Board of Directors

John Schlichting
Board Treasurer

John is Vice President of Sales for Welltok, a Denver based health optimization software company. John has been involved in the Colorado charter school community for over 12 years.  He is a founding board member of NorthStar Academy Charter School (K-8) in Douglas County.  He is also involved with SkyView Academy Charter School (pre-12) as a board member, founder and currently serves as the president of the SVA building corporation. Additionally, he served under appoints by the last three governors as a board member for the Colorado Department of Education’s Charter School Institute. John received his BS and MBA from San Jose State University and lived in San Francisco before moving to Denver in 2003. He is a single father to two wonderful teenagers: John and Emma. In his spare time, John enjoys woodworking, playing golf and finding the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants.

Diane Stelling
Board Secretary

Diane recently retired from the profession of physical therapy, working in acute rehabilitation and home care settings. For over 40 years her primary caseload was geriatric, and she is happy to now be on the board of Academy 360 focusing on children. She believes in the school’s vision of developing students’ minds, bodies, and characters and forming strong relationships with families and community. She has 3 children of her own and recently moved to Colorado with her husband. The mountains of Colorado have been a favorite vacation spot most summers since her childhood and she now calls it home.

Donna Garnett
Board Member

Donna is Montbello Organizing Committee’s (MOC’s) CEO and leads the Montbello FreshLo Hub Initiative. This comprehensive community development program includes affordable housing, a mental health center, a business incubator, a nonprofit grocery store, and an arts education center. She is also the editor of the bi-monthly MUSE and the board president for Children’s Farms in Action. Donna has been involved with the work of Montbello Organizing Committee since 2014, initially serving on the organization’s first Board and then as a consultant and grant writer/project manager, prior to becoming the CEO. She has a long history of leading nonprofits, engaging communities through community organizing, advocating on behalf of families and communities, and has raised over $400mm to support community-informed initiatives throughout Colorado.

Narellah Stroede
Board Member

Narellah Stroede is a dedicated healthcare professional and proud mother of three children who attend Academy 360. As a Registered Medical Assistant with an Associate Degree in Health Care Administration, Narellah brings a strong foundation of clinical expertise, organizational leadership, and compassion for others to her role on the Board of Directors.

A proud Denver Public Schools alumna, Narellah understands firsthand the impact that quality education and strong community support can have on a child’s future. Her own educational journey continues to inspire her commitment to ensuring that every student at Academy 360 receives the same encouragement, resources, and opportunities to thrive. Narellah believes that education and opportunity are key to empowering future generations. As both a parent and advocate, she is devoted to helping create an inclusive and supportive school environment where all students can thrive and reach their fullest potential.

Outside of her professional life, Narellah enjoys spending time with her Family, exploring new experiences together, and exploring and expanding her education as well.