Committed Parents, Educators & Community Members
Wild Oak Independent School is a nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Directors. We are a small team of committed parents, educators, and community members with a range of experiences and backgrounds. While we are all different, we share a love for children, education, and our Western North Carolina community.
Wild Oak’s leadership model is one of collaboration, democratic decision-making, and transparency. Our community is intentionally small; all voices, including students’ and their families, will be heard.
Wild Oak is expanding the core board by 1-2 members. Click for details.
Prospective board candidates should be able to commit approximately 8-10 hours per month, including board meetings currently held via Zoom.
Specifically, we seek individuals with a background in education, early childhood education, interdisciplinary curricula, law, or accounting and finance. If you don’t have this specific experience but are interested in serving on the board, please let us know.
Contact lindsay@wildoakschool.org if you would like an application.
Wild Oak Board of Directors
Toni Warren, Interim President
Co-Owner, Warren Restoration
Toni has owned Warren Restoration with her husband since 2013, and has extensive knowledge of small business operations, customer service, and marketing. She earned a BA in international business from Northeastern University in Boston.
In addition to running a family-owned company that works to restore homes and commercial businesses that have suffered water, fire, or mold damage, Toni is deeply involved in Henderson County’s community. She is the past president of the Hendersonville Women’s Club and member of Hendersonville’s Junior Welfare Club. Toni and her husband have two young sons.
Lindsay Jalonen, Vice President
Wild Oak Co-Founder/Director
Lindsay has worked extensively with children and mental health since graduating with her BA in psychology, including direct counseling in a therapeutic wilderness setting.
The dream is a school that is able to embrace the authenticity of the individual, the natural curiosity for the world that humans posses, and the integral development of childhood as central components in the educational process.
Debra Carabantes, Board Member
School Counselor, LCMHCA
Debra’s background is in education, community programs, and counseling. She holds a Clinical Mental Health Counselor license at an Associate (LCMHCA) level in North Carolina. She is passionate about the therapeutic benefits of connecting children and families with nature. Additionally, she has extensive training in child-centered play therapy and trauma-informed approaches. Before working in education, she served her community in the non-profit sector.
Originally from the foothills of NC, Debra is so grateful to call the mountains home. When she is not busy with school counseling at Brevard Elementary School (where she is currently employed), Debra enjoys gardening, hiking, and spending time in nature with her family. She is a twin mama – her children are five years old! Debra feels aligned with the core values of WOIS and, as a parent, truly appreciates that such a unique and caring learning environment exists in our community.
Tony Tang, Board Member
Bio Coming Soon!