Meet Our Board of Directors
Brian Shaw
Board Chair
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There are two rules that I govern my life by, “leave it better than when you came” and “you only keep what you have by giving it away.” My adherence to these rules has led me to an occupation and hobbies that serve the communities I’m a part of. I’ve served in a handful of elected roles from college, to local city government, to party-affiliated positions. I want the voices of HOPE staff and the needs of our students to be reflected in the decisions being made by the leadership. There’s a ton of potential for growth in our building – I want us to seize it.
Staci Ahrens
Treasurer
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Staci Ahrens is serving her first term as a teacher member of the school Board of Directors. This is her 10th year at HOPE teaching math to middle school and now high school students. She lives in Hastings and has 4 adult children. She has participated in many HOPE committees prior to joining the School Board. Staci prides herself in being a very detail oriented person and a strong advocate for students and staff at HOPE. She is passionate about student success and wants to continue to help students by giving them unconditional support and resources to grow academically.
Kimberly Wildebuer
Secretary
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Kimberly is parent of two students at Hope Community Academy and lives in the Railroad Island Neighborhood. This is truly a school close to her heart. She currently works as a corporate trainer in the medical insurance industry and sees the value of education that includes a rich influence of ones history and culture. She looks forward to working for a strong school with good core academics and a full offering of extra-curriculars.
Don Lorr
Community Member
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Donald Lorr lives in the Railroad Island neighborhood since 2000. He lives with his wife, Elizabeth, and daughter, Maude. Since 2014 he has help lead the Railroad Island Neighborhood Group (RING) worked to grow the outreach to all members of the neighborhood (residents, businesses, and local organizations) to ensure that all voices are included in our discussion & planning. Railroad Island Neighborhood Group (RING) and HOPE Community Academy have partnered on many occasions. Don hopes to foster additional collaborations.
Donald Lorr works at Thomson Reuters as a Taxonomy Manager classifying news stories for better search & retrieval. Don has worked at there since 1999 in a variety of roles including phone technical support, training, and database management. Don received a Master’s in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from Dominican University in 2007 and Master of Arts in American Literature from the University of North Dakota in 1995.
Don enjoys running and usually can be found rambling around the paths and trails of the East Side, including Swede Hollow, Bruce Vento, and Battle Creek.
Patchia Xiong Vang
Parent Member
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Patchia is serving her first term as a parent Board member. She has four children attending HOPE. She lives in St. Paul and works as an HR Generalist at Spring Lake Park School District. She is a strong advocate for quality and equitable education for all children. She has also been a part of the Charter world for many years and is excited to serve on the Board of Directors to support the mission and vision of the school and district.
Mai Nhia Lor
Community Member
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Mai Nhia Lor is beginning her first year on the HOPE School Board as a community member. A proud resident of Saint Paul, she brings valuable experience from working in Hmong charter schools, particularly in special education. Mai Nhia is a full-time real estate agent and serves as an executive operations manager for her real estate team. Her experience in managing her business has refined her skills in financial management, process optimization, relationship building, and professional development. As a child of an immigrant family, Mai Nhia understands the profound value of education, a lesson taught by her parents. Joining the HOPE board presents a meaningful opportunity for her to give back to a community that she deeply cares about. She is dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities through cultural awareness, strong advocacy, and fostering community partnerships. Mai Nhia enjoys cooking and exploring diverse cuisines, believing that food is the universal language of love. She is excited to contribute to the HOPE community and is committed to making a positive impact as a board member.