Board of Directors

Mary Halstead is a natural born entrepreneur and a bit of a workaholic. She’s a dedicated wife and mother and when she isn’t working, she is running fundraisers for the school. Mary is passionate about helping others, especially those who cannot help themselves. There's a special place in her heart for animal rescue, foster kids and the elderly, and she actively contributes to these groups. She has an innate ability to shape herself for every situation and loves a good challenge or opportunity to learn and grow.  The opportunity to serve as the Chairperson of the Board of Agnes J. Johnson Charter School gives her a new challenge and the chance to support our most precious resource, the children of our community. 

Tina Burns has been married for 13 years and has two children. Her oldest graduated from Southern Humboldt Joint Unified School District. Tina is active in the community, volunteered in enrichment fundraising and served as the Treasurer for the South Fork Booster Club for four years. As a full-time wife and mother, she enjoys traveling to dirt bike races and supporting an active lifestyle for everyone in her family. As a mother, she understands how important it is to cultivate children’s passions. She believes the school will be able to cultivate the passions in children by bringing agricultural preservation together with academic excellence. The opportunity to serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Board of Agnes J. Johnson Charter School will allow her to utilize her skills of financial management development learned through business and banking. 

Ryan O’Connell is graduate of Southern Humboldt Joint Unified School District. He is a generous husband and father of two children. He enjoys cooking, grilling and hiking with his children. Ryan is a local business man who has two single member LLCs and has been the owner operator of Spring Canyon Concrete for over 15 years. He is passionate about being a great father and supporting the rights delineated in the Constitution. He is looking forward to serving as the Secretary of the Board of Agnes J. Johnson Charter School because he has a deep understanding of what students need to know and be able to do in order to be productive and self-sufficient citizens of our country. He is well-versed in the fiduciary duty of a Board member.

Brian Speelman is a graduate of Southern Humboldt Unified School District, and also a parent of children who attended Agnes J. Johnson School. Brian's wife Traci is also a past student of Agnes J. Johnson School as well as a former employee. Brian's parents were educators for the Humboldt County Schools, so he understands the importance of a strong education. Currently, Brian is employed at the Shelter Cove Resort Improvement District as the Construction Supervisor. Brian wants to see Agnes J. Johnson  Charter School remain a piece of history, one that keeps the small school feel while offering students an academically strong education, with hands-on programs helping students to succeed in the future.