Board of Directors

- Tuesday, December 3 at 8:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, January 7 at 8:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, February 4 at 8:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, March 4 at 8:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, April 1 at 8:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, May 6 at 8:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, June 3 at 8:30 a.m.

Risk Management Oversight Committee Meeting Dates:

January 6, 2025 at 8:30 AM

March 3, 2025 at 8:30 AM

May 5, 2025 at 8:30 AM

June 2, 2025 at 8:30 AM

Financial Oversight Committee Meeting Dates:

January 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM

February 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM

March 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM

April 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM

May 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM

June 12, 2025 at 10:00 AM

ABOUT CLOSED SESSIONS:

It is always the intent of the LLCA School Board of Directors to be as transparent as possible with Raptor Families and members of the public. There are times, however, when school boards are permitted to adjourn to a closed session.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLOSED-SESSION MEETINGS HERE

The mission of the Lake Lure Classical Academy Board is to provide oversight of school management, not to be a participant in it. We will focus our work on ensuring that the school accomplishes the student outcomes we were chartered to produce, and ensuring that the school operates at all times within all required parameters.

The board performs these duties through many oversight functions including, but not limited to, approving items such as budgets, calendars, policies, and programs, as well as through the operation of several board committees created to assist the board in its oversight of financial management, risk management, and other matters.

We welcome members of the public to attend all regular meetings. The meeting schedule is continuously updated on the school’s website, as well as regular meeting agendas and regular meeting minutes.

To sign up to speak during a meeting, please email the school office at

[email protected] or call 828-625-9292 and press 1.

QUICK LINKS:

Board Member Handbook

Join a Committee or the Board - Learn more here

School Charter

Board Meeting Minutes

Grievance Form

School Bylaws

Committees

Strategic Plan 2022- 2025

Financial Management Policies

Parent/Student Grievance Policy

Board Members:

Dr. Kate Sloss

CHAIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Dr. Katherine "Kate" Sloss. Kate Sloss grew up in Cleveland Ohio where she attended a public high school with an innovative curriculum developed by parents and teachers that fostered creativity, self-directed learning, and the curiosity to explore new ideas.

She attended the University of Colorado, Boulder for undergraduate studies and CWRU for medical school. She completed a three-year residency in Family Practice in Columbia Missouri.

Her summers were spent as a counselor at a Quaker summer camp in Vermont and participating in outdoor adventures.

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She eventually resettled to Western North Carolina residing in Henderson County and practiced as a primary care physician in Hickory Nut Gorge for over 30 years.

She and her husband Steve Crane, MD raised three children and she was a founding board member of The Mountain Community Charter School in Henderson County.

“ I am excited to reconnect with the learning community and to be part of the effort to educate and nurture the children of our area”

Mark Hamann

VICE-CHAIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Mark Hamann was born and raised in Toledo OH. He is a graduate of the University of Toledo where he played varsity baseball and earned his Bachelor of Education degree. He earned his Master’s Degree in the Art of Education from Marygrove College in Detroit MI.

A history teacher for 32 years at the secondary level, Mark also was the head varsity girls’ fastpitch softball coach for two Toledo area high schools, earning a state championship with each.

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While with Perrysburg Exempted Village Schools, Mark was gratified to be named Junior High Teacher of the Year in 1994, the George Munger District Teacher of the Year in 1996, the Perrysburg Education Association Teacher of the Year in 2009, and a nominee for Ohio State Teacher of the Year in 2010.

Mark sincerely appreciates the opportunity here in Lake Lure to continue his career-long commitment to education. He hopes to contribute to our effort of creating, maintaining, and enhancing a community-based educational institution that offers an effective and challenging learning program for any and all students who attend.

Mark served as Chairman of the Board from 2019-August 2021.

Randy Nelson

TREASURER: Randy Nelson and his wife, Nancy, bought their home in Lake Lure in 2014 and moved here permanently from West Tennessee in 2020. Randy retired from his consulting business in 2020. He has over 35 years of experience in planning and community development, working for cities, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses.

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Randy's education consists of a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Arkansas and a master’s degree in City/Regional Planning from the University of Tennessee. Randy has always had an interest in the relationship between public education and the quality of life and economic development of a community. He seeks to maximize these relationships for the benefit of the Town of Lake Lure and the Lake Lure Classical Academy. Randy and Nancy love their new home and are looking forward to retirement living in Lake Lure!

