Board Members

• Board of Directors

Heather Hart

Heather Hart has been involved in the Bozeman Public schools for over 10 years and is a past School Board member. She has been working on the foundation idea for years and is thrilled it is a reality. Heather has also been involved in the Montana Outdoor Science School as a board member and educator. She currently works in internal medicine for Bozeman Deaconess Internal Medicine Associates as a physician assistant. Heather is the current Chair of the Bozeman Schools Foundation Board.

Jenni McGhay, Vice Chair

Jenni was born and raised in Orange County, California. She is a fourth generation educator who earned her undergraduate degree from the California State University of Dominguez Hills in 1997. In 2004, Jenni received her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership along with her Administrative Credential at the California State University of Fullerton where she was the Recipient of the Edwin Carr Fellow Award (Outstanding Educational Leadership Graduate Student). Along with teaching second, third and fourth grade, Jenni has been a Literacy and Assessment Consultant, a Teacher on Special Assignment, an Elementary Teaching Assistant Principal and the Principal of Lambert Elementary School in Tustin, California. In 2008, Jenni was awarded Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators. Jenni is married to Paul McGhay, a native Montanan and graduate of Montana State University. They have one son, Chase, who attends Morning Star Elementary School. Jenni and her family relocated to Bozeman in the summer of 2008 as a result of Paul’s promotion as the Director of the Northwest Region for DJO Incorporated.Upon moving to Montana, Jenni began working as an Independent Educational Consultant supporting site principals as well as school districts in the area of school change (RTI, Professional Learning Communities and ELD). She also works for the Education Department at Montana State University as a University Supervisor for Student Teachers. Jenni serves as PAC Treasurer at Morning Star Elementary, enjoys coaching her son’s soccer teams and supports a wide variety of children’s events and activities.

Martha Muth, Secretary

Martha Muth works for JK Research Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in the management and disposal of nuclear waste.  Martha has worked for JKRA for over 15 years managing staff and contracts, and has recently been appointed Vice President for Finance.  Martha moved from her hometown of Breckenridge, Colorado to Bozeman with her family in 2004.  She has a daughter, Kelly, who graduated from Bozeman High School in 2008, and now attends Humboldt State University in Arcata, California.  Her husband, Jim, is Director of Operations for Trout Headwaters in Livingston. Martha is currently the Bozeman schools Foundation Secretary and is also chair of the Worthy Student Scholarship Committee.

Robin Hubley, Treasurer

Robin Hubley moved to Bozeman at the age of 3. She graduated from Bozeman High School in 1990 and furthered her education at Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington, Indiana. In 1994, she graduated from IU with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. After graduation she obtained her Certified Public Accountant certificate and worked in public accounting for 14 years. In 2008, Robin left her position as Tax Manager of the Anderson ZurMuehlen Bozeman office to work for a client’s family of companies. She currently works for this family and oversees the daily accounting and tax needs of the companies and owners. Robin’s previous board experience includes Montana Ballet Company, Bozeman Business and Professional Women and Westfield Park Homeowners’ Association. Robin’s husband, Kevin, is also a CPA in Bozeman. They have two boys attending Bozeman schools.

Kevin Black

Kevin is a Bozeman native and attended Bozeman High School. He graduated from Montana State University in 1999. Kevin managed the Wingate Inn for seven years, worked at a software company for two years and is now a property manager and in real estate sales for Gene Cook Realty. Kevin has been the volunteer chair for 8 years for the Gallatin Valley Tournament group for the Bozeman Chamber Board. Kevin and his wife Amber have 2 children, one in kindergarten at Morningstar. Kevin has been a basketball coach and player and recently played in the Bozeman City 3 on 3 tournament.

Wendy Blake

Wendy Blake is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Biology and a Masters from the University of Colorado in Genetics. Wendy worked in Genetic Counseling in Denver and New York. Wendy then attended the University of Houston Law School. Wendy and her husband Rob moved to Bozeman 11 years ago and have two sons in the Bozeman Public Schools. Wendy has been a volunteer at Hawthorne as a Parent Council Officer and the Bozeman Public Library Foundation Board and worked on its capital campaign. Wendy is currently a volunteer at Chief Joseph Middle School and Bozeman High School and works part time at Allergy and Asthma Consultants of Montana.

Derek Bronken

Derek is a class of 2003, Bozeman High School graduate. He attended Oregon State University and graduated in 2007 with a Business major and Art History minor. Derek worked in Seattle for the EJ Gallo winery for three years in Sales and management. Derek has recently returned to Bozeman to help run Bronken Distributing.

