Expanding windows of opportunity through personalized place-based Montessori education.
Get Involved
While we take our job seriously we also like to have fun and empower each other!
You can view our Group Norms that all PCM groups aspire to maintain.
Our Board and Committee meetings are open the public. Access our calendar for links to past and future meetings.
Even the smallest amount of your time is useful and greatly appreciated. Your time and expertise contribute to the collective effort to support our community, families, and children.
Board Service & Committees
Each Board seat and committee position plays a vital role in the success of our school!
PCM’s approach to governance is tailored to its mission, vision, and entity needs. We use policy to establish clear expectations, delineate roles and responsibilities, and create a clear roadmap to minimize the effect of member transitions; we set SMART goals focused on our mission and vision that further us towards our fiduciary,
operational, and academic framework outcomes (both commission- and model specific); and we honor our role as a public school by adjusting goals and procedures in a responsive manner to meet the needs of our community.
Who can apply: Anyone may apply for an open Board seat or committee position. While we take our stewardship role of public funds seriously, we are also committed to giving our community voice in that management. Therefore, while the PCM Board may consider a few members outside our community, the majority of seats will be filled by our local community members. For a candidate outside of our community to be considered, they must hold exceptional expertise that align to PCM’s mission, vision, and goals. If a candidate is elected by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees they must submit to background check.
Required Qualifications:
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Belief in the Washington Charters School Sector and in the mission of PCM.
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Passion and commitment to high-quality education and serving the needs of ALL students.
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Capacity to give time and energy and a willingness to provide access to resources, both financial and in-kind, to support and strengthen the school.
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Professionalism, entrepreneurialism, resourcefulness, and critical thinking.
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Ability to work effectively on a diverse team.
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Acceptance and support of decisions made in accordance with the bylaws;
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Willingness to leverage personal and professional networks and resources on behalf of the school.
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Committed to self-reflection and personal growth.
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Open to expanding cultural competence and personal understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
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Commitment to anti-racist governance.
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Eager to contribute personally while honoring the full board commitment to the community and the PCM’s mission and vision.
Board Service
In accordance with our bylaws PCM is governed by a board of 5-11 trustees.
Performance Expectations for Individual Board Members
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Govern by helping to fulfill the Board’s collective responsibilities, detailed by the Board’s job description and expectations.
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Advocate for the school’s vision and mission and be a champion in building the diverse constituencies necessary to support the successful launch and sustainability of the school.
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Serve as a liaison with the public, interpreting the school’s program to the community and informing the school of needs of the community.
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Lend credibility to the school with professionalism, integrity, and enthusiasm.
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Satisfy all legal requirements for the school.
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Consult by lending specific expertise for the benefit of the school.
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Cultivate prospective donors and raise financial resources to support the school.
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Contribute to the school’s fundraising goals by making an annual contribution of a size appropriate to your financial means and comfort level.
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Attend regular Board meetings and participate in a meaningful and productive manner by focusing on strategic and critical questions and issues and by coming to meetings prepared.
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Be accessible for personal contact in between board meetings and for committee duty.
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Volunteer as needed to complete tasks during the pre-chartering phase of the school. Focus energies on governance and support the lead founder.
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Assist with the completion of the charter school application by providing consultation on sections of the application and by attending state Department of Education interview.
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Collaborate with fellow Board members to fulfill the obligations of the Board and to ensure that diverse perspectives are heard and incorporated into the governance structure. Focus on creating group, not individual success; support Board decisions; participate critically in the appraisal of the Board’s performance.
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Disclose to the Board any potential conflicts of interest, whether real or perceived, and abide by the decision of the Board related to the situation.
Time Commitment
The general time allotment for board member service is ~12 hrs/month:
⮚ attending a monthly board meeting (2-4 hrs)
⮚ attending a monthly committee meeting (2 hrs)
⮚ preparing for board and committee meetings (2-3 hrs)
⮚ completing other board related tasks and participating in organization/board events (1-3 hrs)
*All Trustees must agree to report any conflicts of interest, adhere to mitigation strategies, and submit to an OSPI sanctioned background check.
Serve on Committees
PCM has four standing committees: (committee descriptions)
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Governance
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Finance
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Development
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Leadership Evaluation and Support
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Academic Excellence
Committee meetings are open to the public. If you are interested a great way to learn more is to attend one of our meetings. Committee meeting schedules and agendas can be found on our BoardOnTrack platform. If you find you are interested, please email Board@myPCM.org and the respective committee chair will follow up with you.
Rationale: PCM is committed to a continuous family and community engagement process that spans the life of the school.
Composition: PCM families! If you don't want to be a council member please complete this survey to ensure you are added to the confidential listserv to stay informed and remain aware of opportunities to get involved.
Specialized Purpose: To create a community support network to ensure a two-way flow of information around needs and information between the school and families. The SCC will play a pivotal role in coordinating resources, sharing information, and streamlining advocacy for PCM.
Councils & working groups
Volunteering Opportunities
Interested in Volunteering? Please visit this page for more information or contact us by emailing Volunteer@myPCM.org