The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, May 15, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at Sturgis West Campus, 105 West Main Street, Hyannis, MA. The Finance Committee will meet at 5:30 at Sturgis West Campus, 105 West Main Street, Hyannis, MA.
BoardMay2023
The Board of Trustees is the organized group of volunteers who, collectively, are legally and morally accountable to the community for the health, vitality, and effectiveness of the Sturgis Charter Public School. The Board’s primary role is “Governance,” which encompasses legal responsibilities, general oversight, planning and policy-making, and meeting fiduciary requirements. The Board only has authority when it votes as a group. No single member has authority over the Board as a whole.
Kaitlin Doherty
Faculty Representative to the Board
Kaitlin Doherty started teaching at Sturgis in 2016 doing Science and Math inclusion as well as teaching a Biology 9 course. Eventually deciding to transition to Special Education completely, she transferred to Sturgis West starting in the 2017 school year teaching Study Skills and doing inclusion. Since then, Kaitlin has pursued her Master’s in Special Education (Moderate 5-12) at Fitchburg State University. Prior to teaching at Sturgis, Kaitlin received her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College in Biology. At Sturgis West, Kaitlin has facilitated opportunities for students in Hiking Club, M.A.R.C.H. and Women’s Empowerment Club. Kaitlin has also been the Sturgis East Varsity Field Hockey Coach for the past six years.
Eric Hieser
Board Member
Eric Hieser spent his educational career of 50 years split between U.S. public
schools and four international schools in Norway, Japan, Switzerland, and Brazil. For 13 years as Executive Director, he recently led Sturgis Charter Public School, a nationally and internationally recognized high school with two IB for All campuses in Hyannis, MA, USA. For the past 15 years, Eric has also been an IB consultant, face to face and online IB workshop leader, IB authorization and evaluation team leader, IB equity and access mentor, and a frequent presenter at IB World Heads Conferences and IB Americas Conferences. A majority of the workshops that Eric lead focus on leadership, equity, access, and board governance.
Paul Marble
Executive Director
Paul Marble has served his entire career as a teacher and administrator in three Massachusetts high schools, including a private boarding school, large urban district school, and a charter public school. Paul taught IB English at Sturgis for six years; was Principal for six years; became Executive Director in July of 2016; has made numerous presentations about the IB Diploma Programme and its implementation; is an IB Site Visitor; and is an IB Workshop Leader, helping experienced IB teachers from across the nation support diverse learners in their classrooms. He also has developed and led teacher workshops for the IB Organization’s Bridging the Equity Gap project.
Arthur Pontes
Board Member
Arthur Pontes taught History and English for six years each at Sturgis West and Sturgis East from 2004-2016 and served as the IB Coordinator and English Dept. Head. He led the Project Smile student trip to Honduras in 2006. He has a BA in both History and English and an MEd in TESOL and has completed graduate study in School Aministration. Arthur began his career teaching in Somerville, Massachusetts followed by twenty-five years working as a teacher and administrator in American overseas schools in Ecuador, The Netherlands, Italy, and Belgium. His administrative posts included being Secondary Principal, IB Coordinator, and Arts Center Principal. He also served as Head of School in both Ecuador and Florence, Italy.
Polyanna Rocha
President of the Board of Trustees
Polyanna Rocha resides in Sandwich, she is the parent of Sarah (’20), Deborah (’23), and Isaac (‘24). She joined the Board of Trustees in January of 2021. Polyanna holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts and is currently working on her master’s in Taxation from Bentley University. Polyanna is from Brazil, she moved to the United States in her early high school years. She is fluent in both English and Portuguese and is an active voice for international/ESL students.
Catherine Thomas
Vice President
Catherine Thomas is the parent of Claire (Sturgis ’15) and Charlie (Sturgis ’16). She was an active member and past president of the Sturgis Parents Association. A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Catherine received her BA in Economics from Connecticut College. For the past 18 years she has served as a consultant and trustee of The Whitehall Foundation, a private, non-profit foundation where she oversees the disbursement of over $4 million annually to fund basic scientific research in neurobiology. Catherine is also an active realtor with William Raveis Real Estate in Osterville.
Theresa Tuaño
Theresa Tuaño of Yarmouth is the parent of Lyle (Sturgis ‘21) and Jake (Sturgis ‘24). She joined the Board of Trustees in February 2021 and is also an active member of the Sturgis Parent Association. Theresa has 25 years of experience leading policy development and programs for the U.S. Agency for International Development, Peace Corps and the Environmental Protection Agency. She has lived and worked in numerous countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Central America. Theresa also illustrates and writes picture books for children.
Marion Weeks
Secretary
Marion Weeks served as a Sturgis Librarian (2004-2011) and Sturgis Community Outreach Coordinator (2011-2017). She is the parent of Kate Weeks (Sturgis ’10). Marion received her BA in English from UNC-Greensboro and her MSLS from UNC-Chapel Hill. Prior to Sturgis, she worked in a variety of libraries including UNC Graduate Library, Savannah Public Library, Peace Corps librarian in Niger, West Africa, Warren Wilson College and Yarmouth Libraries. Marion also served as Director of Off-Campus Study at Colgate University (1990-1995).