Trustees Dana Kossow and Tim Blake present grant funds at Meadowlark Ridge in 2022.

Board of Trustees
Tim Blake, Chair
Bonnie Welty, Vice-chair
Crystal Stuart, Treasurer
Darla Hassler, Secretary
Amy Stonebraker, Past Chair

Samantha Angell
Megan Dupy
Jim Fletcher
Gabe Grant
Darla Hassler
Austin Hoppock
Dirk Hutchinson
James Lambert  
Katrin Paradis
Michelle Peck                                                                                           
Jacob Yarochowicz


Michael Chambers, Executive Director
Linn Exline, Superintendent, Ex-officio

Board of Trustees Bios

Samantha Angell is a native of Hays, Kansas. She graduated from the                                        University of New Mexico in 1995, with a BA in political science. She obtained her law degree with honors, from Washburn University in 1999. Samantha has been very active in the Salina community. She previously served on the Board of the Salina Community Theatre, the Salina Area United Way, Salina Youth Care, Kansas Legal Services and the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce.  She was a member of the Noon Network AMBUCS,  serving as its president from 2005-2006. She was also appointed to serve on the City of Salina Disciplinary Review Board from 2001-2007. She was elected to the City Commission from 2009-2013. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Board of Indigent Defense Services. 



Tim Blake is a graduate of Salina South High School and is owner of Hickory Hut Barbecue.  Tim and his wife, Shelly (Laubhan) Blake, only recently moved back to Salina to raise their 3 boys after living in the Kansas City area for 15 years.  Tim comes to the SEF board with extensive experience in money management and financial planning. Tim currently serves as the Vice Chair



Michael Chambers, Executive Director Michael grew up in Lindsborg, KS and graduated from Bethany College. He has lived and worked in Salina for the past 25 years. He has a passion for bringing people together to support good ideas. He is active in the Salina community and in his free time he enjoys reading, playing guitar, taking walks and working in his yard. Having participated in Meadowlark Ridge’s Kindness Project, Michael has seen first-hand the positive impact the Salina Education Foundation makes in our public schools.


Megan Dupy, graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in elementary education.  She taught in USD 305 as well as the Shawnee Mission school district.  She is originally from Minnesota and from a family of educators.  Her mother, father and brother are all former or current teachers.  Her husband, David, is a Salina native and a graduate of South High School.  They have three children, Ryan, Anna and Caleb, and have made Salina their home for the past 10 years.  In her spare time you can find her on the golf course.

Jim Fletcher,  is a native of Salina, KS and a 1993 graduate of Salina South High School. He graduated from Salina Area Tech (Refrigeration) and has spent his life in Salina. Jim attended Kansas Wesleyan University and studied business. He is proud to be a Salinan. He and his wife, Christine have raised four children in Salina. Jim operates a local insurance agnecy, focused on employee benefits, and operates Wyatt Training,  a professional training service. He is in his second term on the USD 305 School Board. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Gabe Grant is a graduate of Salina Central High School and the owner
of Heritage Real Estate Advisors, LLC. Since 2018 he has served as an elected member of the Salina Public Schools Board of Education. Gabe moved back to Salina in 2013 with his dog, Jethro. He enjoys calling Salina his home. A product of Salina Public Schools, he knows first-hand of the amazing work being done every day in our buildings by fantastic faculty and staff. He is excited to support them through his work on the Board of Education and on the SEF Board of Trustees.  


Linn Exline, Superintendent of USD 305, serves as an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees.  During Supt. Exline's 26 years at USD 305, she has served as Executive Director of School Improvement, South High principal, Central High assistant principal, Director of Staff Development and Accreditation, elementary principal and teacher, and K-12 Curriculum Specialist.


Darla Hassler, is a Salina natice and taught 11 years in USD 305 before deciding to be a stay-at-home mom to her two daughters. During her years teaching, Darla had the opportunity to teach every grade level. Her career begane at Central HIgh School teaching English, then she served as an Art teacher traveling to different buildings working with students from first to eighth grades. She taught art at the Salina Montessori School working with kindergartners and taught "Art for the Elementary Teacher" at Kansas Wesleyan. She is excited to be part of Salina Education Foundation so that she may continue to champion teachers and students. Darla and her husband have two daughters, Ruby at South High and Maisy at South Middle. 

