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License # 430709411
5038 Hyland Avenue
San Jose, CA 95127
408.251.8633
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Mandala Children's House Inc. is a §501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation. Our Board of Directors is composed of a group of parents who dedicate themselves to helping Mandala live out its mission to "nurture children, support families, and nourish staff." The purpose of the Board is to set goals and policies that follow the philosophy of our school and reflect the diverse needs of our children and families. The Board acts as a "compass," guiding our future while holding us accountable to our original vision. Board members are elected for two-year periods. They each take responsibility for one particular area of service. Each spring, we recruit new board members. We encourage all interested parents to apply.
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Rose Chang, Chairperson
Email : rhosebud@yahoo.com
Rose is new to the position of Chairperson this year, but she has been a Mandala parent since 2007. She has served on the board for several years now. Her daughter, Kimberly, attended Mandala and is now in 1st grade, and her son, Daniel, is in the MWF Ladybug Class. Rose was an engineer in her earlier life, but she has been a busy, stay at home mom since Daniel was born. Rose was an asset to our fundraising team for the past two years, and now she is excited to lead the Board this year as our new Chairperson. She has enriches us with her vision, her new ideas, and her wonderful spirit of harmony. Rose had dedicated herself to Mandala in so many quiet, unseen ways. We are grateful for all she does for us. |
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Rose Ponce, Finance
Email : roseponce@gmail.com
Rose has two sons who have graduated from Mandala, Marcus, and Joseph, who attend St. Victor's School. Her daughter, Micaela attends the MWF afternoon Bumblebees Pre-K class. Rose is a CPA, and her accounting background brings forth a wealth of information to Mandala's business and financial needs. She advises the board on business and finance affairs. Rose is a real asset to the Board, bringing her long history with Mandala, as well as her professional wisdom. Rose’s husband, Mike, currently maintains our fabulous website, and he has been instrumental is helping us creatively share our vision and our spirit with others. Their concerted efforts are greatly appreciated by all of us at Mandala. |
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Carrie Anderson, Communications
Email : clanderson10@gmail.com
Carrie became active in the Mandala community many years ago as a room parent and has been serving on the Board ever since. Her two older daughters graduated from Mandala and her youngest daughter will soon be attending. Carrie supported the school’s Events and Activities for many years. This year, she will be focused on Communications. Prior to being a stay-at-home-mom, Carrie worked in the marketing field and insurance industry. She is excited to be a part of this strong team that currently serves the Mandala community. Carrie brings a long history with Mandala as well, along with an objectivity, organization, and focus. She was the primary hand behind the planning and execution of Mandala’s 35th Anniversary party last year. Carrie keeps us on track with record-keeping and structure, helping us to achieve our goals. |
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Atty Rosas,Fundraising (non-voting member)
Email : attyotr@yahoo.com
Atty has served on the board since 2009. Her oldest son, Jordon, graduated from Mandala and is currently in Kindergarten at St. John Vianney School. Her youngest son, Julian, is in the MWF Caterpillar class. Atty has served on the Fundraising team for the past two years. Atty enjoys giving back to this Eastside community that she was raised in, and she is excited that her children get to be a part of our community as well. Atty is a licensed Occupational Therapist with a specialty in working with young children. She has brings many strengths to the Board, particularly her attunement to the needs of children and her expertise in early childhood. This year, we decided to further utilize Atty’s resources. We have engaged her to serve as a consultant to our school as an Occupational Therapist, offering assistance to children, their parents, and our teachers. (For this reason, Atty is now a non-voting member of the Board.) Atty continues on with her tireless efforts in fundraising, as well as supporting the school with her professional skills. Mandala has been very fortunate to have Atty share her gifts with us. |
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Desiree Toeller, Fundraising
Email : desireetoeller@mac.com
Desiree joined the Mandala Board in 2010. Last year she worked on Events & Activities and this year she will be doing Fundraising. Desiree grew up in the Bay Area and feels very lucky she found Mandala almost 5 years ago. Mandala is as old as she is! All three of her children will have attended Mandala for three years, from the Early Preschool class on. Her older daughter, Madeline, is now in elementary school, and her son, Casey, now attends the MWF Ladybugs class. Her youngest child, Charlotte, still has Mandala to come. Prior to becoming a stay at home mom, Desiree worked in graphic design. She loves bringing her creative ideas to the Board. She, too, brings artistic skill and talent Mandala. We are grateful for her efforts to build a sense of community with parents. |
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Susan Hough, Fundraising
Email : felicehough@gmail.com
