Board Meeting Information

Alex Crowley
Board President -- Parent Member    

Title: Board MemberEmail: President@davinciacademy.org

With my background as a CPA and a Vice President at Ogden-based TAB Bank, I believe I can make a positive impact on the Board of Directors at DaVinci.

My experience in financial analysis and project management will allow me to assist DaVinci in allocating resources effectively. This is my daughter Brynlee's first year at DaVinci and I want to help ensure that the school continues to provide great educational outcomes for our kids. Go Dragons!

Holly Okuhara
Vice President--Parent Member

Email: Holly.Okuhara@DaVinciAcademy.org

Holly is a parent to a DaVinci Academy student and chose the school because of its reputation and focus on creating a positive environment for students to learn. She is a library administrator and has worked for the Weber County Library System for nearly 20 years. She holds a master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Denver as well as a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado. Holly has extensive experience working directly with the Ogden and Weber County communities, specifically in promoting literacy and education. As a member of the Board of Directors she is focused on maintaining the strong foundation DaVinci has built for current and future students.

Alison Workman
Treasurer--Parent Member

Email: Alison.Workman@DaVinciAcademy.org

Currently, I work for Ogden City, and I am the Deputy HR/Risk Manager. I have been working for Ogden City for a little over 15 years and truly think Ogden is a special community in Utah. I started with Ogden City processing payroll in HR and have worked with the finance department and HR to pay over 1000+ employees. In HR we find ourselves working with diverse groups of people and do our best to help support all Ogden City employees in all departments from the Police Department to the Arts Culture and Events staff.   I am always looking for new ways to learn and grow and I would love to be more involved with the Davinci schools.

 One thing that makes Davinci special to me and our family is the diversity in the classrooms. The staff and students that attend Davinci schools are gaining a great education along with gaining social insight by learning from each other. By showing kids that there are other individuals whose experiences, beliefs, and perspectives are different from their own is a valuable life lesson that must be experienced for success in life.

Charlie Ewert--Secretary
Community Member

Title:  Board Secretary

Email: Charlie.Ewert@davinciacademy.org

Charlie Ewert was elected to the DaVinci Board of Directors in 2019 as a parent member. He received an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning and a master’s degree in Public Administration, both from the University of Utah.  He works as Principal Planner for Weber County. He currently serves as the board secretary and chairs the Board Election Committee and co-chairs the Governance and Policy Committee.

Rachael Ward--Parent Member

Title: Board MemberEmail: Rachael.Ward@DaVinciAcademy.org

Rachael Ward brings a diverse background in business and advocacy to her role on the school board. With over 16 years of experience owning and managing businesses throughout northern Utah, she understands the importance of community engagement and creating welcoming spaces. She is currently pursuing advanced education focused on social work, specifically in policy development for domestic violence survivors. Rachael has practical experience working with survivors of torture through her practicum, where she gained valuable insights into trauma-informed care and the complexities faced by those who have endured severe adversity. Her work emphasizes advocacy, support, and the creation of safe environments for individuals in need. Rachael’s commitment to the well-being of students and families is driven by her diverse experiences in business and social work. She aims to contribute to policies and practices that support all students, particularly those impacted by trauma.

Thomas Gooch
 Parent Member

 Email:  Thomas.Gooch@DaVinciAcademy.org

I am the father of two current and one former DaVinci students. I grew up in a family of lifelong learners with bookshelves in every room. I learned from example that learning is one of the most enjoyable things a person can do. My educational background is a high school diploma, four certificates, three associates degrees, and a bachelor's degree summa cum laude in mechanical engineering tech. I am a certified SolidWorks, CAD professional, journeyman machinist, multi-process welder, shade tree auto mechanic, home remodel handyman, and more. My day job is designing and upgrading automated equipment. 

Ryan Wagner
Parent Member

I graduated Wright State University with my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering followed by a M.B.A. with a concentration in Project Management.  In Ohio, I spent a total of 16 years serving on multiple non-profit Board of Directors / Board of Trustees with 5 years as a treasurer and 10 years as an Executive Director.  Our family spent 6 years living abroad in Germany and have resided in Utah since 2021.  I currently serve as a Director of Engineering at Hill AFB where I exercise technical, functional and organizational oversight of a large, diverse and geographically-separated workforce.  I have served on the Curriculum Committee at DaVinci for the past 2 years.

Sally Shigley--Community Member

Title: Curriculum ChairEmail: Sally.Shigley@DaVinciAcademy.org

Sally Bishop Shigley was elected to the Davinci Academy Board of Directors in 2017. She currently serves as Board Vice President and co-chairs the Strategic Planning Committee and oversees the curriculum committee. Sally is a Professor of English at Weber State University. She received a BA from the University of Utah, a MA and PhD from Oklahoma State University. Along with many other hobbies, Sally has authored and co-authored several books and published numerous essays.

Gail Niklason
Community Member

Email: Gail.Niklason@DaVinciAcademy.org

I am a 30+ year resident of Ogden and I have worked in higher education for 25+ years. My husband and I have three grown sons and two grandsons. My sons experienced a variety of secondary education options in Ogden, so I feel like I have a breadth of experience that can support and inform my position on the DaVinci Academy Board.

Oscar Mata
Community Member

Email: Oscar.Mata@DaVinciAcademy.org

After graduating DaVinci Academy, I attended Weber State University for two and a half years,
majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Communications. Throughout my college
time I worked as a substitute teacher at DaVinci Academy to help pay rent and tuition. I ended
my college studies early to start up a substance abuse treatment center. For the past 10 years I
have developed a unique outpatient center that is the only licensed facility in the state to offer
services statewide. We have provided services for over 15,000 individuals suffering from
substance abuse, mental health, and domestic violence across the state of Utah, Arizona, and
Wyoming. We have been credited by the state as a leader and one of the first companies to
practice telehealth in the state of Utah.

Paul Goggi--Faculty Caucus Representative

Title: Faculty RepresentativeEmail: Paul.Goggi@DaVinciAcademy.org

Paul Goggi is the History Department Chair at Davinci Academy. He has been teaching at DaVinci for over 10 years and understands DaVinci's mission and vision. Paul is not a voting board member. He is an ex officio board member and helps give the Davinci Board Members perspective on teacher issues and student learning. This perspective is a valuable piece when making decisions that affect teaching and learning at Davinci Academy.

Mattison Shutt--Elementary Faculty Caucus Rep

Title: Elementary Faculty Caucus RepEmail: Mattison.Shutt@davinciacademy.org