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.
Jenn Kirk
Principal, Sturgis West Campus
Jenn Kirk is Principal of Sturgis West. She joined Sturgis as a Spanish teacher in 2007 and has served as Lead Teacher of the Spanish and French Department, Critical Friends Group Facilitator, World Challenge Leader of a Sturgis trip to Costa Rica as well as Administrative Intern and Coordinator of Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) at Sturgis West. Prior to joining Sturgis, Jenn taught for eight years in Latin America: Costa Rica (1998-2000) and Colombia (2001-2007).
Patrick O'Kane
Principal, Sturgis East Campus
Patrick O’Kane is Principal of Sturgis East. He joined Sturgis as a Spanish teacher in 2009 and has served as lead teacher in French and Spanish, assistant IB coordinator, administrative intern, critical friends group facilitator, crisis team leader and athletic director. Prior to Sturgis, he taught English in Bilbao (Spain), as well as Spanish in New York City, New Jersey, and Rotterdam (Holland). Patrick is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Lehigh University.
James Albrecht
Director of Finance and Operations
James Albrecht joined Sturgis as the Director of Finance & Operations in August, 2004. Prior to joining Sturgis, James held positions of Chief Financial Officer, Controller, and Assistant Controller in several companies in Massachusetts and New Hampshire from 1984-2004. James also served for six years on a school board in New Hampshire and for three years was the Trustee of Trust Funds for that school board. James has made several workshop presentations on budgeting, financial controls, and facilities management to participants from across the Commonwealth.
Karen Gauthier
Assistant Principal, Sturgis East Campus
Karen Gauthier joined Sturgis East as Lead School Counselor in 2017. Prior to joining Sturgis, Karen spent twenty-four years working for Barnstable Public Schools. She began her career as Guidance Director of the Barnstable Middle School prior to transitioning to a school counseling role at Barnstable High School eleven years later.
John Newcombe
Assistant Principal, Sturgis West Campus
John Newcombe John Newcombe began his teaching career in 2005. After serving in the U.S. Army and spending a number of years driving for UPS, John ventured back to college. After receiving his degree, he joined Sturgis East as a math and physics teacher. In 2011, when Sturgis West was opened, John moved from the East Campus and became the lead teacher for both the math and science departments at the new West campus. In addition to teaching, John has served as assistant IB coordinator and an administrative intern. Most recently, he has taken on the roles of Assistant Athletic Director and Assistant Principal.
The Finance Committee will meet on Monday, April 26 at 5:45 p.m. remotely through Zoom. The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. remotely through Zoom. Meeting IDs and Passwords are on the agendas.
Click here to view: PublicMeetingsApril26
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 for the board as a whole.
Ashley Benson
Faculty Representative
Ashley Benson joined the Sturgis faculty in 2019. She teaches IB Spanish and English. Ashley has an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Delaware and a Masters in Secondary Education with a focus in Spanish from George Washington University. Prior to teaching at Sturgis, Ashley and her husband, Brett Morales (also a teacher at Sturgis), taught abroad at IB schools in Ghana and Ecuador. Ashley is a sponsor of the Mock Trial Team, Cradles to Crayons Club, and the Creative Writing Club. She enjoys hiking, traveling, and being involved with community service. New to the Cape, she has also enjoyed exploring all the beautiful sites this area has to offer!
Keith Clarke
President
Keith Clarke is the Founder/President of Sports From the Neck Up. He has worked as a Sports Psychologist with the National Basketball Association and as the Director of Guidance in the Barnstable Public School System. Keith holds a Ed.D. – Counseling Psychology from Boston University, a M. Ed. – Counseling for Queens College and a B.S. – Physical Education from North Carolina A & T State University. Keith Clarke joined the Board of Trustees in July, 2012 and became the Board President in June, 2013.
Gordon Harris
Board Member
Gordon Harris joined the Sturgis Charter School Board of Trustees in February 2014. Gordon is currently the President of Wakeby Fire & Associates, a fundraising, marketing and organizational development consulting firm and has over 25 years of experience in business management, operations management, organizational development with not for profit and for profit organizations. Gordon also attended an IB High School, the International School of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
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.
David McPherson
Treasurer
David McPherson of Bourne is the parent of three children who attended Sturgis Charter Public School. He is the founder of Four Ponds Financial Planning LLC, a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm based in Falmouth. He previously worked as a journalist in a variety of roles, including deputy business editor of The Providence Journal and reporter and bureau chief at the Cape Cod Times. He also served as a personal finance columnist for ABCNews.com. David holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stonehill College.
Polyanna Rocha
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).