Governance
Board of Directors
Formed by local parents, educators, business, and community leaders of Queen Anne’s County.
The people who ran the county’s schools are building this one.
Our board includes the former Chief Financial Officer of Queen Anne’s County Public Schools, a retired QACPS principal with 34 years in Eastern Shore classrooms, and the former Chair of the county Planning Commission.
Ashley MacLeay
Ashley C. MacLeay, a native of Queen Anne’s County, attended county public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating from Kent Island High School with a diploma and certificate of merit. From 2017 to 2021 she served as the At-Large Representative on the Washington, D.C. State Board of Education, working with both public and charter schools on graduation requirements, social studies standards, and health education standards.
Her professional experience spans federal and state policy work with government agencies, elected leaders, and nonprofit organizations. She holds a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Maryland, College Park, and lives on Kent Island with her husband and three sons.
Theresa Farnell
Theresa Farnell recently retired as principal of Centreville Elementary School, concluding a distinguished 34-year career in public education on Maryland’s Eastern Shore — twelve years teaching in Talbot County, then teacher specialist at Sudlersville Elementary, assistant principal at Sudlersville and Centreville Middle Schools, and nine years as principal of Centreville Elementary with Queen Anne’s County Public Schools.
Her career included service on grading and reporting committees, Middle States Accreditation, PreKindergarten Accreditation, and the MSDE Early Childhood Division’s EXCELS program. She remains active in education as director of a new prekindergarten program in Centreville, which she helped establish.
Whitney Gast
Whitney Gast is a Certified Government Financial Manager and the former Chief Financial Officer of Queen Anne’s County Public Schools. She brings nearly fifteen years of experience in the financial management of public funds, spanning accounting and budget, and has consulted alongside CFOs at intelligence agencies, Department of Defense organizations, and civilian federal agencies on audit remediation.
A proud graduate of QACPS — Kent Island Elementary through Kent Island High School — she holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Business Management from Salisbury University.
Tracey Lawrence
Tracey Longo Lawrence is a veteran journalist who began her career at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and today serves as Washington editor of Financial Advisor Magazine, covering national policy, markets, and the future of investing. She is the author of four books, including CliffsNotes: Investing for the First Time.
She has served as senior vice president at a leading Wall Street media relations firm and as an adjunct professor in American University’s School of Communication, and is a frequent speaker and moderator for national financial organizations.
Audrey Scott
Audrey Scott brings decades of leadership in education, government, and nonprofit service. A former teacher with the Department of Defense Overseas Dependent Schools in France and Japan, she went on to serve as Mayor of Bowie, Maryland, and as Maryland’s Secretary of Planning, where she sat on the State Board of Education’s Finance Committee.
She founded the Bowie Health Center, which established the first freestanding emergency center in Maryland, and is Chairman Emeritus of Chesapeake Charities, a community fund supporting 140 local organizations. She holds a B.A. from Tufts University and a Master’s from George Washington University.
Kate Boland
Kathleen “Kate” Boland brings 25 years of executive and consulting experience in public policy, public finance, and community development across Maryland, Washington, D.C., Maine, and Florida — including service as executive director of the Maine Housing Authority, Vice President at the National Association of Home Builders, and founding leader of the National Center for Housing Policy.
At the community level she has led Habitat for Humanity work, served as a Guardian ad Litem representing foster children, developed a high school civics education program with Martin County, Florida Public Schools, and founded the Center for Constitutional Values. She holds a B.A. from Webster College and a Master’s from George Washington University.
Brittany Higdon
Brittany Higdon is an educator and founder of Higdon Learning Solutions, a team-based educational support company serving students in classical, liberal arts, and humanities-based schools — with particular expertise in literacy, learning differences, and individualized academic intervention for students in classical settings.
A former reading specialist across Maryland, D.C., and Virginia schools and former elementary teacher, she also partners with schools on professional development for teachers supporting diverse learners in classical classrooms. She holds a B.A. from Franciscan University of Steubenville and an M.Ed. from the University of Virginia.
Cailey Myers
Cailey Myers is a communications professional with extensive experience in public policy, government administration, and strategic messaging, shaped by her service as Communications Director for the Florida Department of Education, where she supported statewide education initiatives including implementation of the nation’s largest school-choice program.
She previously served as deputy digital director in the Governor’s office, as press secretary and digital director in the House of Representatives, and as co-founder of a digital communications firm. She brings that experience to serving the students, families, and educators of Maryland’s charter school community.
Barry Waterman
For over forty years, Barry Waterman has been an integral part of the Queen Anne’s County real estate landscape as a full-time realtor, builder, and developer with Waterman Realty, the county’s oldest real estate company, with a longstanding specialization in land development.
A recognized expert in local land-use regulation, he served as Chair of the Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission and currently serves on the Board of Zoning Appeals. He raised two children in Queen Anne’s County.