Meet Our Board

Maria Menconi

President

As an educator for more than 40 years, Maria has been a classroom teacher, Principal, Associate Superintendent, and Superintendent serving public school districts in 4 different states. She continues to teach Leadership classes for the University of Arizona and to consult with Arizona districts about the development of School Leadership Teams. The Foundation keeps her closes to her educational passions of teaching, learning, and assisting families and children.

Alan Levenson

Vice-President

Practiced labor law for 50 years in Poland, ME, first 25 before NLRB and U.S. Courts of Appeal including one oral argument before U.S. Supreme Court. The last 25, he represented clients who had been discriminated against by employers. Also served on the Portland School Committee for 7 years to include as chairman. With wife Betsy, operates a commercial real estate company in Portland and suburbs. Tutored in 1st and 2nd grades at Mt. Vista Elementary for 10 years. Established Levenson Reach Scholarship with Betsy.

Richard Borland

Treasurer

Over 41 years of management experience in working in commercial/retail banks and credit unions. Expertise in all aspects of consumer and commercial and mortgage lending in addition to human resource and consumer issues for various financial institutions. Member of various chambers of commerce and community groups. Founder of Co-Ed Soccer Program in New Jersey. Rider College all-American soccer candidate as a player and team captain. Member and officer of various local United Way programs.

Windy Messing

Secretary

In education for 20 years, she has taught junior high, second grade and intervention groups for K-6th grade in the Tri-community. She currently teaches Kindergarten at Mt. Vista Elementary School. Windy sees first-hand the invaluable benefit of students receiving quality early education and is proud to be part of a group that works to offer this experience to all children in our District.

Karen Poortvliet

Corresponding

Secretary

Continues to work in clinical research management, and is never far from a teaching opportunity as a result. Fostering opportunities for kids to grow into their potential has always had an important role in her life. Additionally, Karen is a pre-school graduate, and is aware of the boost that gave her social skills, education, and all-around well-being. The opportunity to serve on the Foundation board is a perfect fit for the passions of her life.

Edwin Hartman

Founding President

Has taught philosophy, management, and business ethics at the Universities of Pennsylvania, Rutgers, and New York. He has authored many articles and four books. In 2014, the Society for Business Ethics gave him its Lifetime Achievement Award for scholarship in business ethics.

Chris Crum

Member At-Large

A retired Juvenile Court attorney and administrator. She has volunteered for 55 years in communities in 6 states, always on projects focused on children and families. She is thrilled to be seeing on the Foundation board and as a garden lady in Mt. Vista's after school program.

Dennis Blauser

Superintendent

Oracle School District

An educator his entire adult life and a native Arizonan. Dennis married into a family of educators sparking his interest in teaching. He was a high school math teacher and department chair for fourteen years before becoming a preschool through eighth grade principal. As the Superintendent of the Oracle School District, he proudly serves on the Oracle Schools Foundation Board, taking great pleasure in the awesome work they do for children.