Board of Directors
Our Board of directors helps ensure that the school is healthy, vibrant, and well-positioned to serve future generations by providing oversight of its financial, physical, and human resources. The Board also plays a key role in establishing the school’s mission, vision, strategic goals, and policies.
Like other accredited independent schools,
the Board's essential functions include:
Safeguarding the financial sustainability of the school
Identifying, selecting, and orienting new members
Planning strategically
for the future
Assuring the school's compliance with applicable laws and regulations
Maintaining bylaws and policies consistent with the school's mission
Assisting in fundraising efforts
Frequently Asked Questions
The Wilkinson School Board of Directors consists of 10 voting members, including a teacher representative.
Board committees include:
•Operations Committee
•Alumni Committee
•Financial/Legal
•Hiring/HR
•Marketing/Communications
•Fundraising
•Infrastructure/Safety
Board members are asked to serve on committees. This is largely where the work of the Board is accomplished. Committees normally meet once a month, with committee work often delegated among members.
The full board meets once a month.
Serving as a member of the Board of Trustees requires a serious commitment of time and energy. Because there is a lot of work to do, Board members must be willing to fulfill their obligations, attend meetings, maintain confidentiality, and work collaboratively and honestly for the benefit of the entire school. Board members are also expected to make gifts to the annual fund and capital campaigns and often play leadership roles in these fundraising efforts.
There is no compensation for Wilkinson School board members.
The Board updates the community regularly through emails and presentations at PTO meetings. Additionally, the Board hosts various events during the school year designed to keep the community informed of Board business and decisions.
If you are interested in nominating someone who has an interest in serving on the Board of Directors, please direct your suggestions to the Board of Directors (board@wilkinsonschool.org), or the Business & Operations Manager.
Board Members
Michael Nielsen
Board Chair
He is currently senior managing director, executive in residence, and stand-in CEO for the Dillon Kane Group, a privately-held entrepreneurial firm that invests in, builds, and revitalizes technology solution businesses. He holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. Nielsen’s oldest child graduated Wilkinson in 2017 and his second is following her footsteps as a Wilkinson elementary student.
Nielsen is happy to have the time now to join the board and give back to the school that has given his family so much. He spends his spare time enjoying the great outdoors and enduring the trials and tribulations of raising a teenager.
Marnie Weston
Treasurer
Michele Scott
Marcus Najera
He is a 30+ year radio broadcaster who brings expertise in marketing, social media, and fundraising/event planning to the board. Marcus is thrilled to be able to support the school his daughter absolutely LOVES attending. In his spare time he loves to cook and you’ll more than likely find him manning the grill at the next Wilkinson event!
Chad English
He holds a doctorate in oceanography from Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UC San Diego, and a Bachelor’s of Science in physics from UC Santa Cruz. Dr. English and his family were drawn to Wilkinson School as parents for its commitment to the whole child and the warmth of the Wilkinson community. He joined the board in 2017.
Jennifer Bjornberg
Bjornberg holds a JD from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s in theatre, film and television from UCLA. She chose Wilkinson as a school for her daughter because it was a place her daughter could be herself and feel supported and safe. She joined the Wilkinson board in 2017 to help give back to this special place.