Board Members

The Board meets the second Thursday of every month at 6:30 pm at the school

Board of Directors include:

Dave Conrad, Parent/Community Member/Educational Administration/Ex-Officio Member
Dave is currently the Director of our school, serving students (and their families) in grades K – 6 and was an integral part of its start-up and continued success. Prior to New Discoveries, Mr. Conrad served as a public school educator for 10 years for Hutchinson Public School District #423. While at District #423, Dave was principal at West Elementary School, a pre-school, kindergarten and first grade building, and at Park Elementary School, a second through fifth grade building. Prior to his administrative experience in Hutchinson, Dave taught first, second and fourth grades in Orlando, Florida and Cannon Falls and Buffalo Lake, Minnesota. Dave currently holds a Minnesota elementary teaching license, an elementary principal’s license and a superintendent’s license.

Dave is well-versed in all aspects of school operation, from curriculum development and implementation to school policy development and implementation. Human resources, from hiring and staff development, payroll and benefits, are areas of strength for Dave. Dave’s experience with all aspects of budget development and accountability are also an asset as it relates to the pre-operational and ongoing involvement with the school. Having been a part of the planning, development and implementation of a successful charter school start-up will serve Dave well in terms of his role in the creation and development of the New Discoveries Montessori Academy.

Shari Colvin, Community Member/School Volunteer

Shari is someone who really enjoys finding out how things work and then sharing her findings with others.

This passion led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in Chemistry and a job as an analytical chemist. When her children were born, her focus shifted to learning how people learn. With the support of her family, she sought continuing educational learning and service opportunities.

Shari has a Master of Arts degree in Gifted/Talented/Creative Education and is the Associate Director of the Minnesota State High School Mathematics League. She is a math enrichment teacher and coach, Sunday School teacher and Children’s Program director at Lake Jennie Covenant Church, Math Masters site coordinator, and co-chair of the Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented annual conference. She currently serves on the 5th and 6th Grade Math Masters of Minnesota board, the Minnesota Department of Education Gifted and Talented Advisory Council and the National Association of Gifted Children Parent Committee.

Upon learning more about the Montessori approach and meeting some of the staff and families of New Discoveries Montessori Academy, it was a natural fit for Shari to become a member of the NDMA board as part of her journey as a life-long learner.

Kirsten Kinzler, Parent/Community Member/Educator
Kirsten has over 15 years classroom experience as a specialist teaching music, technology and gifted and talented in both public and private schools in Hutchinson. She has a BA in Music Education from the College of St. Benedict and a Minnesota teaching license. Ms. Kinzler was the Project Director at New Century Charter School in Hutchinson. From April-August 2002 she was responsible for continuing the efforts of the founding group to ensure a successful school start in the Fall of 2002. Kirsten was responsible for all start-up phases of opening a charter school and this was completed in 5 months! Some of the areas include: developing all of the marketing materials, setting up the public Family Information Meetings, creating the advertising for the local papers, recruiting by delivering application materials, meeting with students and families, locating facility possibilities, participating in 10 local parades for PR purposes, shaking hands and sharing charter school information with local business owners, contacting the State of MN to be certain we had the necessary documents completed and training needed to operate, among many other duties. All aspects completed, NCCS achieved full enrollment with a waiting list. Kirsten continues to actively serve on the New Century Charter School Board.

There isn’t a single aspect of the development of New Discoveries Montessori Academy that Kirsten is not familiar with. In terms of the pre-operational phase, Kirsten’s experience is priceless. Kirsten’s long-term involvement with the school could include a variety of roles, from board membership, to instruction to administration.

Karen Olson, Parent/Community Member/School Volunteer
Karen and her husband, John, are the parents of two boys who have attended New Discoveries Montessori Academy from its beginning in 2006. The smaller school environment and personalized attention attracted their family to NDMA. The Montessori philosophy of education intrigued them and as they have begun to understand it more through their experience they have resonated with many of the principles. The multi-age grouping in the classroom, the use of hands on learning materials, the delay of the abstract in order to develop understanding, and the opportunity for students to progress at their own pace are assets that have impacted the education of their children.

