Meet the people behind the mission.
Melinda V. Heinritz
President
Melinda joined us in 2016 and believes public schools are fundamental to democracy, economic vitality and a thriving community. She’s honored to go to work each and every day on behalf of the students, staff, schools, and families of the Madison Metropolitan School District. She and her husband, Mark, are the proud parents of a Madison West High School graduate.
Mary Bartzen
Community Partnerships Director
Mary manages our Adopt-a-School program, which establishes and strengthens relationships between a wide variety of organizations and our public schools. Mary joined the Foundation in 2003 to launch A Principal Experience, an initiative that enabled over 1,000 community members to serve as Principal Partners in our schools. She and her husband are proud parents of two Memorial High School graduates.
Kelly Keenan
Development Coordinator
The Foundation’s mission relies on the vital support of donors and sponsors. As the Development Coordinator, Kelly assists with supporting fundraising initiatives, nurturing donor relationships, and coordinating events. Most recently, Kelly served with Americorps organizing and operating an environmental day camp in Minnesota. This experience reinforced her belief in the importance of education in shaping the future of our society. As a UW-Madison alum, she is excited to be back in Madison.
Caleb Kulinski
Advocacy Coordinator
With advocacy being one of the Foundation’s highest priorities, Caleb provides support to its local referenda campaigns, statewide outreach, and national monitoring. He spent the last few years working on anti-hunger-related advocacy efforts in the Greater Indianapolis area but is excited to be back in his home state of Wisconsin.
Terri Kysely
Operations Manager
Terri joined our staff the summer of 2022. She and her three children are proud alumni of Memorial High School. As Operations Manager she provides an array of administrative, and systems support for Foundation programs, Board of Directors, and committees. In her spare time, you will find Terri with family and friends.
Steve Lightbourn
Marketing Director
Steve brings more than 20 years of experience in aligning marketing strategy with an organization’s mission. He leads integrated marketing campaigns to drive community programs, elevate organizational awareness and strengthen brand performance. A longtime Madisonian, Steve and his wife have raised two sons through Madison’s public schools, experiences that have deepened his belief in the vital role public education plays in creating opportunity for all kids and families. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, watching his sons play lots of baseball and basketball, and fitting in a round of golf whenever he can.
Kari Mueller
Director, Strategy & Innovation
A proud Memorial alumna, Kari helped launch our Madison Public Schools Friends & Alumni Network. She brings over a decade of experience in marketing and community engagement to our team. You can often find her teaching yoga in her Mount Horeb studio or enjoying the outdoors with her husband, three children and dog.
Thomas Qualls
Community Engagement Director
Tom serves as the Community Engagement Director. Drawing from his experience in Madison’s public schools and the nonprofit world, Tom oversees the Teacher Support Network, ensuring the delivery of essential resources to educators. He also manages new business development, cultivating partnerships to bolster the Foundation’s mission. Passionate about public education and with a knack for building high-impact relationships, Tom is committed to breaking down barriers for students and fortifying Madison’s public schools.
“I am proud and honored to be part of a team that is both personally and professionally dedicated to having excellent, well-funded public schools in which learning is celebrated and all students graduate ready for college, career, and community involvement.”
Mary Bartzen, Community Partnerships Director
Our Board of Directors
Jill Jokela
Chair
WI Department of Workforce Development, Retired
Michelle Slawny
Chair-Elect
Associated Bank
Mary Romolino
Past Chair
Acme Nerd Games
Suvi Bhandari
Secretary
BMO
Alyssa Dockendorff
Treasurer
Wipfli
David Aguayo
Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Appointee
Jeremy Cesarec
FINN Partners
Kathy Costello
MMSD Principal, Retired
Jeannette Deloya
MMSD Social Worker & Mental Health Director, Retired
Beth Giles
Madison College Appointee
Beth Goeddel
Clasen Quality Chocolate
Brenda Gonzalez
DMI Appointee, UW-Madison
Joe Gothard
Superintendent, Madison Metropolitan School District
Tracey Griffith
Building Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin
Shayna Hetzel
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Gary Jordan
American Family Insurance
Ted Jun
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Dan Kennelly
Quad Capital Partners
Jennifer Kraemer
Kraemer Brothers, LLC, Retired
Badri Lankella
WI Department of Natural Resources
Joe Luedke
Baird Private Wealth Management
Gina Malagold
Song for Charlie
Anne Marie Malecha
Dezenhall Resources
Mandy Marcum
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Richard McGregory
Madison College
Nichelle Nichols
Board of Education President
Non-Voting Member
Christina Ripley
WEAC
Reuben Sanon
Deputy Mayor
Non-Voting Member
Monica Schraml
M3 Insurance
Peter Szotkowski
Genentech
Jordan Taylor
Godfrey & Kahn
Don White
Realtor and former MMSD Middle School Teacher
Careers
Create a career that has impact.
Looking to drive progress in the community? That’s what we do. Join our team and go to work each day knowing you’re part of something selfless: Creating amazing opportunities for students throughout Madison.
Newsroom
Stay up to date. Visit our newsroom.
If you’re a reporter on deadline, or just interested in our latest news, check out the newsroom.
Contact Us
Have questions? It’s easy to reach us.
Whether you want more details about a specific program, have questions about volunteering, or need help deciding where to donate, we can help.