Susan is new to the board this year, and she is excited to be working on the Fundraising team. She is the mother of Avery (2nd grade), Carter (MWF Bumblebees class) and Logan (2-years-old.) Avery spent two years at Mandala and graduated in 2009. Susan is currently a stay-at-home-mom, but previously taught elementary school for five years. She has volunteered in both Avery's and Carter's classrooms at Mandala. She has loved participating in events and being part of the community of families at the school. Susan is happy to be working with a great group of women on the board and likes being more involved at the school. She enjoys reading, yoga, riding her bike, and playing with her family. |
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Julie Saccento, Events & Activities/Fundraising
Email : julie@saccento.com
Julie joined the Mandala Board in 2010. She has a son, Luke, who is in the MWF Bumblebees class, and a younger daughter, Mia, who will join the Mandala family when she is ready. Prior to becoming an active stay at home mom, Julie's work experiences included teaching (elementary education) and human resources. She prides herself on her organizational skills and has a passion for party planning, which is a great asset to the Mandala Board. She is thrilled and excited to be working with such a dedicated group of parents to help support Mandala. Julie has dedicated herself to her work on the Board with enthusiasm, offering wonderful ideas, creative problem-solving, and hours of behind-the-scenes effort. Last year, she was the tireless energy orchestrating the production of all the Class Books. Julie is someone we all know we can absolutely depend on, and we love the energy she brings to the Board. |
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Gwen Sotelo, Events & Activities
Email : gwenmax@yahoo.com
Gwen is in her second year on the Mandala board. She brings the skills she has gained as a mother, interior designer, and elementary teacher to work with this incredible team to realize the goals Mandala has set. Her older daughter, Juliana, graduated from Mandala and attends St. John Vianney School. And now, her younger daughter Rachel will have many memories and positive experiences here. By being involved, Gwen hopes to support the school staff and teachers so that they are able to thrive while continuing with their awesome work with children. Gwen’s husband, Rudy, has helped beautify Mandala’s grounds by offering assistance from his commercial landscaping business. Gwen brings her talents as an artist, and the teachers have also really appreciated her creative gifts in the classroom. |
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Elena Vitorino, Events & Activities
Email : juniorandelena@sbcglobal.net
Elena is also new to the Board, joining in 2011. She and her husband, Junior, have three children, two of whom are attending Mandala, Emma and Lucas. Emma is in the MWF Ladybugs class, and Lucas is the MWF Caterpillars class. Elena is on the Events & Activities team, providing a natural match to her early-in-life career as an event planner. In addition to being a full time mommy, Elena has now been in Human Resources for the last 5 years at a Silicon Valley based high-technology company. This, coupled with her enthusiasm for event planning, makes her a dynamic member of the Mandala Board. In addition to her career and Mandala, Elena enjoys spending free time with her children in the garden, cheering for the San Jose Sharks, and taking road trips to see her out-of-town family. Elena has found a special place in her heart for Mandala, as giving her children the Mandala experience raises nostalgias of the Montessori preschool and kindergarten she attended as a child. |
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The Role of the Board of Directors
Specifically, the duties of the Board are:
- Vote on decisions regarding the direction and policies of the total school program
- Model the school philosophy
- Hold school personnel accountable for modeling and implementing its stated philosophy in all areas
- Hire and terminate employees, based on administrative recommendations
- Vote on independent contractor contracts with day care providers, based on the recommendation of the Childcare Director
- Review budgets and hold the school to financial accountability
- Act as grievance board for staff and parents
- Keep the overview of the entire program
- Provide ongoing support, feedback and input to the Administrative Staff
- Elect new Board members and officers
Membership
The membership of the Board consists of 6 to 9 members, at least fifty percent of whom must be parent-users, including advocates for the preschool and the day care parents.
Meetings
A three-hour evening meeting is held on a monthly basis at the school.
Liability
As elected members of the Board of a non-profit organization, Board members are not held liable in the event of litigation against the organization unless a Board member has acted contrary to Board policy or outside of his or her role as a Board member. |
Criteria for Candidates
The Board searches for candidates who are qualified and willing to agree to the following conditions of service:
- To support the philosophy, goals, values, and policies of the school
- To accept the "team" concept of the Board structure, understanding that this calls for flexibility, effective communication, and consensus decision-making
- To accept all aspects of confidentiality, during and after terms of office
- To be willing and able to devote the time necessary to Board activities,
- To understand that Mandala has a "working board," not a figure-head board
- To avoid engaging in activities which constitute a conflict of interest and to abstain from voting on issues in which the Board determines that a conflict of interest exists
- To refrain from representing himself or herself as a spokesperson of the Board without the express authorization of the Board
- To make a commitment for a two-year term of office
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