governance


governing board

Vision. Integrity. Understanding. Respect.

our history

Wasatch Charter School is organized as a nonprofit corporation pursuant to the Utah Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act. Pursuant to its bylaws, a Governing Board of five-nine members governs WCS. In addition, the Governing Board includes the Executive Director and Business Administrator as ex officio members, bringing the total to eleven.

The Governing Board adheres to the philosophy that the ability of the school to carry out its mission and meet its goals depends heavily on the Governing Board’s ability to provide strategic direction, select and support strong school leaders, and ensure the financial stability of the school. To accomplish this goal, members of the Governing Board should possess personal qualities that can be summarized as: (1) the ability to see the “big picture” and the conviction to set the proper course to achieve the WCS mission; (2) the integrity to continually serve the interests and pursue the goals of WCS; (3) knowledge of the school, its stakeholders, its organizational structure, and its managerial acumen; and (4) possession of a respectful and professional attitude toward colleagues.

In addition to the many duties/responsibilities of the Governing Board, one of its key responsibilities is to ensure WCS is meeting and/or exceeding the benchmarks and goals established throughout its charter.

current governing board members

MELISSA JENSEN
Chair
Mac Gaulin
Vice Chair
Lyn Spataro
BOARD Member
MELISSA FRISCH
Board Member
Peter Westman
Board Member
Scott Whitehead
Treasurer and Finance Chair

In accordance with the Utah Open Meetings Act, all Governing Board meetings will be posted on the State of Utah’s Open Meetings website and on the WCS electronic calendar. Specific dates, times and locations may vary, but all will be updated on the calendar.

Public Participation in Board Meetings:

Individuals wishing to make public comments at Board meetings should review the policy on Public Participation at Board Meetings.  Patrons wishing to address the board may sign up in person or through email (send email to board@wasatchwaldorf.org) up until the day of the board business meeting.  Patrons must provide their names, phone number, email address, and agenda item or topic they wish to discuss.

Governing Board members serve for three year terms that can be renewed for up to two terms. Each Board member is expected to be an active participant on Board Committees, including but not limited to Audit, Finance, Policy, Fundraising, Board Governance and Recruitment, School Land Trust, and Strategic Planning.

Individuals interested in applying to serve on the school's Governing Board should review the information below and then send a resume, a cover letter, and the completed Board Nominating Questionnaire to the Board Vice President.

board meetings

Agendas for upcoming meetings and meeting minutes / recordings for previous Board meetings are available on the Public Notice Site.

Follow these instructions:

• under Government, select Schools

• under Entity, scroll to Wasatch Waldorf Charter School

• under Body, choose our school


charter agreement

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board meeting resources

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family council

The purpose of the Family Council is to develop community and facilitate parental involvement in the school life and culture. The Family Council consists of the parent coordinator for each class and other members who wish to participate. This organization includes and is available to all parents and other family members of students attending Wasatch Charter School. Monthly meetings provide a means for families to be informed of, and involved in, festivals, fundraisers, staff appreciation, new family support, and other activities as needed.

Purpose:

Parent support is essential to the success of the Wasatch Charter School and your participation is expected and embraced. Our community thrives on family involvement. Through our Family Council (FC), mothers, fathers, and even grandparents are offered many opportunities to share their skills, talents for the community. This all-volunteer, parent-run organization’s mission is to foster the well-being of the school community by facilitating communications among the bodies of the school, inspiring parent participation in school life, and organizing our efforts.

Role Within the School:

Family Council is a way for parents to actively participate in, serve, and contribute to the functioning and organization of the school. The Family Council is the third organizational body of the school (the other two being the Pedagogical Council (Teachers) and the Governing Board (Board of Trustees). The Family Council’s main sphere of influence is in the social realm, while the school’s main sphere is the pedagogical realm and the Board is mainly responsible for financial and legal matters.

fees & waivers

In accordance with Utah state law, Wasatch Charter School charges fees for students in grades 6 through 8, our Middle School grades. The fee schedule is approved annually by the school's Governing Board and reflects actual costs of items and services. The fees can be viewed on the PDF below.

The second PDF is the Fee Waiver Application, which can be used by any family that may qualify to have the Middle School Fees waived based on financial qualifications. 

