Governing Board

Athlos Academy of St. Cloud is governed by a dedicated board comprised of parents and community members. The board is responsible for developing, implementing, and assessing policy; instituting sound employee relations; conducting open meetings; recognizing and conforming to the legal mandates imposed by state and federal laws; and governing within the limits of the delegation of state authority as a non-profit and public school board.

Additionally, the board has an obligation to assess its successes and challenges, inform the public of all deliberations and decisions, promote accountability, avoid abuse of power, enhance public understanding of its mission, conform to standards of ethical behavior, provide a framework for setting goals, and develop strategic plans for the accomplishment of those goals.

Board Schedule

Board meetings are conducted in accordance with open meeting law. The governing board normally holds board meetings on the fourth Monday of each month. Check the board calendar for exact dates and times. Unless otherwise noted, the meetings are held at:

Athlos Academy of St. Cloud
3701 33rd St. South
St. Cloud, MN, 56301

Board Calendar

Next Board Meetings

About the Board

Patricia King – Board Member

Patricia King serves as the board chair and has served since January 2021.

Ms. King has over twenty-five years of experience working at the school, district, charter, and state level in Minnesota. Starting as a classroom teacher and district leadership positions in Moorhead, then moving on to various leadership roles with the Minnesota Department of Education, St. Paul Public Schools, and St. Cloud Area Schools. She has a proven track record of
working with leadership and leadership teams to focus on education needs, school improvement, equity, collaborative problem solving, and ensuring all voices are heard. Having worked for St. Cloud Area Schools for over 5 years she is very familiar with the needs of the community. Currently, she owns and operates an education consulting business supporting schools, Districts, and Charter schools in Minnesota. in the area. In addition, she is an Adjunct Professor with St. Cloud State University.

Kerin Helmke – Secretary

Kerin Helmke serves as the Secretary and Parent Representative of the Athlos Academy of St. Cloud governing board. Her term began May 2021.

Ms. Helmke has an Associates of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice and Paramedicine.  She is a full time paramedic and has worked in the local community for 10 years.  Her child has been attending Athlos for 3 years.  She decided to search for an alternate school from District 742 to try and provide her child with the best educational experience as possible.  When deciding on which school to select, she decided on Athlos due to their mission statement.  The three pillars of Prepared Mind, Healthy Body, and Performance Character help prepare our students for success beyond the school years.

photo of Catherine Georgewill

Catherine Georgewill – Board Member, Teacher Representative

Catherine Georgewill is currently a first-grade teacher at Athlos Academy.  She holds a Master of Science (M.S) Educational Administration and Leadership from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

A Bachelor of Science in Education (B. ED) Economics, University of Nigeria

Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria  and a Nigeria Certificate in Education (N.C.E) in Computer Science/Economics, Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.  She has volunteered at numerous organizations such as the spring Leadership Institute Conference at SCSU, the Women’s Center, SCSU, NSA cultural nights and has assisted in coordinating the annual MLK Jr. Breakfast.  Ms.

Georgewill’s teaching experience includes working for Stream Lead, Berkeley Magnet Science School, Lagos, Nigeria and working as a middle school teacher, a high school teacher and the Vice Dean of Discipline teacher at Julliard Academy, Lagos, Nigeria.  In college she was the student President for four years and was the Vice President for Student Affairs for two years.

Ember Reichgott-Jung – Interim Board Member

Ms. Ember Reichgott-Jung served in the Minnesota Senate from 1983 to 2000 having been first elected at twenty-nine.  She served over twenty years as a general counsel for Twin Cities businesses and nonprofits. Before becoming chief advancement officer of Minnesota’s largest human services nonprofit.

She is a broadcast political analyst, former radio host, and a member of the National Charter Schools Hall of Fame.  Ember is board vice chair of Charter schools development Corporation, and her board service has included the Minneapolis Chapter of the American Red Cross, Twin Cities United Way, Citizens Independent Banks and National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.  Ember receiver her BA from St. Olaf Collee, DK from Duke University Law School, and MBA from University of St. Thomas.  Ms. Richgott Junge is also an avid ballroom dancer.

Steve Bursch – Board Member

Steve Bursch is a proactive leader in technology with over 15 years of experience identifying and managing strategic initiatives for charter schools and companies in the Twin Cities area.  He currently works with Wells Fargo providing support and assistance with a variety of financial applications within the Corporate Trust division.  Prior to working with Wells Fargo, Steve worked for Athlos Leadership Academy Brooklyn Park for 6 years. He built the technology infrastructure for the school building where he managed and supported all forms of technology.  Steve is currently a member of the Spartan Innovation Building Corporation, which supports the educational activities of Athlos Leadership Academy.

Quicklinks

Board Members

Patricia King, Board Chair Community Member

Term Start Date- January, 2021
Term End Date- June 5, 2023
Athlos Academy of St. Cloud
3701 33rd St S
St. Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 281-4430
pking@athlosstcloud.org

  • Community Representative
  • Finance Committee Chair
  • Governance Committee Member

Kerin Helmke, Treasurer Parent

Term Start Date- May, 2021
Term End Date- May, 2024
Athlos Academy of St. Cloud
3701 33rd St S
St. Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 281-4430
khelmke@athlosstcloud.org

Steve Bursch, Board Member
Community Member
Term Start Date- January 25, 2023
Term End Date- June 5, 2023
Athlos Academy of St. Cloud
3701 33rd St S
St. Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 281-4430
sburch@athlosstcloud.org

Ember Reichgott-Jung, Community Member

Term Start Date- August 30, 2022
Term End Date- June 5, 2023
Athlos Academy of St. Cloud
3701 33rd St S
St. Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 281-4430
ereichgottjung@athlosstcloud.org

Catherine Georgewill, Secretary Teacher Representitive

Term Start Date- February, 2022
Term End Date- February, 2025
Athlos Academy of St. Cloud
3701 33rd St S
St. Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 281-4430

cgeorgewill@athlosstcloud.org

Under construction.

Committees

2022-2023 Board Committees PDF

Under the direction of the board, a Finance Committee, Personnel Committee, Executive Committee and Board Development Committee have been formed. Learn more about the purpose and goals of these committees:

Finance Committee Members:

Patricia King, Board Chair
Kerin Helmke, Treasurer
Jennifer Geraghty, Director
Jenny Abbs, BerganKDV

Executive Committee Members:

Patricia King, Board Chair
Kerin Helmke, Treasurer
Jennifer Geraghty, Director
Catherine Georgewill, Secretary

Personnel Committee Members:

Patricia King, Board Chair
Steve Burch, Board Member

Board Development Committee Members:

Patricia King, Board Chair
Kerin Helmke, Treasurer
Jennifer Geraghty, Director

*Non-director appointees to the committees

Authorizer

Charter School Authorizing Program 
Volunteers of America – Minnesota
9220 Bass Lake Rd. Ste 255
New Hope, MN 55428
612-270-1998
www.voamn.org

Meeting Agendas & Minutes

Contact Information

To reach the Board of Directors, Finance Committee or Governance Committee:

Athlos Academy of St. Cloud
3701 33rd St. South
St. Cloud, MN, 56301
(320) 281-4430
info@athlosstcloud.org