Watershed Board of Directors

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Watershed Public Charter School operates as a Maryland non-profit public benefit organization and therefore has a governing board, the Board of Directors. Board members are volunteers who serve 3-year terms and receive no compensation other than reimbursement of actual expenses incurred while fulfilling duties as a member of such a board. 

The board is responsible for ensuring financial sustainability, supporting the success of the Watershed staff and students, and stewarding the mission and vision outlined in the Charter Agreement with the Baltimore County Board of Education. 

 What is the difference between the Watershed Board, Watershed Staff, and The Watershed PTO? 

The Watershed Board provides direction, oversight, and accountability; the board is responsible for ensuring financial sustainability, supporting the success of the Watershed staff and students, and stewarding the mission and vision outlined in the Charter Agreement with the Board of Education. 

Watershed Staff (Executive Director, Principal, Teachers, Other Staff) are responsible for the execution of the Watershed mission in its day-to-day operations in the schoolhouse; 

The Watershed PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) is a volunteer organization comprised of caregivers of Watershed students. The charge of the PTO is to provide support to the school through volunteer mobilization, fundraising, and event planning. Watershed’s PTO is active and amazing! Learn more about the PTO here. 

Can I attend a Watershed Board meeting? 

Yes! General Watershed Board meetings are on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:00 PM EDT and are open to the public; these meetings alternate between in-person and virtual and the format of each meeting is announced in the Watershed Newsletter, Turtle Talk.  Board committee meetings happen monthly based on the schedules of the members on each committee and are not open to the public.  

Can I make a comment or ask a question at a Watershed Board meeting? 

The board of directors of Watershed Public Charter School values and encourages input and feedback from the public during board meetings. If you would like to make a public comment at an upcoming board meeting, email Board President Laurel Freedman at board@watershedpcs.org. 

When speaking, speakers are asked to give their full name and be respectful of the board and members of the public.  Speakers should address the board of directors and be ready to respond to questions for clarification from the board if asked.  Comments are limited to 3 minutes. A formal response to each public comment will be sent to the commenter no later than the next board meeting. 

The board does not discuss personnel matters or matters relating to individual students in open board meetings.  Inappropriate comments or behavior are discouraged. Inappropriate behavior is defined as insults, obscenities, or profanity, attacks against any person in their capacity, and/or physical violence or threat thereof. 

I am interested in serving on the Watershed Board. How can I express interest? 

Board members are selected based on their commitment to the Watershed ethos and skills that are critical to the successful implementation of the mission and vision of the school. If you are interested in exploring board service, please send an email to Board President Laurel Freedman at board@watershedpcs.org. 

Who Were the Founders of Watershed? 

The founding of Watershed was a labor of love! The founding board members and founding Executive Director worked for many years to create partnerships and to build support and momentum which led to the granting of a charter and the opening of Watershed in 2019!  In 2024, the Baltimore County Board of Education voted unanimously to renew Watershed's charter for another 5 years. 

We, the current Watershed Board, owe a deep debt of gratitude to the labor and vision of the founding board and Executive Director Jessie Lehson.  We endeavor to continue their legacy of commitment to Watershed. Watershed’s founding board members were: Melinda Hicks, Kathryn Chib, Casey McDonough, Nina Weiland, Chrissy Lake, Charles Nabhan, Laura Guelcher, Arnold Joo, and Daris Jaye 

Watershed Board meetings are on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:00 PM EDT. Please find the 2025-2026 board meeting schedule below.  Board Meetings held virtually can be accessed by the following Google Meet Code.

Watershed Board 25-26 Meeting Dates

■ September 30, 2025 virtual

■ October 28, 2025 in person

■ November 25, 2025 – in person, Student Spotlight

■ January 27, 2026 – in person, Student Spotlight

■ February 24, 2026 – virtual

■ March 24, 2026 – in person, Student Spotlight

■ April 28, 2026 – virtual

■ May 26, 2026 – In person, Student Spotlight

■ June 23, 2026 – location TBD

Board Meeting Minutes:

May 2025 Board Meeting Notes

June 2025 Board Meeting Notes

July 2025 Board Meeting Minutes

August 2025 Board Meeting Minutes

September 2025 Board Meeting Minutes

October 2025 Board Meeting Minutes

The board of directors of Watershed Public Charter School values and encourages input and feedback from the public during board meetings. If you would like to make a public comment at an upcoming board meeting, email Laurel Freedman at board@watershedpcs.org. Board members will not respond to public comments within the same board meeting except to ask clarifying questions.