The Beacon Academy School Board is made up of 9 voting members, 5 teachers, 3 parents, and 1 community member. Original MN charter school law calls for a teacher majority on the board of directors and Beacon still follows this framework. Terms are three years with the exception of the community member which has a two-year term. Board members may run for one additional term. The board chair must be a parent member. The Executive Committee oversees the Principal position and is comprised of the Board Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.
The Governance Committee oversees the election process which runs from March to May of every year. Each parent or guardian of a student at the school and each employee has the right to cast one vote for the board candidates. Board member terms run from July 1 to June 30.
School Board elections are conducted online using an online election tool. Physical copies of the election materials are available by contacting the main office at 763-546-9999. Elections are in May of each year. Results are announced at the June school board meeting of that election year.
Committee meetings of the school board are determined by the committee chair at the start of each school year. They can be found by looking at the calendar on the front page of the website or by contacting the committee chair.
School Board meetings are held typically on the third Thursday of every month. The school community and members of the public are encouraged to attend school board meetings to be informed about school operations and budgets.
School Board Meeting Dates 2025 – 2026:
Special Meeting
School Board Retreat
Matheu Weidenbach, Board Chair
boardpresident@beaconacademy.com
I am happy to have the opportunity to serve the Beacon Academy community as a member of the board. Representing the best interests of our students, families, and staff is an honor. My family has been a part of the Beacon community since 2019, and my wife Angela and I have a son in second grade. In my professional life, I have experience in various aspects of project/financial management and business operations, and I actively volunteer for several non-profit organizations. In my personal life, I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking, traveling, and being outside.
We joined Beacon because we were drawn to Beacon’s focus on community and a rigorous, character-based curriculum, and have been excited to see the growth our son has experienced within this caring and thoughtful educational framework. I firmly believe in taking a student-first approach that balances the needs of the broader community in order to drive the best outcomes for our kids. I look forward to contributing to both maintaining and building upon the foundational principles that make Beacon so great.
Parent seat, term expires June 2027
Melanie Spall, Vice Chair
mspall@beaconacademy.com
I have been involved with Beacon Academy for over 15 years. This has been as a middle-school teacher, parent, and board member. As your Vice-Chairperson, my mission is to ensure we make smart financial decisions that benefit our students and teachers alike.
I am an advocate for equity. This encompasses various aspects, from closing the achievement gap to promoting cultural competence in our school. I believe that by celebrating our differences and cultivating an environment of understanding and respect, we will achieve this.
Outside of school, I spend the majority of my time reading with my three cats, cooking for my amazing family, and exploring our wonderful, local bike trails.
Teacher seat, term expires June 2026
Stacey Ray, Board Treasurer
I happily and humbly serve as Treasurer of the Board of Beacon Academy. I strongly value and advocate for equity and inclusion in the education system, wanting every student to feel valued, included, and respected. I see the educational system as a crucial tool in aiding the empowerment of our young people in society to be their best selves, and as a steppingstone for a bright and successful future in which their dreams can be attained. As Treasurer of the Board, I will work to ensure that Beacon Academy has financial responsibility in its decisions, maintaining the integrity of our school values and keeping students and faculty at the forefront.
Our son is a 5th grader at Beacon in the 2025/2026 school year. We value and appreciate the smaller community school setting of Beacon Academy, which has allowed us to build a sense of partnership with school faculty and teachers, in the pursuit of supporting a great educational experience for our son.
In my professional life I have spent over 20 years working in human services, all of which has been aimed at supporting work with an equity lens. My career includes management and program oversight, including budgetary and fiduciary responsibilities, as well as project management and planning.
In my personal life, I enjoy holding down the grill and cooking great food, being outdoors, going for walks, working in the yard, and spending time with family and friends- oh and I can’t forget about our 3 dogs and a cat.
Parent seat, term expires June 2027
Hope Reeves, Board Member
Teacher seat, term expires June 2028
Norah Grosklags (Antil), Board Member
nantil@beaconacademy.com
I have been with Beacon for 7 years now, teaching PE for grades k-8 and Health for grades 6-8. I came to Beacon after time spent in other schools and never fully felt the love and passion that you feel within these halls. Beacon staff is truly something special and I am humbled to serve as a representative for them and for our families to keep Beacon going in the right direction. I truly believe in the students-first approach, while still honoring the main concepts of Beacon that make this place truly one of a kind.
While not telling jokes with students, and playing games with them, I can be found coaching out in White Bear for JO volleyball, in the kitchen trying new recipes, and spending time with my husband Louis, and our two-year-old son Raiden by going to parks, hitting some trails, and occasionally with a book in my hand…occasionally.