These materials are also made available to every family of a Middle School student upon enrollment to the school, and at Back to School time for continuing students.


governing board audit committee

The Audit Committee of the Governing Board is comprised of the following members:

Scott Whitehead
Treasurer and Finance Chair
Ann Johnson
President and Audit Chair
Mac Gaulin
Audit Committee

title IX information

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 USC §1681)

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

school land trust funding plan

In accordance with State requirements, we are providing you with information regarding Wasatch Charter School’s receipt and use of School Land Trust funds. The trust land council members for WCS include the Executive Director, Emily Merchant, and all members of the Governing Board (the majority of whom are parents in the school). A list of Board Members and their contact information can be found at: http://wasatchwaldorf.org/governance/.

Our Trust Land Council meets throughout the year as part of the public Board meetings which are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:15 PM at the school with some exceptions. See school Calendar. Agendas for these meetings are posted in the school and online prior to each meeting, and include notice of when the trust lands council will be meeting. The council follows the same rules of order and procedure as the Governing Board, abiding by a loose for of Robert’s Rules of Order. Agendas for upcoming 

framework for success

This includes an overview of the school's spending plans for State and Federal programs and restricted funds, including the Teacher and Student Success Act (TSSA), Title I, etc.

early learning plan

This includes an overview of the school's Early Learning Plan. 

policies & procedures

To view the policies for our school; please click the button below:

privacy

Wasatch Charter School works diligently to protect student privacy and to provide parents with required information regarding any sharing of Personally Identifiable Information. Click each to download the policy.

teacher qualifications & credentials

Teacher Licensing in Utah

Utah recently changed the Educator licensing system to move away from various “Levels” of licenses and towards fewer license types.  Educators may hold a Professional, Associate or LEA-specific license.

A Professional License is for anyone who has completed an approved educator training program.  On July 1, 2020 current Utah educator Standard Level 1, 2, or 3 licenses all converted to a Professional Educator License.

An Associate License is for anyone who wants to become a Utah teacher, but has not completed an educator preparation program (university-based or alternate program).  This is what our teachers working on completing our APPEL onsite licensure program have while they are completing requirements.

An LEA-Specific educator license, including areas of concentration and endorsements, is issued by the state board at the request of an LEA’s governing body (i.e.-local school board) that is valid for an employee to fill a position in the LEA if other licensing routes for the applicant are untenable or unreasonable.


Teacher Licensing at Wasatch Charter School

Wasatch Waldorf Charter School employs some individuals that hold LEA-specific licenses or endorsements.  These individuals are required to meet basic qualifications as outlined in the School’s policy and complete relevant professional development and training.

As of September 2023, Wasatch Waldorf Charter School teachers (including Class Teachers, Associate Class Teachers, SPED Teachers, and Specialty Teachers in relevant fields) has:

  • 53% of educators with a Professional License
  • 39% of educators with an Associate License
  • 8% of educators with an LEA-specific License

To find additional information regarding teacher qualifications, see the chart below (information as of September 2023) or reference the Utah Educator Look-up tool provided by the Superintendent: https://cactus.schools.utah.gov/PersonSearch

Individual Teacher Qualifications:
NAME
POSITION
WALDORF CERTIFICATION
ADDITIONAL WALDORF TRAINING
PROFESSIONAL LICENSE
ASSOCIATE LICENSE
Cura Rodriguez
1 Class Teacher
In Process




