Oak Meadow Montessori School
Parents’ Association Board 2011-2012
Blaine Alvarez-Backus currently has two children at Oak Meadow -- a daughter in Children's House and a son in Upper Elementary. Mr. Alvarez-Backus is also parent to a recent OMMS graduate. During the past three years he has been a Room Parent, helped with the End-of-Year Picnic, the Middle School musical, and facility projects for Mr. Nelson, coordinated the Dads of Oak Meadow (DOOM), and acted as a volunteer gym teacher for Children's House and as coach for the Oak Meadow Cross Country team.
Catherine Anderson has one child in Lower Elementary and another in Upper Elementary. She has helped with numerous classroom activities, served on the International Night Committee, as a Room Parent, and was the creative force behind last year's gala decorations. She has also taught classes for the After School Enrichment Program and assists regularly in art classes. This year, Catherine is Chair of the Events Committee.
Padmini Balaji has a son in Children's House and a daughter in Upper Elementary. She has been an active classroom volunteer and is excited to become more involved in the Parents' Association. She is serving her second year as OMPA Treasurer.
 Kimberly Boschi has one son in Children's House. She volunteers as a photographer at numerous events and assists with the production of the Yearbook. She also serves as a Library Volunteer and is involved with the Mentor Program. Ms. Boschi is also the chair of the Outreach Committee.
 Elana Chandler serves as the Vice-Chair. She has three children at Oak Meadow, one in Children's House and two in Lower Elementary. Ms. Chandler has volunteered as a Room Parent and Library Volunteer, as a Mentor to new families, and as co-chair of the Scholastic Book Fair. She is also a member of the Annual Fund Committee. Ms. Chandler is delighted to be joining the OMPA board this year.
Ying Chen has been an active parent at OMMS with a son starting in Upper Elementary. She has been a Room Parent, served on the UN/International Night Committee, is a Library Volunteer, and is also a member of the Annual Fund Committee. Ying serves as the OMPA secretary.
Elizabeth Hacala has a daughter in Middle School and a son who is a recent OMMS graduate (Class of 2011). She has served as an Upper Elementary Room Parent, OMPA Vice Chair, and OMPA Chair for two years. She has worked on all major OMPA events.
Mary Haller has one daughter in Upper Elementary and has been involved with many classroom and school activities, including last year's Welcome Back Fall Festival. She is also a mentor to new families and serves as a Library Volunteer and a Ski Club chaperone.
 Art Hennessey has been at OMMS for many years with one son starting in Upper Elementary this year. Art can be seen all over the school in the roles of technology troubleshooter. He has also served as a Destination Imagination coach, parking assistant, and volunteer at many OMPA events.
Denise McKenna has been part of the OMMS community since 2007. She and her husband, Steve, have three daughters in Children's House, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary. Denise has served on the Events Committee, chairing the Fall Festival, and has volunteered for Cultural Heritage Night and the End-of-Year Picnic. Her roles also include service as a Room Parent, Library Volunteer and Mentor. In 2009, Denise joined the OMMS staff as the Development Assistant and Events Coordinator.
Maria Powers has a daughter in Lower Elementary and a son who recently graduated from OMMS (Class of 2011). She has served as a Co-Room Parent for Upper Elementary, chaired the International Night Committee, helped with various OMPA events, and was a Library Volunteer. Ms. Powers is currently serving her third year as an OMPA board member. She is a past Secretary of the Board.
 Anita Tarantino has two daughters, both of whom started as first year CH students, one who is now in her third year in Lower Elementary and one who is a sixth grader in Upper Elementary. Anita has served as a Library Volunteer, the chair of the Annual Fund, and has volunteered at many OMPA events. She is currently serving as Chairperson of the Oak Meadow Parents Association.
 Peter Foley has two daughters attending Oak Meadow, one in Children's House and another in Lower Elementary. During the past six years at Oak Meadow, he has been a Room Parent, Library Volunteer, Mentor, and volunteered as a photographer and videographer.
 Latha Rao and her family are starting their first full year at Oak Meadow. She has one daughter in Lower Elementary. Latha is excited about becoming more involved through the Mentor program and a s a new OMPA board member serving on the Library and Community Service Committees.
 Golden Bryant has two sons at Oak Meadow, one in Lower Elementary, and another in Upper Elementary. She is currently a Room Parent, and serves as a Library Volunteer. She is excited to be joining the OMPA Board this year.
Erin Palmer joined Oak Meadow in 2006 as a Children’s House Lead Teacher and Director of Development and Parent Relations. She began
serving as Director of Admission & Parent Relations in July 2009. Ms. Palmer earned her Masters in Education and Early Childhood Montessori certification from Xavier University in Cincinnati. She is a certified instructor of Redirecting Children’s Behavior and Redirecting for a Cooperative Classroom encouraging positive approaches to parenting and teaching. Ms. Palmer earned her BS in Arts Administration with a dance concentration from Butler University in Indianapolis. She remains involved with the performing arts as a consultant for Center Stage Youth Theater in Westford.
Ex Officio
 Paul Wenninger comes to Oak Meadow with more
than twenty years of educational administrative
experience. He has served as Head of School at a
toddler to Grade 12 Montessori school in Florida,
and at a pre- kindergarten to Grade 8 independent Episcopal school in California. His leadership
background also includes service as Director of
Education for the Sandia Pueblo school district in
Albuquerque, New Mexico and District Director
of Information Services/ Administration for Jemez
Valley Public Schools in New Mexico. He has worked
extensively as an independent consultant in business development,
personnel management and educational systems. Mr. Wenninger
earned a B.A. degree in Education from San Francisco State University
and a M.A. degree in Education/Information Science and an Ed.S.
degree in Education Administration from the University of New Mexico.
OMPA 2011-2012 Committees and Chairs
Community Service Committee: Christine Baharozian and Erin Palmer,
Co-Chairs
Library Committee: Kiana Kaymanesh, Chair
OutReach Committee: Kim Boschi, Chair
Events Committee: Catherine Anderson, Chair
Fall Festival Committee: Denise McKenna, Chair
OMMS Book Fair Committee: Jessica O’Toole, Chair
Craft Fair Committee: Elizabeth Hacala, Chair
Game Night Committee: Open
End of Year Picnic Committee: Open
Room Parent Coordinator: Peter Foley
Box Top Coordinator: Golden Bryant
DOOM (Dad’s of Oak Meadow) Committee: Blaine Alverez-Backus, Chair Staff Appreciation Committee: Open
Gift Coordinator Committee: Kim Alley, Chair
Culinary Advisor Committee: Deb Royka, Chair
Appreciation Coordinator: Mary Haller
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