Lisa Kern
Board President

I am a resident of the Souderton Area School District along with my husband and three sons.My professional background is primarily in property & casualty insurance and bookkeeping, but I also have experience with owning and operating a small family day care. 

I first became involved with the Souderton Charter School Collaborative early in the year 2000.We had moved to the area in November 1999 and were looking for a school for our oldest son.He was currently enrolled in a private school but because of our move, we needed to find a school closer to our home.It was during this time that the Souderton Charter School Collaborative was preparing to open and they were receiving a great deal of coverage in the press.I read about the school's philosophy and felt that it mirrored what my family was seeking for our son.He began 5th grade at SCSC when it officially opened in September 2000.He is now a graduate of SCSC and my other two sons now attend the school.

While there are many things that make SCSC special, three of the most important ones to me are the small class sizes, the individualized instruction that every student receives, and the caring, respectful environment of the school.I have witnessed with my two older children how very different their learning styles are.The school has addressed their unique educational needs so that they both can succeed.The small class sizes enable the skilled staff to provide individualized instruction to all children.Because the school insists on respectful treatment for everyone, children included, the atmosphere at the school is very warm, safe, and welcoming.Children feel free to grow and learn without fear of bullying or ridicule. 

It is truly an exceptional school and I am pleased to be a part of it.

 
Pattie Guttenplan
Board Treasurer
Chair of Finance Committee

I have served on the Board of Trustees as the Treasurer since June 2001, but have been a member of the Souderton Charter School Collaborative community since before the first day of school on September 2000. I have two sons who attend the school, and I actively volunteer in their homebases as well as other places throughout the school. My background is in Land Planning and Landscape Architecture, and I have a love for art and music. I have a strong commitment to lifelong learning and therefore feel that my family has found its niche at the Souderton Charter School Collaborative.

 
John V. Penny, MBA
Trustee
Chair of Properties Committee
SCSC Founder

I grew up in Warrington Township in Bucks County and received a degree in history from La Salle University. After graduating with a Masters in Computer Science from Temple University, my professional experience comprises twenty years as a software engineer.

Currently, I am responsible for setting the strategic direction for the development of software to achieve corporate goals of delivering innovative solutions for financial institutions in the areas of Image Delivery, Internet Banking, and Electronic Payment systems.

My computer expertise is transferred to the Souderton Charter School Collaborative through creating administrative systems, providing technology solutions, and using broadband communications to link all school computers to the Internet, thus enabling all involved with the charter school to enhance their learning experiences.

My goal in founding the charter school was to create a learning environment that breaks away from the traditional structured school and recognizes that every child learns differently. I am proud to send my two children to the Souderton Charter School Collaborative and pleased with all they are learning, both academically and socially.

Kimberly Buchanan, MS, BS
Board Vice President
Chair of Human Resources Committee

I live in the Souderton Area School District with my husband and two young children. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from University of Pharmaceutical Science in Philadelphia and a Master's Degree in Analytical Chemistry from Villanova University. I have been at Merck & Co since 1989 and my experience ranges from supervision of a testing laboratory, Quality Control, and Packaging Operations, to the project management.

Both of my sons attend the Souderton Charter School Collaborative. We are both very pleased with the program. Neither of them say, "I don't want to go to school", and love both their friends and classmates, and the learning environment at the Souderton Charter School Collaborative.  They even ask for extra homework.

I believe charter schools offer a learning environment that promotes children's imagination and development in a learning community made up of not only students, but parents and teachers as well. I believe experiential learning enables children to learn for themselves, and also to teach others.

Carina Husband Urbach, M.S.Ed.
Trustee
Chair of Fundraising Committee

I currently live in Lower Gwynedd with my husband and children. Born and raised in Berkeley, California, I moved to Washington, DC to pursue my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at American University. After graduating, I taught seventh grade at an alternative school in Washington, DC before moving to Philadelphia to work on my Masters in Education.

Upon graduation from University of Pennsylvania, I taught in a variety of preschool settings including early-intervention, before taking a job as Program Coordinator for a large corporate-sponsored childcare center in Montgomery County. As Program Coordinator, my responsibilities included hiring, training, and supervising a staff of 15, as well as ensuring quality, developmentally appropriate curriculum.

Shortly before the birth of my first child, I was elected to the Souderton Charter School Collaborative Board of Trustees. For me, it proved to be a perfect fit. My experience opening a new childcare center and expertise in meaningful, project-based learning matched the Souderton Charter School Collaborative's needs as the school opened in September 2000. I was immediately taken by the school's mission and have dedicated my time to the Souderton Charter School Collaborative in hopes of seeing the school affect change in the larger school system. I believe the Souderton Charter School Collaborative is a beacon in the movement to make our schools more effective and efficient.

Heather Calarco
Board Secretary

I was born and raised in Montgomery County and attended the North Penn School District.  In my junior year of high school, I was an exchange student to Denmark for a year.  This was an experience that changed my life in many ways.  It made me aware of a global community and how important it was for people to be connected and caring at a community level and beyond.  I was also bit by the travel bug.  After graduating high school, I attended a travel and tourism institute in Florida.  I returned to Philadelphia and worked in the hotel and travel industry for three years.  While working, I volunteered at Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia. It was through my volunteer work with children that I decided to enroll at West Chester University in an Early Childhood Education and Developmental Disabilities program. While at West Chester University, I was fortunate to get a work-study position in the Dean of Student's office. Along with organizing blood drives on campus and community events for National Make a Difference Day, I was involved in opening the first Community Service Office on campus and took on the volunteer liaison position.  After graduating with my degree and certifications, I taught a variety of elementary grade levels and classes in the Radnor Township and Central Bucks School Districts.  I stopped working full time after the birth of my daughter.  I have been involved in play groups, gym classes, and all the fun two young children bring to a new family.  Having always been involved in some type of volunteer work, working with the SCSC school board and community seemed like a logical fit for me to return to my larger community.  It has been exciting to use my educational back ground and my strong belief in service learning and volunteerism all in one place.  I look forward to learning and discovering more about myself and the SCSC community.