Misti Moberly
1 Class Teacher & Music Support
YES


YES


Katie Kleinendorst
1 Associate Teacher
YES



YES
Nicole Denison
1 Class Teacher & PAC Chair
YES




Robert Newman
1 Associate Teacher




YES
Julia Macdonald
2 Class Teacher
YES


YES


Maria Chamorro
2 Class Teacher
In Process



YES
Robert Macdonald
2 Class Teacher & PAC Mentoring & Choir
YES


YES


Johanna Buchert Smith
2 Associate Teacher




YES
Emily Cox
3 Class Teacher & PAC Mentoring & Folk Dance
YES


YES


Kadi Samake
3 Associate Teacher





Keshia Flinn
3 Class Teacher
YES



YES
Veronica Seidemann
3 Class Teacher
YES



YES
Annemarie Goslow
4 Class Teacher
YES
YES-Curative
YES


Annelise Slater
4 Class Teacher
YES


YES


Christina Mandzak
5 Class Teacher




YES
Michelle Simmons
5 Class Teacher
YES


YES


Angela Marr
6 Class Teacher
YES



YES
Michelle Woods
6 Class Teacher
YES


YES


Adam Woods
7 Class Teacher
YES



YES
Casey Burke
7 Class Teacher & Spanish


YES-Curative


YES
Alexa Buchanan
8 Class Teacher & Pottery




YES
Heather Allred
8 Class Teacher & Percussion
YES


YES


Kevin Harris
8 Class Teacher & Math



YES


Jessie Huish
Kinder Teacher & Events
YES


YES


Heather Edwards
Kinder Teacher & HW Asst




YES
Rhea Howarth
Kinder Teacher PT
YES


YES


Dave Keenan
Games Teacher
YES


YES


Bryan Jensen
Music Teacher



YES


Jill Bell
Gardening Teacher
In Process


N/A


Jennifer Samuelson
Handwork Teacher
In Process


N/A


Helena Syrovatkova
Eurythmy Teacher


YES-Eurythmy



Colleen Cook
Librarian



YES


Helen Lubin
Speech Arts & Mentor


YES-Speech Arts



Lucie Sykora
Hearth Lead / Handwork



N/A


Rachel Flemming
Literacy Coordinator
In Process


YES


Alison Hodgkin
Math Coordinator



YES


Olga Maloy
Lotus Teacher
YES
YES-Curative


YES
Angela Leaman
Lotus Teacher


YES-Curative


YES
Vivian Gayol
SPED Teacher / Discipline


YES-Curative
YES


Holly Martineau
Hearth / Remedial Teacher





Kelly Kvam
SPED Coordinator





Rebecca Coleman
SPED Teacher - Math




YES
Amie Rosenberg
SPED Teacher - Reading




YES
Laura Mae
Speech Language Pathologist



YES


Spencer Dirats
Social Inclusion Coordinator





Marta Gradillone-Roderiguez
3 Streams Coordinator / MS Hearth




YES
Emily Merchant
Executive Director
YES
YES
YES


Kara Salisbury
Administrative Director





Heather Campbell
Student Services Director


YES-Curative
YES


Brittany Harris
Assessment Coordinator
YES


YES


Brealynn Zobell
Licensing Coordinator
YES


YES



concerns and complaints

If you have a concern or complaint, please reference our Healthy Communications Guidelines and Concerns Policy

Unresolved concerns may be addressed to the USBE Hotline; or call them at (801) 538-7813.


public education hotline

The Public Education Hotline is maintained by the Internal Audit Department of the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and it is a venue for citizens, educators, employees, and other stakeholders to report concerns related to any of the agencies governed by or provided resources by the USBE. You can expect a response within 72 business hours.

Reporting a Concern

If you would like to report a concern (e.g., misuse of assets, funds, or resources; non-compliance with regulations, policies or rules; fraud, waste, abuse or unethical behavior) please contact the Internal Audit Department in one of the following ways:

  1. Fill out the Report a Concern Form.
  2. E-mail us at audit@schools.utah.gov
  3. Call the dedicated phone number (801) 538-7813 (if we do not answer, please leave a message and we will return your call within 72 hours)
  4. Mail a concern to:
    • Utah State Board of Education
      Internal Audit Department
      Attention: Debbie Davis
      PO Box 144200
      Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200
  5. Schedule an appointment to share your concern in person by emailing audit@schools.utah.gov.

To expedite a preliminary analysis of reported items, when you report a concern please provide as much information and documentation as possible. This could include:

  • Your name, e-mail, and phone number (reports of concerns may be anonymous to the extent allowed by law)
  • A detailed description of the concern, including any relevant laws, regulations, policies, programs, etc., and if applicable, the source of the funds involved (e.g. federal, state, other)
  • The names and titles of the individuals involved with the concern
  • The location and date where the concern occurred
  • Additional information such as: other witnesses, supporting documents, evidence, etc.

For each concern received the Internal Audit Department will conduct a preliminary analysis as directed by R277-123. The analysis includes consideration of relevant laws and rules, and entities with authority to review the concern and take necessary action. This means a concern may be referred to one or more entity; if referred, consideration of the concern will be according to the policies and procedures of that entity.

Language Assistance
You may, free of charge, request language assistance services for the Public Education Hotline by e-mailing audit@schools.utah.gov.