The North Branch School Board of Trustees handles policy, long-term planning, and business transactions. Meetings are held at school and open to all adult members of the school community. The minutes and a handbook of policies are kept on file in the office for those interested in reviewing them.
Board of Trustees 2024-2025 School Year:
Ellen Bouton, President, Afton
Barbara Heyl, Treasurer, Waynesboro
Bill Hess, Afton
Elvira Osuna-Highley, Afton
Becky Lindsay, Afton
Jaime Marion, Lyndhurst
Freeman Mowrer ’01, Afton
Philippa Proulx, Afton
Learn more about our Board of Trustees:
Ellen Bouton, President:
- Education: Bachelor of Arts – Radcliffe College, Master of Science in Library Science – Catholic University
- Professional Life: Senior Archivist, National Radio Astronomy Observatory (2003-current); Librarian, National Radio Astronomy Observatory (1975-2003)
- Professional Memberships: Society of American Archivists, the American Astronomical Society Historical Astronomy Division, the International Astronomical Union Working Groupon Historical Radio Astronomy
- Professional recognition: Co-author of Open Skies: National Radio Astronomy Observatory and Its Impact on US Radio Astronomy (2020) and Star Noise: Discovering the Radio Universe (2023)
- Community roles: Former Chair, Nelson Memorial Library Advisory Board (early ‘90s-2022); Board member and Web Administrator for Friends of Nelson (2014-2020), Archivist for Friends of Nelson and other organizations (2020-2022)
- Community roots: Ellen has lived in Nelson County since 1974. She and her husband Ron currently reside in Afton.
- North Branch affiliation: Grandsons Leo ’14 and Simon ’16 are NBS alums.
- Why I serve: “North Branch fosters both academic and social success stories. That’s why I am on still on the Board and still devoted to North Branch.”
Barbara Heyl, Treasurer:
- Education: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry – Converse College; Master of Science and Ph.D. in Chemistry – Emory University
- Professional Life: Professor of Chemistry, Piedmont Community College (2004-2019); Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, Piedmont Community College (2019-present), Research Chemist (I-IV), Novartis Pharmaceuticals (1987-2003)
- Community roles: Food Pantry volunteer and choir member – Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Crozet; Food Pantry volunteer – First Presbyterian Church, Waynesboro
- Community roots: Barbara and her wife have lived in Central Virginia for 20 years and currently reside in Waynesboro
- North Branch Affiliation: After retiring from PVCC, Barbara served as a substitute teacher at North Branch School
- Why I serve: “I always knew when I had a former North Branch student in my classroom at PVCC. They had a confidence that allowed them to ask questions and be fully engaged in the class the minute they walked in.”
Bill Hess:
- Education: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Engineering – Dartmouth College, Master of Science – Northwestern University
- Professional Life: Senior Sustainability Engineer, Philips Health Care (2022-present); Founder, Evolution BioDesign (2020-present); Director of Design Innovation, UVA (2017-2020); Founder, Evolution Glass (2015-2018)
- Professional Recognition: Small Business Award, Virginia Recycling Association; Design Award, Virginia Living magazine (for Evolution Glass)
- Community Roles: Presenter, TomTom Festival 2024 – Technology for Good/Sustainability via Innovation in the Built Environment
- Community Roots: Bill and his wife Wendy have lived in Nelson County for 21 years.
- North Branch Affiliation: Bill’s children spent their elementary and middle school years at North Branch School. Solomon graduated in 2020 and Althea in 2023.
- Why I serve: “I continue to be involved with the Board as a way to help foster the school’s fantastic ongoing contributions locally, regionally, and nationally.”
Rebecca Lindsay:
- Education: Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry – Princeton University; MD – West Virginia University
- Professional Life: retired after 40 years in public sector psychiatry
- Community Roles: Senior Warden at Holy Cross Episcopal Church
- Community Roots: Becky arrived in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area in 1979 for her residency, and she and her husband have been in this area ever since.
- North Branch Affiliation: Becky’s son, Mack ’07, attended NBS.
- Why I serve: “I want to help ensure that North Branch continues to be a place where every child feels valued and inspired to learn.”
Jaime Marion:
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Virginia Wesleyan University; Master’s Degree in Social Work – Norfolk State University
- Professional Life: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Augusta Psychological Associates
- Professional Membership: EMDR International Association
- Community Roots: Jaime grew up in Waynesboro. After pursuing his education and starting a family, he returned to the area in 2003. Jaime and his wife currently reside in Lyndhurst.
- North Branch Affiliation: Jaime’s son, Nathaniel, is a 2013 NBS graduate.
- Why I serve: “I value North Branch’s impact on a child’s foundational development and want to support the continued growth of the school and the staff.”
Freeman Mowrer ‘01:
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Geography and Urban Studies; Specialization in Spanish – Temple University
- Professional Life: Sole Proprietor, Residential Construction
- Community Roles: Soccer Coach, Nelson County Parks and Recreation
- Community Roots: Except for his college years, Freeman is a lifelong resident of Central Virginia. He and his family currently live in Afton.
- North Branch Affiliation: Freeman arrived at North Branch School in utero since his mother taught French at the time. Freeman graduated from NBS in 2001, and his daughters, Betty June and Eva Raine, are current students.
- Why I serve: “With an emphasis on equality, caring for one another, appreciation of the natural world, the arts, and the open-mindedness to allow students to blossom through their own unique strengths and ideas, the school has put so many children in a position to succeed as well-rounded learners and members of our local and greater societies.”
Elvira Osuna-Highley:
- Education: Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Biomedical Engineering – Hofstra University, Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering – Carnegie Mellon University
- Professional Life: Principal Application Engineer, MathWorks
- Professional memberships: Society of Women Engineers, Latinx in AI, American Society of Engineering Education
- Community Roles: Volunteer, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Crozet
- Community Roots: Elvira and her family have called Central Virgina home for 7 years.
- North Branch Affiliation: Elvira’s daughters, Natalia and Carolina, are current students.
- Why I serve: “North Branch has had a profound impact on my children, thanks to the incredible teachers, staff, and families that make it such a special place.”
Philippa Proulx:
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in Biology – San Francisco State University; graduate work – University of Virginia
- Professional Life: Co-owner of Resort Reservations, a property management company (1982-2022)
- Community Roles: Member, Nelson County Planning Commission (1994 – present); Member, Nelson County Board of Zoning Appeals (2024); Board member, Hope’s Legacy Equine Rescue (2008-2023); member, Blue Ridge Chapter of the Sierra Club
- Community Roots: Philippa and her husband have been Nelson County residents since 1976.
- North Branch Affiliation: Philippa’s son and daughter, Liberty ’85 and Maya ’93, are North Branch alums.
- Why I serve: “I continue to work with the school to help make it possible for more kids to have experiences my children enjoyed.”