Jerry Cashman

Jerry Cashman has been a Bozeman resident for 34 years. Jerry graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1970 with a degree in Plant and Soil Science with an emphasis on Horticulture. Jerry has served on many committees and boards in the Bozeman community. He served 12 years as a school district #7 trustee and has also taught in the Adult Ed program for 33 years. He and his wife Jan have raised three children and now have two grandchildren. Jerry and Jan along with sons Joseph and Michael own Cashman Nursery and Landscaping. Their daughter Ann lives in Frenchtown. Jerry enjoys hunting, gardening, travel and skiing in his free time.

Bruce Grubbs

Bruce Grubbs grew up in the northern suburbs of Detroit, the eldest of four children. He had an excellent K-12 public education and continued it at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he graduated with a degree in Oceanography. Not being anywhere near an ocean, he followed in his father’s footsteps and went into management with Sears Roebuck & Company. He was close to finishing up his M.B.A. at Eastern Michigan University when . . .A wise person said to him, “Go West, young man”, so he did, heading out to the Denver Colorado area where one of his brothers had already settled. While working for Sears in Fort Collins, Colorado, his boss, who was on the local board of Junior Achievement, insisted that he get involved in JA, and Bruce became a JA high school advisor. It was the start of his lifelong interest in education and youth. During a U of Michigan homecoming visit in 1980, he met Robin Thomas (his wife of 27 years), a fellow Wolverine, on a blind date set up by a mutual friend.When Bruce was transferred to Bozeman, Montana to run the Sears catalog store in 1982, he continued with his involvement in Junior Achievement until the local high school program ended around 1987. He was also involved with the Gallatin Empire Lions Club and continues as a club member. Bruce and Robin have two children, Ryan and Allison, who both grew up in Bozeman and went through the Bozeman Public Schools, graduating in 2003 and 2006 respectively. His career with Sears ended when Sears closed all of its catalog stores in 1991, but his interest in Junior Achievement didn’t. Bruce was instrumental in bringing JA back to Bozeman in 1994 when he learned from his sister-in-law about the new K-12 program. An entrepreneur himself, Bruce is currently an owner, founder and general manager of Rocky Mountain Wireless, Inc., which has several AT&T retail dealerships around the state.

Julie Hitchcock

Julie Hitchcock is an Oregon native who has lived in Montana for over 30 years. For the past ten years, she has been the Associate Director of the Burton K. Wheeler Center at MSU, a non-partisan, privately funded public policy center whose mission is to gather Montanans together to discuss the state's critical issues.  She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from MSU.  Since finishing her MPA, she has worked in both the private and public sectors in tourism and for MSU in the office of University Relations. Julie has had the privilege of helping organize and serving in a number of local organizations over the years, including Programming for Women at MSU, the Battered Women's Network (now The Network), the Montana Center for International Visitors, Gallatin Valley Tomorrow, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle's Citizen Advisory Board, and the Leadership Institute at MSU. Julie and her husband Dan, a Butte native, have two daughters one who is a freshman in college and one is a senior at BHS.

Steve Langlas

Steve Langlas grew up in Billings , MT attending West High School .  He attended Colorado State University and received a bachelor’s in Construction Engineering.  After college, he worked in San Francisco for 3 years for Thompson Brooks Inc., a custom residential contractor.  In 2002, Steve moved back to Montana , and began Managing the Langlas & Associates Inc. office in Bozeman .  Langlas & Associates specializes in commercial, industrial and custom residential contracting throughout Montana , Wyoming and Idaho .  Steve is a part of the second generation of Langlas & Associates, which was founded by his father and uncle in 1973.  Steve and his wife Laney, had their first child, Ileana, in August.

Sue MacGrath

Sue MacGrath moved to Bozeman in 1999 with her husband Martin after completing her law degree at Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clarke College.  Since moving to Bozeman, Sue has worked as an environmental attorney and a private investor. In addition, she has headed up several grassroots advocacy campaigns focused on environmental and educational issues. Since 1999 Sue has served on numerous non-for-profit boards including Middle Creek Montessori, the Montana Center For International Visitors and the Montana Outdoor Science School. 
Currently Sue is a Trustee of the Bozeman Public Schools and serves as that Board’s liaison to the Bozeman School Foundation.  She and her husband Martin have a daughter who is in 5th grade. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, practicing yoga and skiing both Alpine and Nordic.

