Board Members

My name is Erin and our family has been a part of the Northern Lights community since fall of 2021. It’s my greatest joy to watch my kids, Magnus (he/him) and Fiona (she/her), become strong and independent thinkers and thrive in a space that only a small and creative school such as Northern Lights can provide. 

When I am not acting as Treasurer of the PFG board, I run a small marketing firm dedicated to helping progressive non profit organizations advocate and fundraise for their honorable missions. We live in Saint Paul, and spend our free time on the soccer pitch or in the circus arena.  

I’m the secretary of the Parent & Family Group this year. My daughter is going to be a second grader this fall and it's our second year at Northern Lights. I'm looking forward to being more involved at the school and helping to support the PFG and the growing community at Northern Lights.

Outside of the PFG, I work remotely for the University of New Mexico Center for Teaching & Learning supporting instructors who teach fully online courses and coordinating professional development opportunities. I love being outside gardening, observing bugs and birds, or wandering through nature on the East Side of St. Paul. Inside I like to bake and cook and play games with my family. 

I have two children at Northern Lights who are both enjoying school and thriving. They have had amazing nurturing teachers. We love that Northern Lights prioritizes lots of outside time, strong relationships and fosters children to explore topics that drive their curiosities.

This past year, I enjoyed co-organizing the first annual Northern Lights Plant Sale. I was also a St. Paul School of Northern Lights board member in 2023-24. 

I am excited to be the new Atelierista teacher at Northern Lights and to chair the Parent and Family Group Fundraising Committee. 

My name is Natalie Shapiro and I am the Volunteer Coordinator on the PFG Board. My daughter, Jude, will be in second grade this year. 

I love that St. Paul School of Northern Lights inspires my child to ask questions about the world around her, fosters her curiosity and creativity, and has been a space where she can build relationships with peers, and the adults in the school community. I am excited to get to know new families and engage with new, and existing, families to learn more about their interests and passions. 

When I’m not PFG-ing, I am working as a nurse at an emergency homeless shelter in Minneapolis, going on family bike rides with my husband and two kiddos, walking my dogs, or taxi-ing my girls to one of their many activities. 

My family joined Northern Lights last year after an extensive search for a school that aligned with the values we practice, prioritized age-appropriate education, and focused on building community. We were welcomed in and Northern Lights has been everything we were looking for and more. Our third grade kiddo is thriving here. He appreciates how supportive and caring the staff is and LOVES all the time to move. 

I'm passionate about building the Northern Lights community and ensuring that our guiding principles are reflected in daily practice, which is why last year I joined the Northern Lights Equity Committee and the PFG Board as a Board Member at Large. I'm a banker in my day job and I serve on my bank's Global LGBTQ+ Business Resource Group as my gay job. In my free time you'll find me reading, playing video and board games, planning a cosplay, at a protest, or in a body of water.

As the Community Engagement Chair, I want to hear from you! Please share your ideas and feedback when you see me at our community events, send an email, or drop by a PFG Board Meeting. If you're interested in getting involved but aren’t sure where to begin, I’d love to connect. I can't wait to see our community grow and thrive together!

Hello, Northern Lights families!

I am honored to serve as a Parent and Family Board Member. This is my third year as a parent at Northern Lights. My young learner has always been inspired by community and individuality, and my family thrives on passion and exploration. We are so grateful to be part of a school that prioritizes all of these things.

In my professional space I have spent the last 12 years walking alongside those experiencing barriers to employment in achieving their individual goals. I am also the chair of our professional development committee and a facilitator of Motivational Interviewing. I look forward to using these skill sets to walk alongside our community as we strive to support each student, family member, and staff in reaching for their star! 

I'm so excited to be supporting our fundraising efforts and strengthening our community through events like our upcoming Restaurant Nights alongside all of you this year. Please feel free to say hello if you see me around, or reach out if you have any questions or ideas. Together, we can make this a fantastic year!