CLASSICAL CHARTER SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (CCSA) BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Terri Meisel
CCSA Board President
email
Appleton is a town that my husband Colin and I have called home since moving here in the fall of 2006 to begin our careers. Classical School has been an important part of our family since our daughter Taylor began kindergarten in 2013. We knew that Classical was the right choice for our family from the first time we entered the doors and began interacting with the teaching staff. Our son Owen began kindergarten in 2017.
Growing up in a small town in Central Wisconsin, I loved science all through middle school and high school. I attended Michigan Technological University and received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemistry. My career path took me to Kimberly Clark where I am currently a Senior Research and Engineering manager. My team of engineers has accountability for developing and launching new consumer product innovations.
Over the years that my family has been a part of Classical, I have appreciated all of the hard work that the administrators, staff, and board members have dedicated to the school. I greatly value the education that my children are receiving and know that this excellent foundational base will set them up for success in their future careers. I am honored to be a part of the Classical board and look forward to continuing my service to Classical.
Dr. Chad Cotti
CCSA Board Vice President
email
Dr. Chad Cotti is the Oshkosh Corporation Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, as well as a Research Affiliate of the Center for Demography of Health and Aging at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds a B.S. in Quantitative Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, an M.P.A. from the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Policy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Dr. Cotti’s professional research focuses on health economics, economic development, the economics of education, and public policy. His work has been covered by many prominent media sources, such as The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Boston Globe, USA Today, The New York Times Magazine, and The Washington Post.
Chad and his wife both grew up in the Madison area, but lived in South Carolina after graduate school, before returning to Wisconsin when they moved to Appleton in the summer of 2008. They are grateful to be able to raise their two children in such a wonderful and supportive environment. Chad’s service on the CCSA Board began in September of 2019. He looks forward to supporting Classical School alongside board members, administrators, staff and parents who are dedicated to the mission and vision of the school.
Arnold Shober
CCSA Board Secretary
email
My wife and I have made Appleton our home since 2006, when I began work at Lawrence University as a professor of government. One of our four children began at Classical in 2019, and we are excited to support the school. I’ve lived in five states and two countries, and I appreciate the breadth of experience that Classical’s students, parents, and teachers bring to the school.
I received a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.A. from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. At Lawrence, I teach American federalism, elections, media, and public policy. My academic work looks at the organizational success of colleges, teacher mobility, assessment and accountability, and American federalism (but not all at once!). In addition to a handful of articles, I’ve written three books, all on controversies in K-12 education. Here in town, I’ve appeared regularly on WHBY, Wisconsin Public Radio, and FOX11.
Outside of class, I enjoy hiking, biking, and spending time in the dirt generally. I keep our garden, and we are starting a small cider orchard nearby.
Raj Dugal
CCSA Board Treasurer
email
(920) 378-2435
Classical School has been a blessing to our family. My wife Janice and I have three daughters that attend Classical School. We have been impressed with the dedication of the administrators, teachers, support staff, board members, and other parents in the education and well being of our children. Over the years, I have learned more about our school, the curriculum, and what makes it so successful to so many families in the area. I am honored to be a board member and help guide the mission of our school to area families.
I was born and raised in Appleton, attending Highlands Elementary, Wilson Junior High, and Appleton West. I have a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from Marquette University. After living in Milwaukee and Madison, I returned to Appleton to raise a family. I am a member of the Appleton Downtown Rotary Club and a board member for IndUS of Fox Valley, Inc.
I began my service to the CCSA Board in the spring of 2017. I look forward to working with the entire Classical School community to help and make the educational experience of our families a rewarding one. I look forward to serving with my fellow CCSA Board Members and all others in our Classical School family.
David Champaign
CCSA Board Member
email
When my wife, Ashley and I began researching schools for our three children to attend, we quickly knew that Classical was and is everything we were looking for and then some. We truly appreciate the curriculum and style of teaching – this couldn’t be done without having the extraordinary talent and dedication that Classical teachers and staff have. We have three children; two of which currently attend Classical, and our youngest will join in September of 2021.
I grew up in New Holstein and moved to Appleton, which is where my wife was born and raised. We are grateful to be able to grow roots in a place that we love. As a family, we spend our spare time outdoors and travel to as many new places as we can. I received my bachelor’s degree in aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University which has allowed me to fly professionally since 2007. I am also in the process of completing my MBA with a concentration in Data Analytics through the UW system, which I hope to finish in 2022.
I am honored to be on the CCSA board, and I am excited to collaborate with all of the teachers, staff, parents and other board members. I appreciate everything that Classical has done for our
family, and I look forward to being able to give back to such a wonderful school.
Scott Layher
CCSA Board Member
email
Sarah Roe
CCSA Board Member
email
(920) 205-7915
I am excited for the opportunity to serve our school as part of the CCSA Board. I have served Classical School in many other capacities, including as the staff appreciation coordinator and as a member of the Fall Fest and Knowledge-A-Thon committees.
My husband Paul and I have 4 daughters, and for one year they will all be at Classical School at the same time! We have been at Classical School ever since our oldest daughter started kindergarten, and now she is in 8th grade. Classical School has been a good fit for our family, and I feel very thankful to live in a school district that has so many options for children and families.
I am a stay-at-home mom, and my husband, Paul, is an actuary at Humana. In our spare time we love to play outside with the kids and travel when we can. I’m sure I will see you around school!
Christine VanRyzin
CCSA Board Member
email
Hello, my name is Chris Van Ryzin. I have been involved with Classical School since before it was actually a school. In other words I was one of the original parents that started Classical and served on the first board before accepting a position in seventh grade (there was no eighth grade yet). I taught English, history, logic, and humanities, then switched to history and math until retirement in 2019.
On a personal note, I am going to celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary soon. My daughter, who is 29, was a Classical School graduate and a member of the first 2nd grade class with Mrs. Campshure. My son teaches high school in Kentucky. My husband, who has been semi-retired for almost ten years, continues to work 3 days a week, and I continue to wish that days had more hours to accomplish all I want to do.
Kristen Zeimet
CCSA Board Member