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 Jalonens dream of a school that embraces the beauty and natural curiosity of childhood as a central component in the learning process.
Xóchitl Skora, Officer, Secretary
Speech Pathology Assistant, All Around Therapy
Xóchitl has worked as a Bilingual Speech Pathology Assistant for more than 16 years with a focus on autism. She also holds a BS in Early Childhood Education. She is also trained in the Stanley Greenspan Floortime Method. Xóchitl has passion for children and bringing out their inner magic.
Xóchitl and her husband, Mark, moved from Western New York to North Carolina in 1997. They have two grown sons, Casey and Thomas, and a cockatiel named Willie.
JoBeth Shafran, Board Member
Assistant Professor, Western Carolina University
Bio coming soon
Cameron Kennedy, Board Member
Bio coming soon
Samantha Jamison, Board Member
Strategic Project Coordinator, NCACC
Freelance Consultant, Waxing Moon Creative
Samantha earned both her BSW and MPA from Western Carolina University, where she focused much of her work on early childhood development, early childhood education systems, trauma-informed care, and the potential for resiliency during our earliest years. Her work history includes teaching in licensed childcare centers, nannying, and managing marketing and communications at an early childhood advocacy nonprofit.
Originally from Louisiana, Samantha made her home in WNC in 2013. She has two young children and loves to give back to her community through volunteering; in addition to Wild Oak’s board service, she also serves on the WNC Budding Futures Forum, the United Way of Henderson County Rising Leaders Planning Committee, and the City of Hendersonville Planning Board.