Karen has bachelor’s degrees in Christian Education and Youth Ministry and has been involved in work with children and youth for over 20 years. She most currently was employed from 1998 – 2008 as the Christian Education Director at Oak Heights Covenant Church in Hutchinson. Currently she is not employed outside the home.

Karen is an active member of the Hutchinson community. She has served as a volunteer at West Elementary, Park Elementary, Hutchinson Park & Recreation, and New Discoveries Montessori Academy in a variety of capacities. She is involved in the leadership of Cub Scout Pack 246 along with her husband and sons.

Karen joined the NDMA board in April of 2007 and views it as an opportunity to help build an organization that will make a lasting impact on our community. As a board member she desires to foster relationships of mutual respect between the various schools in our community. Educating the children of our community is not a competition, rather a common goal of the schools in our area and the common ground on which we stand.

Dr. Scott and Kirsten Staples
Dr. Scott and Kirsten Staples have shared a position on the NDMA board since 2007. They have 3 children with Zachary already enrolled at NDMA. Alex starts in 2008, and Emma won’t be ready until 2011. Dr Staples is a physician at Hutchinson Medical Center and also holds an adjunct faculty position at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. In addition to his patient care responsibilities, he is actively involved in teaching medical students and Family Medicine residents. He is the primary preceptor for the RPAP program which sends a 3rd year medical students to Hutchinson for 9 months to work with and learn from the Hutchinson physicians. He also has teaching responsibilities at the Family Medicine residency program in Duluth, MN. Kirsten has a bachelor’s degree from the U of MN – Mankato with a major in Interior Design. After college, she worked at 2 of the top kitchen and bath design studios in the country. Her efforts earned the distinction of a CKD certification in 2001 – the highest level of recognition in the industry. When they moved to Hutchinson in 2001, Kirsten chose to put her career on hold in order to work as a full time mother of 3 very busy children. Additionally, she holds leadership positions on the board for King’s Kids preschool, at ECFE, and for a local MOPS group. Their personal and professional endeavors bring a unique perspective and diversity to the board.

“NDMA provides a valuable alternative to the traditional classroom setting with a unique ability to teach each and every child at their own pace. The individualized lesson plans assure that each child will be taught in a manner which best suites their learning style while still insuring that they will master the material before moving on. We have seen how the talented and dedicated educators at NDMA are able to use the Montessori method to foster creativity, independence, responsibility, and self confidence for each of their students. It has been our honor and privilege to serve as board members.”

Aaron Stolp, NDMA Educator
Aaron is currently the E2 classroom teacher at New Discoveries Montessori Academy. Mr. Stolp previously taught in Phoenix, Arizona for five years, teaching history and geography to seventh and eighth graders. Mr. Stolp and his wife are happy to be back in Minnesota, and he is enjoying teaching in a Montessori environment. Aaron has an elementary education degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and is currently working on receiving his Montessori certification in both E1 and E2 from the University of St. Catherine. After Mr. Stolp takes his oral examinations in June, he will have his certification in Montessori curriculum. Aaron will also be working on his Master’s degree from the University of St. Catherine starting in the spring term of this year, and will be continuing his Master’s work through the 2008-2009 school year.

Cynthia Vold, NDMA Educator
Cynthia Vold is currently an educator at New Discoveries Montessori Academy, teaching Kindergarten aged students. She holds a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education with a specialty in Early Childhood Education from Bemidji State University. Prior to New Discoveries, Cynthia taught pre-school for Early Head Start children aged birth to three and Head Start children aged three to six for two and a half years. She currently holds a Minnesota Teaching License and is working on obtaining her Early Childhood Montessori Credential from The College of Saint Catherine.

With Cynthia’s prior knowledge in Early Childhood Education and her growing passion for the Montessori philosophy, she has proven to be a dedicated and dependable board member and New Discoveries Montessori Academy advocate.

The Board of Directors consists of four (4) teachers, two (2) parents and one (1) community member. This board make-up ensures that the NDMA Board of Directors will have a teacher majority board in compliance with M.S. 124D-10, Subd. 4(c). Ex-officio members will include the school director, administrative assistant and business manager. Teachers, non-teaching staff members, parents, and board members will be allowed to vote in Board elections.

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