Lionsgate Academy

LIONSGATE ACADEMY SCHOOL BOARD NOMINATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED HERE.

 
Our Board
The Board of Directors is responsible for governing, managing, and directing the affairs of Lionsgate Academy. The number of directors constituting the Board shall be not less than five nor more than nine following each election. For information regarding our Board Election Procedures, click here. 

• Three licensed teachers employed by Lionsgate Academy or providing instruction under a contract between Lionsgate Academy and a cooperative, in teaching positions
•  Three parents and/or legal guardians of one or more students currently enrolled at Lionsgate Academy each of whom is neither employed nor has within the last six months been employed by Lionsgate Academy
• Three community members, each of whom is neither employed nor has within the last six months been employed by Lionsgate Academy, nor the parent or guardian of any student(s) enrolled at Lionsgate Academy.

Meetings
LGA board meetings will be held in person as well as virtually at this time. The meeting agenda and link to attend these meetings will be posted on this page three (3) days in advance of the meeting. Board meetings begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. (with the exception for the February Strategic Planning Session).

Meeting Calendar:  2025-2026 School Board Meeting Calendar

Meeting Agenda:  February 17, 2026

Join our monthly board meetings:

Meeting ID
https://meet.google.com/gmr-yqpj-ttq

Phone Numbers
(‪US‬)‪+1 484-546-8127‬
PIN: ‪713 673 831#‬

Members
School board members are elected to a three (3) year term. Each spring, the Lionsgate community elects one (1) parent, one (1) teacher and one (1) community member to the school board. For more information about the school board, please contact Board Chairperson Kim Busse at [email protected].

Kim Busse, Community Member, Chair
[email protected]
Kim Busse has been a supporter of Lionsgate Academy for many years. As a special education teacher and mental health therapist, Kim has recommended LGA to many families since it began. Kim currently consults with school districts and owns Busse & Reid where she provides individual and family therapy, as well as diagnostic testing, to families affected by neurodiversity. When Kim isn’t working, she likes to garden, travel, watch football (GO PACKERS) and spend time with her family. Kim lives with her husband and has 2 adult daughters. She looks forward to being a part of the LGA community.

Ann Wiesner, Community Member, Director
[email protected]
Advocating for the needs of a neurodiverse student has taught Ann Wiesner a lot over the last 10+ years. That experience combined with her over 22 years as an Advocacy and Engagement Strategy Consultant bring a unique skill set to the board. Ann has extensive experience with strategy development in nonprofits and philanthropy, both in Minnesota and nationally. She brings a race and gender justice lens to her work and is excited to bring those perspectives to LGA. She decided to join the Board because she wants all neurodiverse people to be seen as the complex, remarkable, and talented individuals as they are—she envisions a day where places like Lionsgate, inviting and welcoming spaces for neurodiversity of all kinds, are commonplace. When she is not working with clients, Ann can be found reading, napping, or doing laundry at her home in Minnetonka, where she lives with her husband, two children, dog, and two rabbits.

Diana Amundson, Teacher (Minnetonka), Treasurer
[email protected]
Diana Amundson is in her twelfth year as a licensed teacher in Minnesota. She is in her seventh school year at Lionsgate. Diana is the Gen Ed Lead teacher at Minnetonka where she teaches the high school level math classes. She got her BS in Math Education at St. Cloud State University and taught in several schools across the state before finding her home here at Lionsgate. Diana greatly enjoys her current role at Lionsgate and is excited to expand it by joining the board. She hopes to share her perspective and ideas to keep Lionsgate strong.

Julie Tarshish, Parent (Minnetonka & Lynx), Vice Chair
[email protected]
Julie Tarshish has 20+ years of nonprofit experience with expertise in communications and marketing. She has been a parent advocate, helping others navigate the complex county and state paperwork for waivers, and been a member of several school SEAC boards, including LGA. Julie’s twin sons are high schoolers: one at Minnetonka and one at Shoreview’s Lynx program. Julie’s lens as a parent of two children on diverse places within the autism spectrum put her in a unique position to help guide LGA as it works to serve the needs of all neurodivergent learners, including those who are nonspeaking and those with higher support needs.

Chayla Fenske, Teacher (Shoreview), Director
[email protected]
Chayla Fenske is beginning her fifth year at Lionsgate. She started as a Special Education teacher/case manager for 7-12 graders. She has taught English Language Arts, Social Studies, Transitions, and Social Skills. This year, Chayla will be a case manager. She attended St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN for her undergraduate and Capella University for her graduate studies. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English and a Master's Degree in Psychology. Chayla is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. Previously, Chayla has worked in residential, in-home, and autism centers. She is excited to share her ideas with Lionsgate’s school board.







Konner Hayes, Community Member, Director
[email protected]
Konner Hayes graduated from Lionsgate Academy in 2024. He enjoyed writing movie reviews for the newspaper and he went on the Japan trip with other Lionsgate students and staff. Konner will be attending MCTC and will be majoring in Cinema. He has an older sister, a younger brother, a dog named Honey and a cat named Earl Gray.

Alicia Reyes-Johnson, Teacher (Minnetonka, Shoreview, Lynx), Secretary
[email protected]
Alicia is the Multilingual (ML) teacher for the district in a unique position where she works collaboratively with students and staff at 3 locations; Minnetonka, Shoreview and Lynx. She has a few different connections to the Lionsgate mission, including a son who is on the Autism Spectrum, a Master's degree in ESL from Hamline University and experience as a teacher and Family Liaison at Minneapolis Public Schools. Working at Lionsgate allows her to use her expertise from both her formal academic training and her lived experience to help advance Lionsgate's mission. Alicia has communication, marketing, event planning, community building and fundraising experience from her work as a Family Liaison in Minneapolis Public Schools. She has experience in pedagogy and teaching as an ML at Minneapolis Public Schools and now at Lionsgate Academy as a Service Provider. Alicia is excited to join the Lionsgate Academy Board and work with a collegial group of people who have a shared purpose, try their best, respect each other and work together collaboratively.

Stacey Monsen, Parent (Shoreview), Director
[email protected]
Over the past 25+ years, Stacey has worked across startups, privately owned to Fortune 50 companies, designing inclusive products, services, and experiences that support all dimensions of human difference. She’s a passionate advocate and ally in the autism and disability community, with leadership experience on the school board of Spero Academy and the Minneapolis Public Schools Special Education Advisory Council. Her daughter attends the center-based program at the Shoreview campus. Lionsgate was the first educational environment where her daughter was truly seen, valued, and supported as a whole, capable individual. Her intelligence was recognized beyond spoken language, and staff focused on how she learns while nurturing friendships and community. She has seen firsthand how Lionsgate’s mission comes to life—and is honored to contribute to this meaningful work.

Susie Johnsen, Parent (Shoreview), Director 
[email protected]
Susie Johnsen has been working in the corporate financial industry for the past 24 years and has held roles in project and risk management, as well as governance and quality assurance. She has volunteered with other parent groups over the years to advocate for lowering MA-TEFRA fees, to provide insurance coverage for early intervention, and to ensure that all families have the knowledge needed for navigating the complex IEP process in the public school system. Susie is a proud parent of a son named Jason who has been attending Lionsgate Shoreview for the past four years in the center-based program. She has been married to her husband, Joe, for the past 31 years and she also has three very furry dogs. Her interests include traveling, spending time with family and friends, and watching both football and hockey.