Julie Maynard-Johnson – Chairperson
Julie graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and has a Master’s in Library & Information Science from the College of St. Catherine. She works in the marketing department of Central Minnesota Mental Health Center (CMMHC) in St. Cloud. Julie has been actively involved in the school district, participating in many volunteer and committee activities. She and her husband, Tim, a Professor at the University of Minnesota, have three boys who have all attended Shakopee schools. Julie joined the SEEF board in 2015.
Jack Trimbo – Treasurer
Jack retired in 2000 after teaching in elementary schools for 35 years in Byron and Shakopee. He has degrees from Mankato State and St. Cloud State Universities. Jack and his wife Laurie have an adult daughter Christine, SHS class of 1986. Jack is a 4-5 mile/day runner and has completed 25 marathons. He has been a long-standing member of the SEEF board since 2004 and has had many roles with the Foundation during his many years of service.
Holly Johnson – Secretary
Holly graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a degree in Economics. She has worked in various roles at UnitedHealth Group for over 20 years and is currently in marketing at Optum Rx. Holly has volunteered in Shakopee schools since her youngest son started nine years ago. She was the Vice President of the Red Oak PTO and volunteered in other capacities. She has lived in Shakopee for 17 years with her husband, Chad, and two boys. Holly joined SEEF in 2023 and is excited to continue to support the amazing staff and students of Shakopee Schools.
Kathy Busch – Board Member
As a member of the SEEF board of directors, Kathy has had the privilege of helping to create opportunities for Shakopee students by supporting the innovative ideas of Shakopee’s classroom teachers. As a former teacher and long-time member of the Shakopee School Board, she finds joy in reading and reviewing the many unique educational proposals brought forward by Shakopee’s teachers. Kathy and her three adult children are all Shakopee Public Schools graduates, and she is grateful for the passionate educators in the school district. She joined the board in 2012.
Apryl Deutsch, M.Ed. – Board Member
Apryl is a graduate of Shakopee schools. She attended Southwest Minnesota State University, majoring in Elementary Education, and continued with a Master’s in Education Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Before returning to Shakopee to raise her family, Apryl taught elementary education in Casa Grande, Arizona. She is currently an Instructional Designer and Training Analyst for Chart Industries. Apryl and her husband, Mat, have two daughters attending Shakopee Schools. In 2023, she joined SEEF to pursue her passion for supporting education and providing the best educational experience for all students.
Richard Luis – Board Member
Rick is a retired judge. He is a 1963 graduate of Shakopee HS and attended Yale and the University of Minnesota Law School. Rick lives in Little Canada with his wife, Juanita, a retired corporate lawyer. He is dedicated to SEEF’s mission of supporting faculty members in proposing innovative programs not covered in the district’s budget, particularly under the Academies of Shakopee. He was appointed to the SEEF Board in December 2017.
Kathy McKay – Board Member
Kathy retired from the Shakopee Public Schools after ten years as the Director of Special Services. She spent over 30 years as a teacher, special education teacher, and administrator in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She continues to work part-time with Minnesota’s “Help Me Grow” initiative for children ages Birth to 5 in the metro area. Kathy and her husband have enjoyed living in Shakopee for over 20 years. They have two adult children and two grandchildren. Kathy started on the SEEF board in 2020.
Paulette Rislund – Board Member
Paulette graduated from Shakopee Public Schools and Mankato State University. Her background includes over 24 years of volunteer administration with the Shakopee School District. She and her husband, Mike, have two adult children who graduated from the Shakopee Schools. As a lifelong learner and passionate believer in public education, Paulette is honored to serve on the Foundation board to directly support the educators and students in the community. She joined the SEEF board in 1996.
Jenny Smith – Board member
Jenny has a BS in accounting and is a CPA with 27 years of experience in auditing, accounting, and finance. She served as a member of the Shakopee School District’s CFAC (Citizens’ Financial Advisory Committee) and has actively volunteered in Shakopee schools and with the CAP Agency. Jenny has lived in Shakopee for over 20 years with her husband and two sons, who graduated from Shakopee High School. She joined SEEF in 2023 and looks forward to helping educators and students in Shakopee as a board member.
Pamela Wilger-Bukari – Board Member
Pamela is a Microbiologist at Post Consumer Brands. Her three children attended Shakopee schools from elementary through high school. Pamela volunteered for the school district, helped to build the Huber Park playground, and worked with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. She joined SEEF in 2006 to help students succeed as they work to become our future leaders, workers, and inventors.
Kristi Peterson – Corresponding Member (Non-Voting)
Kristi attended Augustana University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Journalism. She earned a Master’s in Business Communications from the University of St. Thomas. Kristi has worked in marketing and communications for close to 30 years. She is currently the Chief Marketing Officer for Magnattack Global. Kristi and her husband have a son who graduated from Shakopee High School. Kristi has volunteered with various community associations, organizations, and committees for the Shakopee School District. She joined SEEF in 2015 but became a non-voting board member due to her election to the Shakopee School Board. She is currently Vice-Chair of the School Board and President-Elect of the Minnesota School Board Association.