2024-25 Board of Trustees
Jessica Hermsen, Chair
Jessica has a consulting practice focused on organization development, change management, and executive communications partnering with organizations including Lands’ End, Medtronic, Health Canada, and UW Credit Union. Her work focuses on helping organizations employ whole systems change methods to inspire sustainable change. Jessica holds a BA in Communications and Marketing from UW-Stevens Point and an MS from Case Western Reserve in Positive Organization Development and Change. Jessica and her husband, Josh, returned to Madison from Seattle in 2017. They have two children, Indie in Upper Elementary, and Asher, in Lower Elementary. Jessica and Josh appreciate the emphasis on the joy of learning, independence, hands-on work, and discovery that is foundational in Montessori education as well as fostering kindness and respect. Jessica joined the board in 2018 and has served in a variety of roles including development and fundraising, Head of School search, Committee on Trustees, executive committee, and strategic planning.
Years Served: 7
Committees Served: Executive Committee, Development, Fundraising, Committee on Trustees, Head Support and Evaluation, Head of School Search, Executive Committee (Secretary, Vice Chair), Strategic Planning Task Force
Current Committee(s): Executive Committee (Chair), Community Connections (Co-Chair)
Abby Alexander
Abby is an architect who specializes in the design of research-related and laboratory spaces for higher education and corporate clients. She is inspired by clients’ scientific endeavors and has enthusiasm to deeply understand their work. Abby earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati. Abby and her husband Nic have one child, Matilda, who started as a toddler at MCMS and is currently in elementary. Abby brings a natural curiosity and thorough approach to translating client needs into physical reality and has been generous in applying these gifts to her work as a trustee on several committees since 2015 including building and grounds and executive committee, and the committee on trustees. When she’s not hard at work dreaming up realities for clients or sharing design insights, she’s tinkering with small renovation and organization projects at home with her family.
Years Served: 10
Committees Served: Committee on Trustees, Executive Committee (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary), Building & Grounds, Head Support and Evaluation, Head of School Search
Current Committee(s): Committee on Trustees (Chair), Head Support and Evaluation
Stacy Austin-Li
Stacy has worked in consulting and project management, specializing in market entry and cross-cultural communications. Currently focused on raising two daughters, Stacy has been active in the community as a substitute teacher and volunteer at MCMS, a leader in the Dane County Dementia Friendly Communities initiative, and a member of City of Middleton Commission on Ageing. She earned a BA in languages at Augustana College and an MA in International Relations from the University of Hawaii. Stacy and her husband, Kai, returned to the Madison area after living in Beijing for a decade. Their oldest daughter, Raelynn attended MCMS from 1st grade through 8th, graduating in 2021. Kaya, currently in Upper Elementary, started in Children’s house when she was 2. While initially attracted to Montessori because of its commitment to the joy of learning through independence and discovery, Stacy has grown to appreciate the deep sense of respect for self, others and community fostered at MCMS as much as any of the academic lessons. Stacy joined the board in 2021.
Years Served: 4
Committees Served: Committee on Trustees, Executive Committee (Vice Chair, Treasurer), DEIB Task Force, Development, Strategic Planning Task Force, Community Connections
Current Committee(s): Executive Committee (Secretary), DEIB Task Force (Chair), Tuition Modeling Sub-Committee
Brandon Baldock
Brandon works as a product manager at Epic Software, which he joined in 1998. Brandon studied at Luther College and Arizona State University and holds a master’s degree in mathematics. He and his wife, Jen, are the parents of an MCMS graduate and 3 current students, one each in Adolescent, Upper Elementary, and Lower Elementary. Brandon first joined the MCMS board in 2012 and after rolling off rejoined in 2020 as Board Secretary. His commitment to the school stems from a gratitude in finding for his children the learning environment he would have thrived in as a child.
Years Served: 9
Committees Served: Facilities, Committee on Trustees, Head Support and Evaluation, Executive Committee (Secretary, Vice Chair)
Current Committee(s): Head Support and Evaluation (Chair), Committee on Trustees
Peggy Barlett
Peggy is a health care corporate attorney with Husch Blackwell LLP, a national law firm with over eight hundred attorneys located in more than twenty offices throughout the U.S. Peggy’s legal practice focuses primarily on contracting, corporate transactions, and corporate governance. Peggy earned her bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Michigan and her juris doctor from the University of Wisconsin law school. Peggy and her husband, Carl, currently have two children enrolled at MCMS in the Toddler and Children’s House programs. Given Peggy’s prior history as a teacher and Carl’s current role as a professor at the UW School of Business, they are grateful every day for the phenomenal MCMS staff, teachers, and personnel and the amazing environment they create for the students. She joined the board in 2022.
Years Served: 3
Committees Served: Finance (Fundraising)
Current Committee(s): Finance (Fundraising – Chair), Committee on Trustees, MCMS Endowment Fund Committee
Dave Potter
Dave earned a bachelor of science degree in Wildlife Ecology from University of Wisconsin-Madison and has worked as a sales executive for a national IT firm for 20+ years. He previously served as a City of Madison Police Officer. Dave and his wife, Mandy, have two children at MCMS in the Adolescent and Upper Elementary programs. They joined the MCMS community in 2020, choosing a Montessori education for their children to encourage open-mindedness and curiosity about the world, independence and self-reliance, and to reinforce their family values of inclusion, integrity, and community. Between driving his children to various activities, Dave enjoys reading, trout fishing, bird hunting, and playing the guitar.
Years Served: 3
Committees Served: Finance, Committee on Trustees
Current Committee(s): MCMS Endowment Fund Committee (Chair), Finance (Chair), Executive Committee (Treasurer)
Rebecca Barnhart
As a regional tourism marketing and public relations manager, Becca works to promote responsible tourism and economic well-being that benefits residents and visitors alike. She works with local, regional, and state partners to establish effective marketing campaigns and public relations efforts that cultivate authentic experiences and ensure the local community’s long-term resilience. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications and a Masters of Arts in Photojournalism from the University of Iowa. Becca and her husband Brad have three children, and their family has enjoyed being part of three very different Montessori communities over the years. They enjoy hiking, gardening, cooking and baking as a family.
Years Served: 1
Current Committee(s): Community Connections (Co-Chair)
Alex Hess
Alex, who joined the board in 2024, is a civil litigation attorney and a partner at West & Dunn, LLC. Alex focuses his legal practice on representing companies and individuals in business disputes. Alex earned his BA in political science and economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his JD from Northwestern University School of Law. Alex and his wife, Julie Devries, have two children at MCMS, Nora, in Lower Elementary, and Nathan, in Children’s House Peach. Because Nora and Nathan have thrived in this school community, Alex is committed to helping ensure the continued success of MCMS.
Years Served: 1
Current Committee(s): Finance Committee