Teacher seat, term expires June 2027
Matthew Goodman, Board Member
mgoodman@beaconacademy.com
I have been with Beacon Academy for 17 years. I am from Wisconsin, graduating from UW-Eau Claire with degrees in History and Political Science. I started working as a paraprofessional at Beacon and lead the resource room. I have been teaching 7th/8th grade social studies for 13 years. I know we have a strong team, and a wonderful school community. I particularly lean on the rigor pillar of our organization, challenging students with new skills and projects on their path towards high school. In my classes we find depth of content, and do not shy away from difficult historical topics from multiple perspectives. I am an advocate for practical pencil and paper skills in the classroom. We focus on using metacognition to learn how to learn. This health of this organization means a lot to me. I started my career in education here and intend to continue for many years to come.
I enjoy traveling to be with family in Wisconsin, I am a skilled carpenter, and my hobby is running table-top roleplaying games with my pals. I often go camping, to museums, and love to travel to other metro areas in the summer.
Teacher seat, term expires June 2027
Patricia Blake, Board Member
I have been part of the Beacon community for nine years, starting as a paraprofessional and building substitute before returning to school to earn my master’s in education from Concordia University, St. Paul. I discovered early on that I wanted to lead a classroom, and after years of experience, I found my true fit in middle school science. Our school offers a rare balance—a place where people truly know and support one another yet still encourage personal and professional growth. Relationships between staff, students, and families are rooted in genuine care. The result is a deeply connected, purpose-driven environment and one I am proud to call home.
As an educator and board member, I strive to support Beacon’s culture through both daily practice and long-term vision. My focus remains on equity, inclusion, student wellness, and meaningful community engagement. I work to foster a climate where every student feels seen, valued, and supported. Outside of school, I enjoy reading (I participate in two book clubs), camping and hiking in the summer, and becoming entirely too invested in Survivor.
Teacher seat, term expires June 2027
Rasheda Jenkins, Board Member
As a parent I have always made it my mission to involve myself in my child’s education. Joining Beacon Academy’s School Board is a continuation of that mission. My goal here at Beacon Academy is to encourage an environment that not only fosters learning reading, writing and arithmetic; Also fosters learning social and emotional skills. Statistics show that children with a better grasp on their emotional health succeed at a higher rate than those with simply book smarts.
I am grateful to be apart of a community that is committed to a culture of positive character development and parental involvement. In my spare time I enjoy bike riding, building community, reading, and spending time with my family.
Parent seat, term expires June 2027
Open, Community Member
Reach out to Board President if interested: BoardPresident@beaconacademy.com
Beacon Academy has board-level committees. These committees meet monthly, receive direction from the board, and report back to the board as appropriate. The committees are made up of board members, staff members, and parents, and all meetings are open to the public. To view the committee membership directory, click here: School Board Committee Membership Directory
Executive Committee
Curriculum Committee
The Curriculum Committee reviews the school’s curriculum on a defined review cycle and makes recommendations to the school board based on their findings. They meet once a month while school is in session. Refer to the school calendar for meeting days and times. The committee chair is Kris Gapinski.
Employee Retention and Compensation
The Employee Retention and Compensation Committee explores avenues for retaining our quality employees through monetary and non-monetary compensation. Meetings take place when school is in session. Refer to the school calendar for meeting days and times. The committee chair is Elizabeth Brobeck.
Fund Development Task Force
The Fund Development Task Force searches for alternative funding avenues for Beacon Academy. The committee chair is Mat Weidenbach.
Finance
The Finance Committee works closely with the Business Manager, the Board Treasurer, and the Principal to ensure financial accountability and stability for Beacon Academy. Currently, all board members attend Finance Committee meetings as those are now part of the regularly scheduled School Board meetings. The minutes for the Finance Committee are included in the School Board meeting minutes. The committee chair is Stacey Ray.
Governance
The Governance Committee reviews and creates the policies for Beacon Academy. They meet monthly all year round except for July and December. This committee meets one Monday night a month. The chair of the Governance Committee is Eldred Bach.
Governance Committee Meeting Dates 2025 – 2026:
Lead in School Drinking Water
The Minnesota Commissioners of Health and Education have collaborated to develop a model plan requiring public schools serving students in Kindergarten through grade 12 to test drinking water for the presence of lead. This plan is intended to ensure that schools conduct testing in an accurate and efficient manner. Whenever possible, the model plan aligns with standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The plan may also incorporate guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health publication, Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: A Technical Guidance for Minnesota’s School and Child Care Facilities.
In accordance with Minnesota Statute 121A.335 and guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health, Beacon Academy is committed to maintaining a safe learning environment by regularly testing drinking water within the school building for the presence of lead. These procedures are part of the school’s ongoing efforts to ensure safe facilities and to comply with state health and safety requirements.
In accordance with federal funding requirements, Beacon Academy provides the following link to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General. If you wish to report fraud, waste, abuse, or other concerns regarding federal education funds, you may contact the OIG directly:
Contact U.S. Department of Education – Office of Inspector General
Friends of Beacon (FOB) is a building corporation, formed as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization on behalf of Beacon Academy. FOB meets as needed.
Friends of Beacon
3415 Louisiana Ave N.
Crystal, MN 55427
Friends of Beacon Board Members
School hours are 9:00 am – 3:45 pm
