Board of Directors

The board meets monthly during the school year from 5:00-7:00. We will call special meetings and summer meetings as needed, and all meetings will be posted on our calendar page. See side panel for past meeting agendas and minutes. Meetings are open to the public. Members of the public wishing to comment at a Board meeting may sign up here in advance of any regularly scheduled meeting.

Founding Story

Reba Batalden, Christina Sheu, and Anna Kudak met in an Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) class guided by Lani Shapiro. Through this experience, the founders were immersed in Reggio-inspired learning. The founders first gathered in December 2016 and found inspiration in the schools of Reggio-Emilia inception story. After the devastation of World War II, the women of Reggio-Emilia decided to improve their community’s educational system to ensure another generation would not be duped by fascism as they had been. This fundamentally political act reshaped their community, and the board of SPSNL intends to build a high performing charter school with the same potential for equitable outcomes for all learners.

The board is not alone in this vision. Community leaders throughout St. Paul resonated with the mission of SPSNL, and a large cadre of supporters and volunteers are dedicated to its success.

The governance model at SPSNL begins with a well trained and informed board of directors that will ensure the advancement of the school’s mission and vision. We are committed to openness and transparency as we begin our school. We welcome your comments, questions, support and feedback as we engage in this important work.