Kelli Bragdon

Board Member: Kelli Bragdon was born and raised on a cotton farm in West Texas. Her love for children and families led her to seek a Degree in English with a Secondary Teacher Certification from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, TX. She has worked alongside her husband at several camps across the US serving military families in Pennsylvania, churches and families in California, and now students and families in North Carolina. Kelli enjoyed classically homeschooling her 4 children for 8 years.

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During that time she taught a Classical Conversations Challenge A class for 7th graders for 3 years. Since moving to Lake Lure in 2018, where her husband is now the Director of Camp Lurecrest, her kids have been blessed to be a part of the LLCA community. Kelli served on the School Improvement Team for 2 years where she grew a deeper appreciation for the faculty and staff at LLCA. The Bragdons have 1 student currently enrolled at LLCA and 3 previous LLCA graduates. She is deeply invested in the success of each family represented at LLCA.

Beth Gordon

Board Member: Beth Gordon and her husband, Brian, moved to Lake Lure in March of 2019. Beth was raised in central Oklahoma and is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma with a B.S. Degree in Health and Physical Education. She continued at UCO earning 30 hours of accounting credits to qualify to take the exam for Certified Public Accountancy. She became a CPA in 1989 and was licensed in Oklahoma.

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Beth owned and operated a veterinary clinic with her husband, for ten years in Oklahoma, before beginning her career in non-profit and private accounting for various organizations including St. Paul Medical Center in Dallas, TX, and Communities In Schools in Charlotte, NC. Beth has spent time volunteering in schools for over 40 years while raising her 3 children in Oklahoma, Texas, and North Carolina. Beth is an avid reader and immediately upon moving to Lake Lure became involved with the local library and now serves on the board of the Friends of Mountains Branch Library. Meeting the wonderful people through the library has inspired her to become more involved in the community. She is passionate about education and firmly believes quality education should be accessible to all.

Terry James

BOARD MEMBER:

Terry James grew up in Miami , Florida. She and her family moved to the Carolinas where she met and married her husband Monty. Terry and her husband, Monty have lived in Rutherford County for over 40 years. They have two grown children, four grandchildren, and a new great granddaughter!

While in college, Terry taught English as a Second Language and tutored students in various subjects. Terry graduated with Honors from Isothermal Community College in 1999. At Isothermal she was awarded the Sophomore English Award and the Outstanding Student Award. Terry was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa Society, the International Scholastic Order of the Two-Year College. In 2001 Terry graduated Summa Cum Laude from Limestone College (Now Limestone University). While at Limestone, she was named Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges (2000-2001). Terry was also a member of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society (2001). She holds a B.A. in Secondary English Education, and is still licensed by the state of North Carolina to teach English grades 6-12.

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Terry taught both middle school and high school English for twenty-one years. Twelve of those years were at LLCA.

During her time teaching at Lake Lure Classical Academy she was honored as an Outstanding Spokesperson for Freedom by The Veterans of Foreign Affairs in 2012, 2013, and 2014. In 2013 she was also recognized by The Lake Lure Lions Club for Insight and Service to Students with Vision Impairment. On February 8, 2019 Terry was honored by a former student, Brittany Toms, News 13’s Morning Editor (WLOS Channel 13) on Thanks to Teachers.

In 2020 Chapman University honored Terry for Outstanding Commitment to Student Learning and for her students participation in the Annual Holocaust Art & Writing Contest. While at Lake Lure Classical Academy Terry served on the School Improvement Team. Also, prior to Ms. Cohen becoming School Director, she was one of three teachers chosen to serve on the Director Selection Committee.

Art Montandon

BOARD MEMBER: Arther Montandon has a son and granddaughter who attend LLCA. He and his wife of 37 years, Lynn, are the parents of twelve children, a blended family, including step-children, adopted children, and biological children. He was an honor graduate of San Diego State University with a degree in business management and has a law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

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Sue Hamann

BOARD MEMBER: Sue Hamann was born and raised in Northwest Ohio in the small town of West Unity. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Toledo in Secondary Comprehensive English with certifications in Reading K-12, Gifted and Talented K-12, and Middle Grades. She later earned a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling Grades K-12. Sue taught English grades 7-12 for 30 years in the Ohio public schools where she coached and advised many clubs. After retirement, she and her husband moved to Lake Lure in 2013 where she has enjoyed ten years of working with students and teaching the AIG students at LLCA.

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