Meet the JCSF Board
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Kara Mather - President
Kara Mather serves as the President of the Foundation Board, after joining in 2023. A lifelong music educator, Kara brings over 20 years of educational experience to the role. She holds an M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning and a B.S. in Music Education. Since moving to Johnston in 2022 with her husband, Todd, and their three children—all of whom attend Johnston schools—Kara has become deeply involved in the local arts community. She has taught within the Johnston Community School District, instructs for the Johnston Orchestra Club, and performs with the Des Moines Community Orchestra. Kara is dedicated to helping Johnston teachers and students thrive. She is thrilled to leverage her background to champion the Foundation’s grants and scholarships, ensuring students have impactful learning opportunities.
Marsha Bro - Vice-President
Marsha Bro joined the Foundation Board in the Summer of 2024. Marsha and her husband, Kris, are Johnston community members and parents to Lily, Jake and Henry, who are students in the Johnston Community School District. Marsha serves as Director of Acquisitions and Licensing at Kemin Industries. She is passionate about supporting the Foundation's efforts to enhance educational opportunities for Johnston students through classroom grants and scholarships, and values being a part of an organization that invests in the success of its schools and community.
Gerrad Clausen - Treasurer
Gerrad Clausen has served as the Foundation Treasurer for the past eight years and has been part of the Johnston Community for 19 years. Gerrad volunteers his time because he believes the Foundation makes a difference in the lives of students and teachers through classroom grants, larger projects which effect many students and individual college scholarships. Gerrad spent his career in the Insurance Industry and is currently retired. Gerrad and his wife, Carrie have two daughters, both who graduated from Johnston.
April Wilson - Secretary
April Wilson joined the Foundation as Secretary to the Board in December of 2021. She and her husband, Brent, have lived in Johnston since 2014. Their son attends the Johnston Early Learning Academy. April is a former middle school social studies and language arts teacher in the Johnston Community School District. As a Johnston community member, a former JCSD teacher, and a parent to future Dragon, she is grateful that her work with the Foundation enables her to help teachers create powerful learning experiences for Johnston students and to promote continued excellence in the school district.
Ryan Bhattacharyya - Board of Directors
Ryan Bhattacharyya is the President of PREMAC Wealth Management in West Des Moines and a Professor of Practice at the Ivy College of Business in Iowa State University in Ames. Ryan has been a resident of the area since 1992 and currently has 2 children in the Johnston school district. Ryan is a strong believer in the value of a high quality education and the opportunities it can provide in the long term. Ryan and his wife Lanesa believe in giving back to the community in various ways and serving on the Foundation board is an opportunity to do that for the community.
Jaime Boeckman - Board of Directors
Jaime Boeckman is the Director of Teacher Education Services within the School of Education at Iowa State University. She has spent over 20 years teaching, leading, and preparing educators. She is in her first year on the board and is excited to be giving back to a community and profession she believes in and values. She and her husband, Chad, have a son attending Johnston Community School District and have lived in the Johnston/Granger community for four years. Jaime is looking forward to her continued involvement with the foundation.
Abby Cate - Board of Directors
Jason Clevenger - Board of Directors
Jason Clevenger is a Senior Vice President and Trust Investment Manager at Iowa State Bank. Jason and his wife Alicia have three children attending Johnston schools. He has lived in the district for over 20 years. Jason has coached various youth sports and served as an Adjunct Professor of Finance at Drake University.
Jay Lettow - Board of Directors
Jay Lettow is a Planned Giving Officer for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, helping donors to achieve their philanthropic goals in Christian outreach on college campuses. Jay is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) and has served in various major and planned giving fundraising roles since 2011. Jay and his wife Sarah, have lived in Johnston since 2012 with their two children, Evan (Class of 2030) and Etta (Class of 2032), both students in the JCSD. Jay’s children have directly benefited from grants of the JCSF, and he is excited to invite members of the community to be involved in making our great school district events better.
Jason Lems - Board of Directors
Jason Lems joined the Foundation Board in the summer of 2022. He and his family moved to Johnston in 2014 where he currently works at John Deere Financial as the Manager of Tactical Sales. He and his wife Janette have a desire to improve the education opportunities for the youth and giving back to the local community. In addition to serving on the Foundation Board, Jason is an active mentor in the Johnston Youth Mentoring Program (JUMP). His wife Janette works as a part time associate in the Johnston school district. Jason and Janette’s two children, Sophie and Braxton, attend elementary school in the Johnston School District.
Lane Sires- Board of Directors
Lane Sires joined the Johnston Community School Foundation Board in 2021. Lane is a Johnston High School graduate and currently lives in the Johnston school district with his wife and two children. Lane has seen first hand from living in Johnston since the 1980’s the great things this community and school district offer. Lane is excited for the opportunities this foundation provides for classroom grants and scholarships we are able to offer. Lane received his BA from Graceland College and MBA from Drake University. Lane also works for a large Des Moines based insurance company consulting with organizations to oversee their retirement plans.
Jill Trobaugh - Board of Directors
Jill Trobaugh joined the board in the Summer of 2021. She has a focus of giving back to the community, and has a passion for supporting our local teachers and students through the Foundation’s classroom grant program. A Community Relations Manager with Bank Of America, Jill and her husband, Derek, are Johnston Community members and parents to Mara and Grant, both which are JCSD students.