LEADERSHIP • BOARD
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Our Board
Ambleside School is a non-profit corporation, managed by a Board of Trustees, which includes the Head of School as a non-voting member. The board has a three-fold responsibility of fiscal management, spiritual oversight, and operational accountability. Trustees are elected by the Board and meet once a month.
The Board is responsible for ensuring that the School is operating in accordance with its mission statement. It is also responsible for ensuring the long-term viability of the School, and for hiring and overseeing the performance of the Head of School. The day-to-day operations of the School are the responsibility of the Head of School.
“The board has a three-fold responsibility of fiscal management, spiritual oversight, and operational accountability.”
Members
James Chen, Vice-Chair, has two sons who have gone to Ambleside. One of the things he values about its educational philosophy is that struggles and challenges, whether academic, relational, emotional, or otherwise, are seen as opportunities for growth. When fellow classmates work through challenges, those are also opportunities for growing in patience and empathy and learning to support and encourage one another. James also appreciates how Ambleside's Charlotte Mason principles speak not only to education, but also parenting and family life, thus enabling children's home and school lives to be in mutual support. James has a B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and a M.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. He is currently the Senior Vice President at the Institute for Global Engagement, an NGO that catalyzes freedom of faith worldwide. Previously, he spent seven years in Taiwan working for Overseas Radio & Television, a Christian media ministry. James is his wife attend McLean Bible Church in McLean, VA.
Mark Hamer and his wife, Melinda, have two daughters enrolled at Ambleside School. While exploring D.C. area schools a few years ago, they were impressed by the maturity, focus, and depth of insight displayed by the articulate young Ambleside students during a classroom visit. The faith-based curriculum, interactive classroom structure, and emphasis on classical texts make Ambleside a gem among Northern Virginia schools, and Mark is honored to serve on the Board. Mark received his B.A. from the University of Virginia and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. He worked for years at the U.S. Department of Justice and is now a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of a global law firm.
David Fischer is the father of two Ambleside students, and his wife, Melissa, is an Ambleside teacher. They found Ambleside while looking at kindergarten options for their daughter. He was a product of public schools, with many family members working as teachers, so sending children to a private school was never thought to be an option. That was until he and his wife learned more about the school, the Charlotte Mason method, and interacting with parents with children at the school. Ambleside has been a blessing, and is evident through his children, especially when looking back at what he was doing in fifth grade compared to his daughter, who loves to learn and read. David grew up in western Pennsylvania, and attended Pennsylvania State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology. He moved to Northern Virginia shortly after graduating and has worked for various agencies of the United States Government. The Fischer family worships at Reston Bible Church.
Martha Schober, Secretary, and her husband, Stefan, discovered Ambleside when they were looking for Kindergarten options for their oldest son. Twelve years later, they have two boys who have graduated from Ambleside and are so thankful and blessed that their family was able to experience the Charlotte Mason method during those key formative years. Martha volunteered extensively at Ambleside during the years her children were there and is excited to continue to be involved with this great school in her role as a Board Member. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Mississippi College and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Regent University. Prior to becoming a mom, she worked in congressional relations for a trade association and for the Bush Administration. Martha and her husband are thankful for their boys, Max and Nikolas, and they worship at Reston Bible Church in Sterling, VA.
John Mizener heard about Ambleside School when he and his wife, Sara, were exploring 1st grade options for their eldest son. After attending an Ambleside School open house and classroom observation, the Mizeners were delighted to see many consistencies in values and character-building habits at Ambleside, home, and church. In their son’s first year at Ambleside, they witnessed teachers and staff drawing their son to worthy ideas, the joy of learning, and the satisfaction of work well done. As Ambleside encourages family partnership with the school, John is honored to serve on the board of a Christ-centered school committed to providing a living education. John grew up in Northern Virginia and holds an undergraduate degree from Messiah University, and graduate degrees from Regent University and George Mason University. He has over 20 years of civil service experience. The Mizener family worships at Holy Trinity Church and enjoys spending time together outdoors.
Molly Zemek, Treasurer, and her husband, Alex, have 3 boys at Ambleside (Peter, Luke and Andrew) and feel blessed they discovered the school at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. The Charlotte Mason philosophy of instilling habits, being inspired by classical texts, and shaping a child’s mind to be Christ-centered has encouraged their boys to grow into the people God created them to be. Molly has a BA from Swarthmore College and an MA from Johns Hopkins University, and is a Master-certified life coach. She works as an instructor for a private company, training other life coaches, and also runs her own business, Weight Loss for Food Lovers. Her mission is to empower others to live their best lives.
Tim Shinbara, Board Chair, is the father of three Ambleside students who have all started at Ambleside in Kindergarten. It was through his wife, Vanessa, that he came to better understand the Charlotte Mason pedagogy and the Mason-based philosophy at Ambleside School that education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life. At first, he was attracted to the Christ-centeredness and appropriateness of an Ambleside education but soon his natural curiosity led him to discover more about Charlotte Mason’s philosophy. This drove deeper respect and commitment to the teachers, faculty, and staff at Ambleside McLean. Tim’s role is VP and CTO at The Association For Manufacturing Technology. In addition, he has served in policy roles in the U.S. Congress as a Congressional Fellow in the office of the Honorable Marco Rubio (R-FL) as well as in Loudoun County on the Board of Supervisors Economic Development Advisory Commission. Their family attends and worships at Reston Bible Church where Tim and Vanessa also serve as Shepherd Group (small group) leaders. Tim holds BS and MS degrees from Purdue University and an MBA from Pepperdine University. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and has known and walked with Christ for over 30 years.
Jeremy Farber is the Founder & CEO of Securis. As a pioneer in secure and sustainable IT asset disposal since founding Securis in 2003, he has led the company's expansion into multiple markets, providing environmentally friendly solutions for businesses seeking responsible e-waste recycling. A recognized leader in the field, Jeremy served on the Virginia eCycling Advisory Committee. He and his family attend Reston Bible Church.
Kristin Nowak (ex officio)