Board of Directors, New Hope International High School, New Hope Academy & Pre-school

New Hope Academy Board of Directors

	Joy Morrow Principal and President Joy Morrow is the school's principal and president of the NHA board of directors. Her academic background in psychology and in social work informed her practical experience with group homes for delinquent teenagers as well as her extensive work with preschools. In 1990, she cofounded NHA with a group of like-minded parents and has served as principal since. Mrs. Morrow wants to help create "a school community transcending religious, cultural, and racial barriers, where families with shared common values can support each other to raise moral children. This involves big challenges but also big opportunities." Her straightforward style, especially with teenagers, helps them stay on track or get back on track. She's good at helping people see a vision of what's possible, and helping children see what they're capable of, moving in the direction of their dreams. "When I'm working with a class of students I try to make sure no one falls through the cracks," said Mrs. Morrow. "My goal is to work with each child." Her personal approach finds especially satisfying those times when she can really connect with a student in a moment of discovery.
	TED AGRES Treasurer and Secretary Ted Agres is the treasurer and secretary of the NHA board of directors and one of the founding parents. He holds a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University. He is a senior editor at Health Affairs, a monthly health policy journal published by Project Hope. Before that, he was deputy managing editor at The Washington Times. His two boys graduated from New Hope, and he has stayed on to assist the board.
	Audrey Ichida Dr. Audrey Ichida has a Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology from the University of California, San Diego. She currently works as a consultant, writing scientific background papers for EPA on microbial water quality and conducting risk assessments. She is also a certifed Integral Coach, which is a type of life coaching. She has been on the NHA board of directors since 2008, where she serves on the budget subcommittee and website subcommittee. She has also been on the board of directors for Silk Road Dance Company since 2008. Dr. Ichida has two children enrolled at NHA and feels that the unique strength of the school is the way parents and teachers work as partners to raise children with character and building social skills. NHA is not just about learning cognitive skills, but also raising children as whole beings, including emotional intelligence and physical well being. Her kids go to school at 8:30 a.m., and when they are picked up at 6 p.m., they don't want to leave! Throughout the year, in aftercare, her children participate in ballet, tap, hip-hop, jazz, drama, soccer, and basketball (No wonder they don't want to come home!)
	Melaine Rude High School Representative Melaine Rude has been teaching Geography and History as well as Pre-algebra since 2002 at NHA. Born in Illinois, she earned her Bachelor's degree in History from Westmar College and her Master's degree in Teaching (high school social studies) from Trinity University. She has been teaching for over 14 years and loves her subjects. "Unless you like what you're doing, students won't be interested," she said. "Social studies is something I'm truly passionate about, and I hope my enthusiasm and interest is transferred to my students."
	C.Leanne Wells, Ph.D.
	Sheila Merriweather PTO president
	Kim Dadachanji Preschool Representative Kim Dadachanji has taught the 3- to 4-year-old preschool class since 1996. She's served as the preschool teacher representative on the NHA Board since 1999. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor's degree in elementary education from APEX, an innovative teacher education program for developing experiential education. Mrs. Dadachanji worked at The Vicarage School of Montessori/KinderCare in Hamden, CT, under the founders of the school, who had been Montessori teacher trainers. During those three years, she was exposed to a variety of Montessori materials, benefitted from the wisdom of the founders, and experienced the 3- to 6-yr-old introductory Montessori Training. "It is such a joyful experience to stimulate and interact with children's innate sense of wonder and their enthusiasm to discover, learn, and grow," said Mrs. Dadachanji. "My wish would be that everyone could keep this enthusiasm throughout their lives. "I am very grateful to be at New Hope because of the excellent education my children have received and because of the desire of the staff and families here to support each other to make the school the best educational opportunity possible and to work things through as a community."
	Karen Wilkening Elementary School Representative Karen Wilkening is NHA's kindergarten teacher and she serves as the elementary teacher representative on the NHA board. Mrs. Wilkening was involved in the founding of NHA when a group of local parents met to discuss education. At that meeting, the idea of New Hope Academy was born. The parents' intention was to create a school for their children that would address the educational needs of children in a more complete and multi-faceted manner than they observed in many local schools at the time. Many miracles, hard work, laughter, and tears brought that dream forth into reality. Mrs. Wilkening is honored to be on the board since 1995. Her life's focus has been the education of children. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She continued her education receiving a master's degree in divinity with a focus on education. While doing graduate classes, she focused her studies on the moral and spiritual development of the child. Mrs. Wilkening is excited to be a teacher and a board member at New Hope Academy. NHA is constantly working to improve, refine, and perfect the educational process. "We are creating an environment and a school culture" to support optimal learning and character development of each individual child," she said. Mrs. Wilkening feels challenged to stretch and grow herself so she can be the best example and model possible for the children entrusted to her care.

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