Ronda Russell

As Director of Admissions at Montana State University, Ronda Russell is responsible for the marketing, recruitment, application processing, transfer evaluation/articulation, new student scholarship programs  and orientation for all new undergraduate students. Enrolling over 3,500 new undergraduate students each year, Ronda oversees a very comprehensive national marketing/recruitment program which is integral to the fiscal well being of Montana State. Ronda reports to the Vice President for Student Affairs at Montana State and provides enrollment expertise and analysis to the Cabinet at the University. Ronda started her admissions career at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.  She took her private college experience and put it to work when she joined Montana State in 1983 as Director of New Student Orientation/Assistant Director of Admissions. She was appointed  Director of Admissions in 1992.  She is involved in various organizations including the Montana statewide NACAC organization, NACAC  and NACAC regional associations, AACARO, the College Board, ACT Council  and has served as a member of the National Merit Scholarship selection committee.

Jim L. Thompson

Jim L. Thompson has taught English and American Studies for 32 years in Texas and Montana.  His interest in international education has resulted in mentoring over a dozen educators from around the globe, and in 2003 he was selected by the U. S. Department of State to travel to the Republic of Georgia as a visiting educator.  In 2010 he was a finalist for Montana Teacher of the Year.  He currently chairs the English Department at Bozeman High School. 

Andrew Willett

Andrew J. Willett, a Montana native and Ennis High School graduate, earned his undergraduate degree in finance and economics from University of Montana in 1992.  Subsequent to graduation, he moved to Denver , Colorado , where he lived for ten years working as a commercial loan officer, investing in real estate, and practicing real estate and construction law.  Upon graduating from the University of Denver College of Law in 1999, he worked in the real estate department at the law firm of Gorsuch Kirgis, LLP in downtown Denver .  Just prior to returning to Montana , he worked as in-house counsel for a multi-state private real estate lending company.  He has been with the law firm of Drysdale, McLean, & Willett, PLLP in Bozeman for five years, four of them as partner.  Andy's practice focuses on real estate, construction, estate planning, probate, and commercial law.

District Liaisons

Kirk Miller, Superintendent

Kirk J. Miller was selected to serve as the Superintendent of Bozeman Public Schools in July 2007. Professionally, Kirk has served as Superintendent of Havre Public Schools (1996-2007), Superintendent of Cascade Public Schools (1993-1996), Principal of Shepherd High School (1990-1993), mathematics and computer instructor at Havre High School and Montana State University Northern (1982-1990). He has also served as an adjunct professor in the College of Education at Montana State University. Dr. Miller has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Chemistry Education from Montana State University – Northern, a Master’s degree in School Administration and Educational Leadership from Montana State University – Bozeman and received his Doctorate degree in School Administration and Educational Leadership from Montana State University   Bozeman in 1999. Kirk was appointed to the Montana Board of Public Education in 1995. He served as Chairman of the Board from 1999 to 2006. He continues to serve Montana students in his capacity as Federal Relations Coordinator for the Montana Association of School Superintendents and on committees related to Montana education. Dr. Miller believes establishing leadership for the local education community is important in advocating for high quality educational opportunities that all children need and deserve.

Steve Johnson, Asst. Superintendent for Business and Operations

Steve has been the Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operation for Bozeman Public Schools since 1986. He is a native Montanan and graduate of Montana State University. Steve has been involved with governmental accounting his entire professional career, with the Montana Legislative Auditor, Helena Public Schools and Bozeman Public Schools. Steve is an active member of the Montana Association of School Business Officials and has served as its President. Steve is also a past President of the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as a Green Coat Ambassador for the Chamber. He just completed his 32nd year of officiating high school football.

Denise Hayman, Board of Trustees Liaison

• Executive Director

Mary Jo O'Donnell

Mary Jo was born in and raised in Seattle and continued her education at University of Colorado, Boulder and Thunderbird – American Graduate School of International Management in Arizona. Family ties through her Three Forks native father brought Mary Jo and her husband John and their 3 children back to Bozeman. Mary Jo initially taught English in Japan, worked in Seattle in International Trade and taught Middle School language and humanities. In Bozeman Mary Jo has been a board member of Thrive and past President of Hawthorne Schools Parent Council. Mary Jo and John love living and recreating in Montana with their 3 children and are passionate about the opportunities available to our Bozeman School Students through creative programs funded through the Bozeman Schools Foundation. Mary Jo has been the Executive Director of the Bozeman Schools Foundation since 2007.