The IAT Board

The Institute for Applied Tinkering operates several programs, which today include Brightworks’ K-12 school, Tinkering School, the Curious Educators Division (CED), and the Innovation Lab. These programs all work together under the Board’s stewardship to advance the IAT’s mission to develop, practice, and share educational methods that challenge and support all children to engage deeply in their learning via real interests and real tools.

Like all of its programs, the IAT Board is on its own evolutionary journey. There are several models for non-profit boards. For many years, the IAT Board was, by necessity, a working group of hands-on, volunteer administrators who were deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of the organization and its programs. With the growth in leadership and administrative talent across the IAT, it has moved into more of a scale-up phase, and the Board has been evolving to focus more on impact strategy, fundraising, program synergies, and governance. Some members of the Board remain very hands-on as needed, but the Board’s primary, official responsibilities are around protecting and sustaining the organization and advancing its mission.

Responsibilities

The IAT Board is responsible and holds itself accountable for:

  1. Selecting, supporting, and assessing the Executive Director (who is in turn accountable to the Board for performance of the Founder and all staff)

  2. Keeping the organization focused on its mission and purpose

  3. Short-term and long-term strategic planning and risk management

  4. Financial oversight, including meeting tax obligations and approving and monitoring adherence to the budget

  5. Ensuring legal integrity and accountability

  6. Participating in fundraising

  7. Managing the efficacy of the Board itself, including recruiting and orienting new board members and assessing Board performance

Composition

The IAT Board is made up of a mix of folks from within and outside of the IAT community who bring specific expertise and skills. Today the Board includes parents of current and past Brightworks and Tinkering School students (all of whom are required to set aside their own family’s interests in favor of those of the broader community while wearing their Board hats), leaders in alternative education and education research, and executives with experience in innovation, growth, and partnerships. The Founder and the Executive Director and are also ex-officio members. (See the full roster.) 

The current Officer positions are:

  • Board Chair (Olivia Teich)

  • Treasurer (Kathryn Grantham)

  • Secretary (Alison Lee)

All current officers will be up for re-election or vacating their seats in August, 2024.

Committees and Working Groups

The Board currently has committees dedicated to: 

  • Board Governance: Olivia Teich, Alison Lee, and Kate Schox

  • DEI: Monique Brinson, Patrik Lundh, Kate Schox, and Kathryn Grantham

  • Tuition Assistance (in partnership with Brightworks staff): Patrik Lundh, Monique Brinson, and Kate Schox (for policy and advice only – as a parent, Kate is not privy to any applications or allocation decisions)

The Board also operates several working groups around specific initiatives. Most recently, these have included: launching Mars out of the Innovation Lab, finding a new home, long-term planning for Tinkering School, developing our Continuous Educators Division, hiring the new Executive Director, and Fundraising. 

Joining the Board

The Board aims for a diverse mix of community members representing different IAT programs and perspectives and unaffiliated experts who can contribute knowledge and skills in various areas. The Board is recruiting especially (but not exclusively) for additional Board members who bring: 

  1. Non-profit fundraising experience 

  2. Legal expertise in schools and/or non-profits

  3. Finance experience (as planned successor to the Treasurer) 

New prospective members generally enter the process before October 1st or April 1st, for elections at the January and July meetings. Joining the Board involves assessment of values, skills, motives and intentions, commitment, and engagement style through the following steps (usually following informal getting-acquainted meetings with one or more members of the Board):

  1. Meeting with the Board Chair and discuss the Board as well as members’ roles and responsibilities

  2. Interview with at least two additional members of the Board

  3. Attendance at a Board meeting

  4. Follow-up conversations with some or all members of the Board when needed

  5. Closed vote by the Board

Please reach out to members of the Governance Committee (responsible for Board Development) – Olivia, Kate, or Alison – or the Executive Director if interested or with nominations.

Contact

You can connect with the Board by email or at Board Meetings. You’ll also regularly see representatives around campus.