Board Members

North Texas Collegiate Academy School Board

School board members donate countless hours of their time annually to prepare for meetings, attend meetings, fulfill training requirements, and support school-related functions.  The word "donate" is an important one because school board members are volunteers who receive no pay or compensation for their work at with Salvaging Teens At-Risk, Inc and North Texas Collegiate Academy.  Each member brings experience and wisdom to the table. But most importantly, they love our schools and our students.

Board Members

Paula Kelley, Board President

Mrs. Paula Kelley, Board President, has served on the Board of NTxCA since its inception in 2000.  As a founding member, she helped petition the Texas Education Agency to approve our charter and rallied the support of parents and community leaders.  Her daughter was the first student enrolled as soon as our charter was approved!  Not only is Mrs. Kelley an advocate for school choice, but she is also a firm believer that every child should receive the accommodations and support they need to be successful. Her extensive experience in both Special Education and Section 504 programs keeps us focused on providing what every child needs.  With over 10,000 hours of volunteer work for NTxCA, we are blessed with her service to our schools. 

Dr. Pamela Peak, Board Secretary

Pamela Peak, Board Secretary, earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of North Texas. Dr. Peak has spent more than 30 years working in various capacities in area school districts, but all with students with special needs. Her research focuses on the development and use of educational assessments to reduce the disproportionality of culturally and linguistically diverse students in special education and pre-/in-service teacher preparation. She has developed widely used assessment instruments including the Test of Early Written Language, Third Edition (TEWL-3) and Young Children’s Achievement Test, Second Edition (YCAT-2).  During her decade of service on the NTxCA Board, Dr. Peak has advocated strongly for a more competitive teacher salary scale, for implementing social and emotional learning platforms in all grade levels, and for quality, meaningful professional development for all staff. 

Mrs. Martina Van Norden, Member

Mrs. Martina Van Norden is a transformational, culturally-responsive leader who began her career with "Teach for America." Her work is focused on increasing opportunities for school-community engagement. For almost two decades she served in positions ranging from lead teacher and instructional coach to accountability officer and charter school leader. She worked as the senior executive for the Center for Educational and Economic Development (CEED), a non-profit organization she founded to work with public schools committed to program development that would have economic impact. Mrs. Van Norden is passionate about developing effective educational programs that bridge the opportunity gap and promote upward mobility for NTxCA's economically-disadvantaged and historically underrepresented communities.

Mr. Ryan Foppe, Member

Mr. Ryan Foppe has more than 20 years of educational experience including classroom teaching, athletic coaching, and school administration in both traditional ISD's and charter schools. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Paul Quinn College and his Master of Education in Education Leadership from the University of Concordia and is currently completing his doctorate at the University of Texas in Tyler.   He believes that the Board must work as a cohesive unit with a common mission and that every decision made must focus on what's best for our students. 

Dr. Michael Dang, Member

Dr. Michael Dang has been an educator since 1995 and is an expert in school improvement, as he successfully led the turn-around of multiple schools in Dallas ISD and Garland ISD.  Currently he serves as the Chief Academic Officer at Faith Family Academy, an "A" rated charter in Oak Cliff where he oversees curriculum and instruction, multi-language programs, and accountability.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin, a Masters of Education in School Administration from Texas Woman's University and a Doctor of Education in School Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Dang brings a "common sense" approach to the Board in which the central question is always, "Is this what is best for our students?"  

Dr. Lisa Stanley, Superintendent/CEO