MG21 Governance Board

Our Board Members

President: Tom Stolper
Businessman and active community member, Tom is a certified public accountant and was a partner/owner at the accounting firm of Clifton Larson Allen for 31 years. Currently he is (1) an owner in ProActive Solutions USA, LLC, a manufacturer of cleaning and sanitizing solutions for the food industry (2) Vice President of Administration of Deibel Laboratories, Inc. a food quality testing organization with labs in 8 states as well as one in Canada (3) a consultant with Purple Cow Organics LLC, a manufacturer of premium organic compost and related products, and (4) a member of the board of directors of MGE Energy. He is very active in civic affairs and currently is the Chairman of the Monona Community Development Authority, the Secretary of the Monona Police and Fire Commission, the Chairman of the Monona Fund, and serves on the Monona Public works committee and the Board of MG21. Additionally, he served on the Monona City Council from 1997 to 2003. Tom was raised on Madison’s North side and is a graduate of Madison East High School and the University of Wisconsin. He has been a Monona resident since 1981 and is the founder and President of the Andrew & Michael Stolper Foundation, Inc. which honors his two deceased sons.

Vice President: Toni Gadke
Since graduating from UW-Whitewater with a degree in Social Work, Toni has spent her career helping people with intellectual and physical disabilities and mental illnesses find the supports and services they need to lead enriched and fulfilling lives. Currently, she provides case management to children with disabilities in Dane County. Toni grew up in the Madison area and was fortunate to have teachers who encouraged her from a young age. Inspired to help children in her own community and with a passion for alternative education, Toni joined the MG21 board in 2021. She resides in Cottage Grove with her family.

Treasurer: Sue Carr
Sue is a 20 year resident of Monona, and has two adult children who went all the way through the MG School district. Prior to having her kids, she was a 4th grade teacher. She has always been very involved in the MG Schools and also served in the past on the MG Education Foundation Board. Sue currently serves as a 3 year old teacher and the director of Monona Grove Nursery School, a 60 year old parent cooperative preschool on Buckeye Road. Sue is currently serving as the Treasurer on the board of the Friends of WVMO.

Secretary and Parent Rep: Elizabeth Wheeler
Elizabeth lives in Monona and has two amazing kiddos, one of whom is a current student at MG21. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Elizabeth is passionate about biking, adventuring, reading, and preserving our planet for future generations. Professionally, Elizabeth is a legislative attorney with a background in policy and advocacy. Having attended an alternative middle and high school herself, Elizabeth is thrilled to have MG21 as an opportunity for her own child to walk their path within the Monona Grove School District. Elizabeth is the proud recipient of the 1991 Love of Learning award from Red Apple Elementary School. She is honored to serve as the parent representative on the MG21 governance board to support a similar love of learning for all students.

Alumni Rep: Raiden Edseth-Griffin
Raiden is a recent graduate of MG21. As a student, Raiden struggled in the traditional school system, but learned to thrive in the self-driven learning environment of MG21, becoming a leader among the student body. His experience in both the traditional and alternative school system fuels his passion for alternative learning and his desire to stay involved, even after his graduation. Raiden will be attending Earlham college starting in 2022.

Ryan Claringbole
Ryan is the director of the Monona Public Library. Previously, Ryan was a library consultant on the Public Library Development Team in the Division for Libraries & Technology at the Department of Public Instruction, serving the public libraries and regional library systems throughout the state. Ryan believes in the power of stories in individuals, both real and fictional, and looks forward to serving the students and staff of MG21. Ryan currently lives in Monona.

Sandy Homburg
I worked for 13 years as an Electonic Coordinator, transitioned to a fitness instructor while raising my kids, and eventually became the Director Of Yoga Teacher Training and Reiki Master. Most recently, I did the covid pivot and earned a Certificate in Digital Marketing from UW Madison. Growing up in a severely impoverished and different family in Monona, I understand from the student’s perspective, how obstacles and roadblocks can hinder a student. Raising three kids with varying learning abilities, I also understand that every student has different needs, goals,
and paths to follow. My father, a single parent raising five kids, knew firsthand what it was like to be hungry and how hard it is to feed a family with no money, so he, along with his friends, went on to help start the Second Harvest Food Bank. He taught by example how to flip the script and how impactful it is to offer what you can so that others may have a better situation.

Student Rep: Danny Howes
Danny is 17 and a current senior at MG21. He has attended MG21 since his sophomore year after transferring from MGHS.. He has become very involved in the Student Voice Committee this year, and was recently elected to sit on the governance board as a representative for the SVC and the rest of the students. His experience at MGHS gave him a good taste of traditional learning, and boosts his love for alternative learning at MG21. He is super excited to share students’ ideas with the board, and also to learn more about the way our school system works.Non Voting Members:
MG21 Administrator: Shelby Steel, shelby.steel@mgschools.net
MG21 Executive Director: Rebecca Fox-Blair, rebecca.foxblair@mgschools.net

MG21 is chartered by the Monona Grove School Board, and is run in accordance with state laws and regulations established for operating charter schools by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Board meets 2nd Wed. of every month @ MG21