Board of Directors
The Children's House is governed by a Board of Directors. The board consists of a mix of representatives from local businesses, our parent body and the broader community. Candidates for board membership are drawn from a pool that includes parents, donors, partners, and others.
Board Interest Form | Committees, Strategic Plan and Financial Statements
Mark Bishop
Mark has lived in Traverse City since 2003 and is a proud Michigan native. He earned his B.B.A. in Accountancy from Western Michigan University and has over 30 years of experience in accounting and finance, working across diverse industries that include manufacturing and energy services. He currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the Northwest Regional Airport Authority, commonly known as Cherry Capital Airport.
An active member of the Children’s House community since moving to the area, Mark’s three children—Colin, Aidan, and Sinead—are all alumni. In addition to spending time with his children, he enjoys music, baseball, playing golf, and taking advantage of the outdoors and all the beauty that northern Michigan has to offer.
Julie Boss
Polly Carlton, Treasurer
Polly Carlton is a Certified Public Accountant with a Master of Science in Accounting from Grand Valley State University and a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University. She has over twenty years of accounting experience, including ten years of public accounting. Polly is the founder of Carlton + Company, a boutique bookkeeping firm that specializes in professional service organizations and nonprofits. Polly has also served as Treasurer of the Norte Youth Cycling Board of Directors.
A Montessori alumni herself, Polly graduated from Meadow Montessori School in Monroe, Michigan. Along with her husband Patrick and their son Fletcher, she lives in downtown Traverse City. Fletcher attends The Children’s House and is looking forward to his time at Compass Junior High in the fall. In addition to spending time with family and friends, she enjoys traveling, swimming, and exploring the beaches of Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Scott Goodreau, Vice Chair
Scott joined Highstreet in 2023 and currently serves as Vice Chairman. Scott moved from Chicago with his wife Carrie and his two children Gwennie and Matilda. Scott is currently CEO of Brightstone Specialty Group, a sister company of High Street Insurance and Financial Services. While Scott began his career in New York City as a corporate attorney, he moved into the insurance industry and has served in several executive positions. Scott grew up in Boston. He is a graduate of Boston College, has an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Scott has experience in overall strategy as well as various functional areas such as law, finance, and marketing. Scott enjoys spending time with his family and friends in Traverse City taking advantage of all this amazing town has to offer. While in Chicago, Scott served on the non-profit Board of Directors for Jobs for Youth.
David King, Secretary
David King is an attorney with the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit by trade, a native of Traverse City by marriage, and an amateur triathlete by passion. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and Juris Doctor from the Northwestern University School of Law. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for The Children's House, David chairs the Leelanau County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and serves as a member of the Leelanau County Land Bank.
He and his wife Hillary--a pulmonologist and critical care specialist at Munson--have held the Children's House dear since moving to Traverse City in 2015. Their daughters Louisa and Margaret are thriving members of the Children's House community, now both in the elementary program.
Peter Starkel
Peter Starkel is a Principal, and Branding Specialist with Fun Advisors; a nationally recognized strategist for the various entertainment industries. He has served on the boards for The Children's House (Chair), Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse (Chair), Blissfest Music Organization, Michigan Bernese Mountain Dog Association and others. His adult children (John and Martha) attended Children's House in the early 2000's.
Michele Shane, Head of School (Non-Voting Member)
Michele has been with The Children’s House since 1998, teaching in a Primary classroom, and eventually was hired as Head of School. Michele holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Washington, AMI Primary diploma from Montessori Institute Northwest, and an MEd from Loyola College in Baltimore. Michele is mother to two young adults, both alums of TCH. She enjoys paddle boarding, mountain biking, reading, and being on the beach. One of her favorite parts of being a Head of School is getting to visit the classrooms to sing and play ukulele with the children.
Jessica Sullivan, Chair
Jessica has over 22 years of financial services experience, 10 of which she served as the director of a single-family office.
Jessica is passionate about the Grand Traverse Region. She served as a six-year member of the Grand Traverse Economic Development Corporation, serving as the board Chair. She serves on other non-profit boards and is the Chair of The Children’s House. In addition, she is a board director for the Regional Economic Development Organization, TraverseConnect, and Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan Foundation.
Jessica is a graduate of Michigan State University, holding a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance. In addition, she has her Master’s in Business Administration in Strategic Management and she is a four-time recipient of Traverse City’s 40 Under 40 award. Jessica, with her husband Ryan and children Shamus, Paddy, Katie and Siobhan, live in Traverse City, Michigan. In her free time, she enjoys running, attending concerts, watching MSU sports and coaching youth basketball.
Lisa Thauvette
Lisa Thauvette is a Montessori educator, consultant, and improvisational performer with over two decades of experience in education and more than a decade in comedic improvisation. She is the founder of Tilt Think Coaching, collaborating with educators, leaders, and innovators to cultivate human potential and build thriving communities. She coaches Montessori leaders and delivers dynamic professional development seminars using insight, humor, and connection. She is an active member of the local arts scene, co-founding Full Tilt Comedy, a not-for-profit improv theater and school.
Lisa's professional journey includes serving as the Head of School at International Montessori in Brussels, Belgium, for over a decade. She holds an Association Montessori International (AMI) 6-12 (elementary) teaching diploma and a Master of Education in Montessori from Loyola College. She received her BA from Alma College. Her career has been marked by international experiences, having lived and worked in cities such as Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Boulder, and Brussels.
Lisa is proud to serve on the board of The Children’s House, supporting its enduring mission to inspire lifelong learners. The Children’s House’s commitment to authentic Montessori education serves as a regional and national model on how a learning community can cultivate curiosity, independence, and a deep respect for human potential.
Megan Wick
Megan Wick is a healthcare professional and leader with over two decades of experience in laboratory science and pathology. She holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in healthcare from Ohio University and a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science from Michigan State University. Megan has held several leadership roles at the College of American Pathologists, including Director of State Relations and Director of Specialty Advancement, where she was instrumental in developing innovative strategies to strengthen state pathology societies and advance specialty initiatives. She has also managed CDC-funded projects aimed at improving laboratory practice guidelines and has published research in prominent medical journals such as The Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine.
A native of Traverse City, Megan is deeply engaged in her local community. She serves as the Co-Chapter Lead for the Michigan chapter of Moms Demand Action, president of the Community Cares Coalition, and sits on the board of the Grand Traverse Area Children’s Garden. Her commitment to volunteerism extends to previous roles with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago. Megan values the importance of education and child development, which is reflected in her involvement with The Children’s House, where she joined the board in fall 2023. Her three sons have attended The Children’s House, further deepening her connection to the school and its mission. Her dedication to healthcare, leadership, and community service highlights her drive to make a meaningful impact both professionally and personally.
Board of Directors Interest Form:
The Children's House accepts new board members on an ongoing basis.
If you're interested in joining our Board of Directors or learning more about it, please complete our
Board of Directors Interest Form.
Committees
Executive Committee
Finance and Investment Committee
Governance Committee
Head of School Support and Evaluation Committee
Strategic Plan
The Board of Directors adopted a new strategic plan in May 2023 that upholds the vision of high-fidelity, independent Montessori education for all of our students.
Financial Records
Federal Tax Returns (Form 990)