Board of Directors

  • Seat E – Currently Open

  • Brenda Maulik

  • Sara Sweeney

  • Seat I – Currently Open

  • Sana Soussi

  • Heather Newcomb

  • Amanda Linn

  • Lenny Ulloa Silva

  • Mark Ustimchuk

Seat E

Community Member 
TBD@davincicharterschool.org
Term Expires: TBD

Bio To Come 

Brenda Maulik

Teacher – Board Vice Chair
bmaulik@davincicharterschool.org
Term Expires: 2027

Mrs. Maulik chose to work at DaVinci Academy for many reasons! With a background in the arts, she experienced first hand the influence the arts can have in the academic success of learners. Science helps learners develop a love and appreciation of inquiry as well as an understanding of the world around them. Integrating both into all areas of instruction supports and encourages children to think critically, engage in learning in a creative way, and encourages them to try new ideas.

Sara Sweeney

Teacher – Board Secretary
ssweeney@davincicharterschool.org
Term Expires: 2027

Sara Sweeney comes to DaVinci Academy with a diverse background of professional experiences. Before getting her K-6 licensure she was a preschool teacher and worked in business. Mrs. Sweeney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Music from Nebraska Wesleyan University, a Master of Arts in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University, and a Master of Arts in Teaching for Concordia University St. Paul. Mrs. Sweeney is a passionate educator who loves to teach at DaVinci Academy. She has a passion for working in an environment where students come first and each student has equitable experiences.

Seat I

Parent 
TBD@davincicharterschool.org
Term Expires: TBD

Bio to come

Sana Soussi

Parent
sanasoussi@davincicharterschool.org
Term expires: 2026

Bio coming soon…

Heather Newcomb

Parent
hnewcomb@davincicharterschool.org
Term Expires: 2028

Bio coming soon

Amanda Linn

Parent
alinn@davincicharterschool.org
Term Expires: 2028

Bio coming soon…

Lenny Ulloa Silva

Teacher
lulloasilva@davincicharterschool.org
Term Expires: July 2026

Lenny Ulloa Silva is from Valparaíso, Chile, and previously served on the DaVinci Academy school board from 2018 to 2023. He studied Education and Spanish at Luther College in Iowa and earned a Master’s degree in Math Education from WGU. Lenny now works as a Spanish and Math teacher at DaVinci Academy. He has also directed and co-directed multiple plays and musicals at the school and assists teachers with technology needs, ultimately providing better support to all students. Lenny is excited to be back on the board and is ready to continue supporting the entire DaVinci community.

Mark Ustimchuk

Community Member
mustimchuk@davincicharterschool.org
Term Expires: June 2027

Bio Coming Soon

To Contact the Board of Directors:

You may email them at the emails noted in their bios above or send an email to: board@davincicharterschool.org


Board Election Information

DVA Election Policies and Procedures

The May 2025 Election Cycle Has Ended and Amanda Linn and Heather Newcomb have been elected to the Board of Directors as new parent members who will be seated on July 1st.


Agenda & Meeting Minutes

Unless otherwise noted, DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science Board of Directors meetings take place at 6:00pm on the fourth Monday of each month at DaVinci Academy, 532 Bunker Lake Blvd. NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304. Guests can enter via the front entrance and follow the signage to the 3rd floor room location.

School Board Meeting Dates – 24-25 School Year

July 22, 2024

August 26, 2024

September 23, 2024

October 28, 2024

November 18, 2024 (Moved up a week per unanimous vote @ 10/28/24 School Board meeting)

December 16, 2024 (@5:30pm; Moved up a week and 30 minutes earlier per unanimous vote @ 10/28/24 School Board meeting)

January 27, 2025

February 24, 2025

March 24, 2025

April 28, 2025

  • School Board Training on Data Privacy provided by Ratwik, Roszak, & Maloney (Training @5:30pm at DaVinci Academy) – Please note that this training has been canceled due to the impending severe weather expected
  • School Board Agenda 2025-04-28
    • Please note that this meeting has been canceled due to the impending severe weather expected, See below for an updated meeting date and time

