Speakers
Keri Melmed
Board & Governance
Designed for new board members, those completing required Board Fundamentals training, or anyone in need of a refresher, this interactive session focuses on the core responsibilities of charter school governing boards. Participants will explore the distinction between governance and operations, the collective and individual roles of board members, and the skills necessary to govern effectively. League Board Trainers will facilitate hands-on activities and discussion, so participants should come ready to engage.
Download your workshop deck here: https://coloradoleague.org/asset/EB6F61D8%2D72DE%2D4D9C%2DBA6AD872CA706E87/
Keri Melmed is an experienced, innovative and passionate educational leader with a strong track record of empowering leaders and their organizations to create environments where all students thrive. Keri is driven by what is possible and she challenges the status quo to intentionally design equitable communities that elevate all members of the organization to support student success. As a school leader, she instituted deliberate and monumental changes in both the culture and the curriculum of the schools she led to create more equitable and engaging places of learning. These changes improved the educational experience of both students and staff.
As an educational leader, DEIA work is Keri’s biggest priority and by working to dismantle barriers, the schools she supports can become truly equity driven and focused. This comes from Keri’s belief that every student deserves opportunities to learn and grow and it is our responsibility to create the environment for them to do so. She has been working in education for over 28 years, both as a classroom teacher and in school leadership; in various organizations in California, New York, and Colorado. Prior to consulting, Keri was the Executive Director at High Point Academy. She established a professional learning community that focused on equity driven practices to improve the outcomes and lives of the students, staff, and families. Keri was the Principal of a “start-up, turn around” charter school in far Northeast Denver. Starting from ground zero, Keri modeled best practice through hands-on coaching with her teaching staff. Keri built trust between families and the school during the foundational years.
Keith Ouweneel is currently the Director of Crown Pointe Academy of Westminster, a role he has held since 2012. He is responsible for the academic program, facility needs, budget, and day to day operations of the school which include the challenging issues of 50 employees, 300 parents, and 500 students. While at Crown Pointe, Keith has developed and implemented many changes to the curriculum, schedules, and programming that have positively affected student engagement and performance. Prior to coming to CPA, Keith worked at a teacher, assistant principal, principal and school administrator for 15 years in Weld County, Colorado. He began his career in education as a third grade teacher, a job his wife described as working with his “peers”.
In addition to his work in schools, Keith has presented to numerous state and national conferences on education best practices, leadership, technology, and board governance. He has also consulted with governmental agencies on the topics of leadership, conflict resolution and personal motivation. Mr. Ouweneel holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Indiana University. He has also graduated twice from the University of Northern Colorado with a Master of Arts and education specialist degrees in educational leadership and policy study. He believes learning is a lifelong pursuit that requires constant growth and development which happen best in environments of mutual trust and support.