Photo Gallery
Board of Directors
Natanya Helak—Board Chair
Leslie Black-Plumeau—Board Treasurer
Leslie is a public policy researcher, specializing in statistical and financial analysis. She is currently on the staff of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency as well as being a private consultant. Leslie and her family are longtime South Burlington residents, with a high school- aged son who graduated from The Schoolhouse. Leslie also served as The Schoolhouse Treasurer from 2003-2006.
Nari Penson—Faculty Representative
Nari received her B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Goddard College and has been teaching at The Schoolhouse since 1983. In addition to teaching our Alphas, Näri is a multicultural educator and consultant. A founding member of Kwanzaa, Inc., a multicultural education resource group, she supervises the regional Multicultural Library at The Schoolhouse, which is open to parents and educators in the community at large.
Näri has completed graduate courses in science, reading, multiculturalism and the arts and attended several workshops on Children with Oppositional Defiant Behaviors. She is currently studying brain development and its impact on children’s learning. Outside of school, she enjoys growing flowers, pastel painting and playing in the sun throughout the year.
Ted Graf
A former Schoolhouse parent, Ted Graf and his wife, Amy, had three children attend The Schoolhouse. Ted is a graduate of UVM and Brown University and has served as the Upper School Director at the Latin School of Chicago since 2007. Having worked in five different independent schools since 1983, Ted believes in the values of The Schoolhouse and its unique ability to balance the needs of each individual child with the importance of a healthy community.
Hans Manske
Suzie Debrosse
Ex Officio
Dew Wilde
Tana Randall