Austin Hoppock, was born and raised in Salina. He graduated from South High School. After graduating from Fort Hays State University he moved back to Salina. In 2015 he joined the family business at Land Title Services. Austin and his wife, Lisa enjoy Salna and are passionate about making it a better place to live. With 10 nieces and nephews, and family working in USD 305, it is important to them to see that classrooms have what they need to succeed. Austin spent six years serving on the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank board of directors. He is also past president of Salina Area Young Professionals, and is currently on the board for Salina's First Tee. Austin's father, Mike is a past board member with Salina Education Foundation.  


Dirk Hutchinson and his wife Fran are originally from Oklahoma but have lived in Salina
since 1987. He graduated from Enid High School, attended Phillips University and received his MD degree from the University of Oklahoma. Dirk practiced internal medicine for nearly 40 years, first in Winfield, Kansas, followed by the Salina Clinic, the Mowery Clinic and Kindred Healthcare before retiring 2 years ago. He and Fran raised two sons, Eric and Todd, who graduated from Salina Central High School. While in practice he enjoyed teaching and mentoring medical students and residents and has received several teaching awards. In retirement he continues to serve on the volunteer faculty of the Salina campus of the KU School of Medicine. During his career he has served on the boards of numerous local and state organizations.

Katrina Paradis is an English teacher at Salina Central High School where she has taught for 29 years. She currently serves as the English department chair. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and her master's degree from Kansas State University. In 2012, she was named Kansas Master Teacher. She has one daughter, Madeline, who currently attends Columbia College Chicago. Katrina is a gracious recpient of several grants for her classroom including a collaboration with South High for a Slam Poetry event feature community poet mentors and students from both high schools. 


Michelle Peck is the Executive Director of The Garage. She has over seventeen years of experience in philanthropic advising.  Michelle graduated in 2002 from Kansas State University with her Bachelors in Secondary Education Business.  She taught for USD 305 in 2002 at Salina South High School. Michelle has also taught Leadership Salina for the past 10 years.  She and her husband Aaron own and operate BEL Tree Farm. Together they have two children, Adia and Noah Peck, who both attend Lakewood Middle School.  Michelle currently serves on the Salina Rotary Board of Directors
and enjoys playing tennis in her free time.

Erin Smith is an optomertrist at Drs. Driver and Clark and has been practicing in Salina for the past 10 years. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science with a minor in Spanish. She attended the University of Houston College of Optometry and graduated in 2011. Her husband, Brandon, is a Salina native and graduated from South High School. Erin and Brandon have two sons, Sam and Oliver. Sam attends Meadowlark Ridge Elementary School. Erin serves as the secretary of the Building Blocks Preschool Board, is a member of Salina Charities League and past member of the Noon Network AMBUCS. 

Amy Stonebraker and her husband Ken have lived in Salina 25 years.  Amy is a partner in Woods and Durham, and Ken, having taught and coached for 25 years, is currently the athletic director at South High. They have two children, Jessica and Justin, both South High graduates. She works at Salina Regional Health Center.  Amy has served on several boards, including Salina Child Care and Women Helping Women. Amy was treasurer of the SEF for six years, and we welcome her back as a member of the LIFT committee and Finance and Investment Committee. Amy currently serves as the Chair. 

 

Crystal Stuart and her husband Ryan have called Salina home for nearly two decades. Following graduation from Bethany College, she worked for USD 305 in the business office before choosing to work from home to raise her sons. She works remotely from her home for Signature Personal Insurance LLC, based out of Roeland Park. Ryan is an assistnat principal at South High. Crystal comes from a family of public education supporters and is delighted to join the Salina Education Foundation and to continue to support and promote USD 305's positive impact in our community.  

Bonnie Welty is retired from USD 305 after spending 32 years in public education. She spent the last 5 years as principal at Lakewood Middle School and was a principal in the Shawnee Mission disctrict before coming to Salina. Bonnie taught health and pysical education in Shawneed Mission, Wichita and Newton school districts. Bonnie is an adjunct professor at Kansas Wesleyan University in the education department. She officiates high school volleyball and enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends.  

Jacob Yarochowicz  was born and raised in Salina. He attended  Coronado Elementary, South Middle and is a graduate of Salina South where his Mom, Cathy has taught PE/Health for the past 29 years. He graduated from Kansas State in 2020 with a degree in finance. He works for BeWealth in Salina as a financial Advisor. In his free time he is either on the golf course or at the gym.