May 5, 2025 – Special Meeting (Makeup for canceled April 28th Regular Board Meeting due to inclement weather)

May 27, 2025 (Moved from Monday to Tuesday per unanimous vote @ 02/24/25 School Board meeting)

June 23, 2025

June 30, 2025 – Special Board Meeting

July 23, 2025 – Board Working Session and Meeting

  • School Board Agenda 2025-07-23

Archives:

Board Committees

  • Finance Committee

  • HR/Compensation Committee

  • Policy Committee

  • School Development Committee

  • Previous Sub-Committees

Chair: Idara Uko
Vice Chair(s): Sana Soussi

Manages the finances of DaVinci Academy with the highest integrity and ensures professional accounting practices are followed.

Meeting Schedule: The Finance Committee meets virtually on the third Wednesday of the month at 12:00 PM. (The June 2025 Finance Meeting will be moved to Tuesday, June 17th at 12:00pm)

meet.google.com/kce-iose-oan
‪(US) +1 530-683-2264‬ PIN: ‪505 378 849‬#

Agenda:
Finance Committee Running Agenda

Chair: Brenda Maulik
Vice Chair(s): Jessica Murphy

Reviews and recommends appropriate and supportable compensation and bonus programs for teachers and staff that are in DaVinci Academy’s best interests and aligned with its business mission and strategy to reward and retain quality employees.

Meeting Schedule: The HR/Compensation Committee meets on the third Wednesday of month @ 7:05 AM; in-person

Agenda:
HR Meeting Agenda 2022-04-07

Meeting Minutes:
HR Committee Minutes 2025-04-25

Chair: Julie Kresh
Vice Chair: Emily Uhl

Documents and tracks current policies and practices, reviews and recommends changes to existing policies and practices, and drafts and recommends new policies and practices, as needed.

Meeting Schedule: The Policy Committee meets on the second Friday of month @1:00 PM; in-person.

Agenda:

8_8_2025 Policy Committee Meeting Agenda

Meeting Minutes:
6_13_2025 Policy Committee Meeting Minutes

Chair: Dan Rhinhart
Vice Chair: Mark Ustimchuk

The School Development Committee is a team of individuals committed to spearheading the schools’ fundraising efforts. The committee develops short and long-term strategic development plans which are focused on student and school success, and which align with the school’s strategic and financial plans.

The team develops DaVinci’s “case for giving” and works together to ensure the proper management of donors and prospects.

Meeting Schedule: The School Development Committee will meet the second Wednesday of the month at 3:30 PM in-person.

Agenda:

School Development Agenda 2025-03-20

Meeting Minutes:
School Development Minutes 2025-02-20

Communication Committee
Facilitates quality communications within DaVinci Academy and from the school to stakeholders and the general public.

Facilities Committee
Chair:
Vice Chair: Andy Wallschlaeger
Reviews, prioritizes, and recommends budgetary and other actions to the administration and the DaVinci Academy School Board in order to maintain and enhance the school’s buildings and grounds. This includes, but is not limited to, the recommendation of additions and upgrades to facilities, development of budgets necessary for short- and long-term facility maintenance, and review and selection of facility maintenance-related bids and contracts, and prioritization and recommendation of large equipment purchases.
This is an Ad-Hoc group committee specifically working on the school expansion. They are not currently seeking additional members.

High School Ad Hoc
Chair: Holly Fischer
Takes a leading role in assisting the administration and the DaVinci Academy School Board in developing a plan to expand the school to include grades nine through twelve. This will initially include assistance in hiring a high school coordinator to oversee the project and in creating a vision for the future high school program.
This committee was disbanded when it completed its task.

School Director Search Committee
Chair: Doug Hiatt
Coordinates all activities associated with identifying, interviewing and recruiting potential candidates to fill the school’s open School Director position.
This committee was disbanded when it completed its task.

Technology Committee
Chair: Mike Hebert

Curriculum/Technology Committee
Chair: Michelle Ingram