As local citizens, our governing board members have a responsibility to the students and the community at-large for providing a high quality choice in education for all youth who are unable to participate in the traditional school model. Each member of our independently governed, non-profit charter school governing board contributes a depth of experience in areas such as education, business, finance, and community development. Each member is especially passionate about improving the lives of young people and helping establish them as confident, educated, skillful, and civic-minded citizens of their community.
Carol Stanford
Board President
Current Term: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
Ms. Carol Stanford is a trustee for the Palmdale School District and served as an instructional coach and AP/IB English teacher at Antelope Valley High School for more than 30 years. She was awarded the 2001 Teacher of the Year by L.A. County, received the Highland High School Hall of Fame, the Antelope Valley High School Distinguished Service Award, nominated for the Athena Award, and is co-founder of the Ana Verde Hills Town Council in Palmdale California.
Claudette Roberts Beck
Board Secretary
Current Term: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
Ms. Claudette Roberts Beck is a board president for the Antelope Valley Resource Conservation District and a former board member of the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board. As the water conservation manager at the Palmdale Water District for 21 years, she developed and executed conservation programs for the public and regional school districts. A strong believer in educating the public about water conservation, Beck serves on the Conservation Garden Committee that encourages the use of sustainable plants and other forms of water conservation. Beck earned her bachelor’s in business management from the University of Phoenix.
Michael Molloy
Board Member
Current Term: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
Mr. Michael Molloy has more than forty years of experience with local youth baseball as a coach, manager and board president of Quartz Hill Pony Baseball. He has been recognized for his exceptional dedication to youth by the organization, as well as former Senators George Runner and (the late) Sharon Runner, and Lancaster and Palmdale Elks. From 1984 to 2009, Molloy owned and operated A&B Fire Protection, a fire protection company. Molloy is known for his genuine service and encouragement to others, his team-player approach to situations, and his compassion for at-risk youth.
John Dortch
Board Member
Current Term: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
For 36 years, Mr. John Dortch served as a manager for the L.A. County Assessor’s Office and was responsible for the assessment operations throughout the county. Since retirement in 2012, Dortch has been actively serving his community through Habitat for Humanity, the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, Rotary and Elks. He serves as a L.A. County appointee to the City of Santa Clarita Redevelopment Oversight Board, and was a previous appointee to the Santa Clarita Open Space Oversight Committee. Dortch holds a bachelor’s in business administration from California State University, Northridge and is a U.S. Army veteran. Dortch strongly believes that education is a crucial stepping-stone to a successful and fulfilling life.
Barbara Willibrand
Board Member
Current Term: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
Ms. Barbara Willibrand has over a 40-year career in education. She began as a junior high teacher, and then went on to serve as a high school teacher, an athletic director, a site administrator, a district administrator, and an assistant superintendent. She also served her community as a two-time board president for the Antelope Valley Union High School District Board of Trustees, as well as the program director for Neighborhood Impact, an at-risk youth athletic program. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an expertise in governance, leadership, and leveraging budgets to benefit programs. Willibrand holds a bachelor’s in science and psychology from the University of Mississippi and a master’s in education from the University of La Verne.
