Board of Directors
Leslie Baker
Board Chair
Associate Professor of Geochemistry, Department of Geography and Geological Sciences, University of Idaho
Leslie has served on the MCS Board of Directors since 2011 and as its chair since 2012. Her daughter Rose attended MCS from kindergarten through 8th grade and is now a student at Moscow High School. Leslie has also represented charter schools on the Idaho School Boards Association Executive Board. Idaho was the first state in the country to allow charter schools full representation in its school boards association! If you’ve seen Leslie around town, she was probably being walked by her dogs Bear and Jax.
Why I chose to be a board member?
"My daughter Rose was having such a great experience as a student at MCS, and I was looking for a way to give back to the school and its hard-working staff. The school was facing some significant challenges at that time due to state funding cuts and it has been rewarding to help set it back on a secure footing. Since then we have added two grades and recently opened our newly constructed middle school building. We have a great team of staff and board members and it is an honor to work with them."
John Menter
Vice Board Chair
North Latah County Highway DistrictJohn has a long history of working with public education. He served on the Board of Trustees with the Troy School District for twelve years and served on the Board of Directors of the Idaho School Boards Association for eight years, serving as the President of the ISBA during his last year as a board member. John brings a passion for education and a desire to offer students the best educational opportunities possible. In his spare time, John enjoys hunting, camping and riding his four wheeler.
Why I choose to be a board member?
"I am excited to be a member of the Board of Directors for MCS because we strive to set a quality, well rounded educational foundation for our students. I believe that one of the greatest services that one can offer to others is to ensure that today’s students are prepared for tomorrow’s world. MCS offers that with a nurturing classroom environment and a staff that is dedicated to excellence. I am honored to be a part of such a great team. I look forward to the great things that the future holds in store for MCS and our students."
Jade Stellmon
Treasurer
Program Administrator, Washington State University College of Medicine, Family Medicine Residency Program
The University of Idaho brought Jade to Moscow, but the atmosphere and people compelled her to stay. As a mother of five, she loves living in an inclusive community where her children reap the benefits of big educational opportunities in a small town. Professionally she manages the family medicine residency program at Pullman Regional Hospital for WSU's Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. Jade joined the Moscow Charter School Board in 2015. She became treasurer in 2017.
Why I chose to be a board member?
"Because of my work schedule I’m rarely able to volunteer in the classroom. But serving on the Board is something I can do to try to give back to the school that has done so much for my children and my family. It’s been so rewarding to see firsthand how the culture of putting the students’ needs first truly permeates every level of the organization."
Sage Francetich
Secretary
Realtor, Blue Sky Real EstateSage is a life long resident of Moscow. He graduated from Moscow High School and went on to attend the University of Idaho, where he obtained his Bachelor's of Science in Marketing with an Entrepreneurship emphasis in just three years. Sage has volunteered his time at the Good Samaritan Village, the University of Idaho's Kibbie Dome for football games, West Park Elementary School and various clubs at Moscow High School. He is currently a board member for the local chapter of the United Way. A few of Sage's hobbies include biking, hiking, fishing, camping, morel hunting, cooking and soccer. Sage has been involved in the local soccer community via Moscow United Soccer Club and Moscow High School as a soccer coach, referee and player. Sage works at Blue Sky Real Estate because he wants to help others invest in their future here on the Palouse. His firsthand experience and knowledge of the schools, youth sports programs, hyper-involved volunteerism, and Marketing expertise make him a unique asset to MCS, Blue Sky and the greater Moscow community.
Why I chose to be a board member?
"I choose to be a board member because I feel it's important to be thankful and give more than you receive. Moscow Charter School is an important educational resource to this community - it's the flagship Charter School for Idaho, and a great example of continuous and positive collaborative effort between the Moscow School District and the commonly perceived "private" sphere of charter schools. Enabling charter schools to operate in a flexible capacity creates variation in education choices for guardians and children alike."
Jay Ostvig
Member-Wellness Committee
Agency Director, Addus Home CareSince Jay's first paper route when he was ten years old he has really enjoyed working with people. For the past 15 years he has worked directly with all types of medical professionals and currently manages a local "Home Care Agency" in Lewiston, Idaho. He currently chairs the "wellness committee" and enjoys keeping Moscow Charter School safe for all. Jay received his BS/BM from the University of Phoenix and his Masters in Business of Healthcare from NNU. Jay loves any activity that involves the outdoors including winter activities of downhill skiing, snow shoeing, or sledding with his wife and five children. During the summer you will find him SUP, hiking, or mountain biking.
Why I chose to be a board member?
"Five years ago when my family and I moved from Boise, Idaho to Moscow we were looking to get our children into schools that would provide opportunities for them to grow and learn. After much research we landed upon MCS and haven't ever looked back. The STEAM program along with the administration was very attractive."
Jacob Turner
Member-Grounds Committee
Director of Physics Laboratory Education, Washington State University
Jacob enjoys finding ways to fix things and overcome problems. So helping out around the MCS facilities to repair what breaks down is a good fit, even if he struggles to set aside time and get to the problems before Tony does it himself. He often brings in ideas for curriculum or tools to try out at the school only to find that a member of the staff has already implemented it. Jacob received a BS in Mathematics, an MS in Physics, and is working on a Ph.D. in Education, all from the University of Idaho.
Why I chose to be a board member?
“At the time I joined, I was starting to work on Education Research, so effective forms of teaching were on my mind. Additionally, I was learning about the Maker Movement and started to look for ways to form a Makerspace in the town so it can be well founded by the time my kids grow up. Not having connections or resources to found a location, I figured the best approach I could do would be to get a school to develop a maker mindset. Knowing that a Charter School has a bit more freedom to innovate in educational approaches than a traditional public school, and knowing that Moscow Charter School already had a focus on technology adoption (having seen the Kano Computer kits on site). It turned out to be fortuitous, as MCS was looking at expanding their facilities anyway. I did not manage to integrate a dedicated Makerspace, but I had already found that the Maker Ethos is alive and well within the school.”
Rusty Vineyard
Member-Wellness Committee
Executive Director, Recreation and Wellbeing, University of Idaho
My family and I moved to Moscow two years ago as I accepted a position at the University of Idaho as the Executive Director of Recreation and Wellbeing. Marie and I knew that Moscow Charter School would be a place where our children Ellie (8th grade) and Wyatt (3rd grade) were sure to thrive.