Board of Directors
Committees | Bylaws | Financial Documents
Meeting Schedule/Minutes | School Policies
email: board@novaclassical.org
Public Comment: publiccomment@novaclassical.org
Directors
Jason Belter (jbelter@novaclassical.org)
Director, Nova parent, and teacher, has taught grade 7-9 science at Nova since the 2007–2008 school year. He previously taught at South High school in Minneapolis. Prior to entering into education, he earned a bachelors degree in biochemistry at the UW: Madison, and pursued graduate work in biochemistry at the University of Minnesota.
John Bujan (jbujan@novaclassical.org)
Director and chair of the Governance Committee, is the grandfather of two Nova students. He has a background in both law and business since 1975. From 1995–2002, he served as a senior executive, general counsel and board secretary of a NASDAQ high technology company. He volunteers with SCORE (providing advice to small businesses), and both the Hennepin County Master Gardener and U of MN Extension Tree Care Advisor programs.
Tom Corrigan (tcorrigan@novaclassical.org)
Director, Treasurer, and chair of the Finance and Budget committee, is a Professional Engineer with a Doctorate in Engineering. He has degrees in Physics and Mechanical Engineering from SJU, MIT, and the U of MN. He has worked at 3M for 15 years leading projects and working on teams to create new products, design new processes, and solve problems. Tom and his wife Mary live in St. Paul with their four children, all of whom attend Nova.
Brandon Foat (bfoat@novaclassical.org)
Director, joined the faculty at Nova Classical Academy before the school opened in 2003. Before coming to Nova, Mr. Foat worked for eight years in the Minneapolis Public School District. He currently teaches sixth and seventh grade history and logic. He has a BA in Fine Arts from Augsburg College, and a MA In Social Studies Education from St. Catherine University.
Damon Fraser (dfraser@novaclassical.org)
Director and chair-elect, is the parent of a Nova sixth grader and first grader. Damon has been on the Board for more than four years. He has served as Chair of the Board and Treasurer. As General Counsel of Marsden Holding, LLC, he brings to the Board seasoned expertise in the areas of legal, finance, strategic planning and executive management. Prior to serving as General Counsel with Marsden, Damon served in a number of leadership and legal roles with public and private companies based in the Twin Cities. Damon graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul.
Karen Groppel (kgroppel@novaclassical.org)
Andrea Johnson (ajohnson@novaclassical.org)
Director and chair of the the Development Committee, Andrea is the parent of a first and third grader at Nova. She and her husband, Seth, have been actively involved since starting at Nova 2 years ago. She has initiated activities such as parent playground volunteers and the Junior Lego League. Professionally, Andrea is a clinical psychologist and runs Helping Children & Families, a private practice in Edina, MN. Andrea holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and has worked or trained at Mayo Clinic, the U of MN, Children’s Hospital, and the MN Department of Health. She brings 11 years of non-profit board experience including running her own board, grant writing, and development.
Dianne Krizan (dkrizan@novaclassical.org)
Director, is the parent of a sixth grader and a third grader. She brings to the Board expertise in management and fundraising. Dianne is president of the Minnesota Children’s Museum, a nonprofit organization with an operating budget of $5 million. She also has five years of nonprofit fundraising experience, including leading the development division of Minnesota Public Radio to raise more than $20 million annually. Prior to transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Dianne held positions of increasing leadership scope at for profit companies for 18 years, including director of Research and Development for General Mills. Dianne has a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Masters of Public Affairs.
Becky Lund (blund@novaclassical.org)
Director, co-chair of the Curriculum committee, and secretary, is a second grade teacher at Nova Classical Academy and has taught at Nova since it opened in 2003. She has directed many Nova students in several dramatic productions in the past three years. She has also served on the Curriculum Committee for three years and as the chair of the Accountability Committee for two years. Becky earned her BA in Elementary Education from Augsburg College and her MA in Education at Hamline University.
Teresa Taggart (ttaggert@novaclassical.org)
Director, is the parent a 4 year old and a 4th grader. She works from home as a financial controller of a multi-million dollar non-profit. Teresa brings a wealth of knowledge in financial stewardship and management. She is a strong proponent of the classical model of education and has been a strong advocate for Nova as a parent-led school. Teresa holds a BA in Theology and Catholic Studies from the University of St. Thomas.
Board Chairs
- Damon Fraser, 2011-present
- Kirsten Hornseth, 2011
- Dianne Krizan, 2009–2011
- Damon Fraser, 2008–2009
- Elisa Knudson, 2003–2008
Founders
Simon Fung
Co-founder and ex-officio member, received a PhD in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1983. He worked at the Eastman Kodak Company before moving to St. Paul in 1990 to work for a local corporation. He is the parent of three children, the youngest of whom was a student at Nova, and was active for three years on a St. Paul public school site-based improvement council.
Elisa Pacini Knudson
Co-founder and ex-officio member, received a BA in political science from Mount Holyoke College in 1982 while spending her junior year at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1981. She received her JD from The American University, Washington College of Law in 1987. Lisa was a law clerk to judges Marianne Short and Roger Klaphake of the Minnesota Court of Appeals from 1988–1989 and 1990–1991 respectively. She was a guardian ad litem for the Ramsey County Guardian Ad Litem Program (advocating for abused and neglected children) from 1992–1995. Lisa was active for three years on a St. Paul public school site-based improvement council from 1999–2002. Lisa was the first and only Board Chair of Nova Classical Academy from its inception in February 2002 until June 2008, when she retired. She is the parent of four children, one of whom attends Nova Classical Academy.
Teresa Schulte
Co-founder and ex-officio member, received a BA in Music from the College of St. Benedict in 1978. She has worked for the past 17 years in the title insurance industry. She is the parent of two children and was active for two years on a St. Paul public school site-based improvement council. Teresa wrote the Nova Classical Academy charter school proposal that was approved by the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning.
Annual report
Report of Revenue and Expenditures
