Meet the Board
Board members strive to believe in and be active advocates and ambassadors for the values, mission, and vision of Forest Charter School. The responsibilities of the Board are to support and review the mission and purpose of Forest Charter School and keep it clearly in focus. Specific duties include selecting a school leader when necessary including annual performance reviews, ensuring effective organizational planning, managing resources effectively, determining, monitoring, and strengthening the programs and services, ensuring legal and ethical integrity including maintaining accountability, and orienting new board members and assessing board performance.
cbruntpfile@forestcharter.com
As both a mother and an educational leader, Carrie believes in leading with her heart. Her career in education began more than 22 years ago in the East Bay Area, where she was born and raised. She has served as a special education para, special day class teacher, and principal, developing a deep commitment to ensuring that every student has access to meaningful learning opportunities.
Carrie relocated to Nevada City, where her husband was born and raised, in 2013, and a few years later, they welcomed their first child. Fast forward to today, and their two daughters, whom Carrie considers her greatest teachers, have flourished in the personalized, flexible, and close-knit environment fostered by Forest Charter’s PACE team. This firsthand experience has reinforced her belief in the power of individualized learning and strong family-school partnerships.
Today, Carrie serves as a local leader overseeing the Student Supports & Services Department for the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools’ statewide charter schools, John Muir Charter Schools and EPIC Field Institute. In her role, Carrie believes that true connection begins with honoring the dignity of every student. She and her dedicated staff team work collaboratively to elevate student, family, and staff voice through SST, 504, and IEP processes. She is passionate about expanding student access through various funding streams, and is equally committed to supporting staff well-being and capacity-building.
Above all else, Carrie treasures time with her family exploring the outdoors. Camping, mountain biking, tending to their garden and chickens, cooking and reading together, and taking their pup for walks around our vibrant Nevada County community are favorite pastimes!
asmith@forestcharter.com
Alicia Smith has lived in Nevada County since 2011., and resides in Grass Valley with her husband and two younger children. She has five children total, and the youngest two have attended FCS for Independent Study and the PACE program since 2021.
Alicia has previously served as Vice President of the board for the Grass Valley Magic Girls Basketball Club and has served as a volunteer board member for the Gold Country Youth Lacrosse Club as the club’s Coach Coordinator for the last 3 years.
In her free time, Alicia enjoys playing and watching sports with her family, reading, writing, baking, and crafting. She has both a BA and an MA in English Literature from Sacramento State.
amedeiros@forestcharter.com
Amee Medeiros has been working with folks with special abilities since the 90s. In 2006, she became the Program Director for the Neighborhood Center of the Arts where she continues to serve.
In the late ’90s, she owned a local co-op gallery and had a garden art business, manufacturing and selling metal garden sculptures.
While going to school for her BSHS she spent some time working at Milhous Children Services – TAC, Teaching children with Autism, as well as, a paraprofessional at Nevada Union.
Beyond raising a child and chickens, Amee enjoys the art of photography, mixed media, and hand-painting trucker hats. She has been a KVMR FM (89.5fm) broadcaster since 2013 and she now has a cohost, her son. They are known as Prickly Pear and the Succulent.
hasturias@forestcharter.com
Hillary Asturias is a small-business owner, manager, and homeschooling mother who has been part of the Forest Charter community for seven years. With two sons currently in 8th and 9th grade, she brings firsthand experience and appreciation for the flexibility, support, and opportunities that charter homeschooling provides.
Alongside her husband, Hillary owns and operates Powertrain Connections, where she manages the company’s daily administrative and operational needs. Her experience running a family business has strengthened her organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Outside of work and school, Hillary enjoys spending time with her family riding ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes, attending car shows, and caring for their two dogs, three cats, and flock of chickens.
gstockdale@forestcharter.com
Gabriella Stockdale is a wife and mother of 3 children. She and her husband have been an Independent Study family with Forest Charter School since 2017. She and her husband enjoy the wonderful opportunity to be more hands-on and present with their 3 children and their education. Working with Forest Charter has given them the support and tools they need to meet each of their children’s individual learning needs while making school fun and enjoyable.
Gabriella has two AA degrees in Language Arts from Sierra College and is also certified in Ayurveda and has held a lifelong interest in herbs and natural medicine. When we are not doing school Gabriella and her family love to play outdoors, have family dance parties, and enjoy walks around the neighborhood with their cat