Parent Council

The Parent Council is Explorer’s parent organization that raises funds to support the school and organizes activities to build community within the school.

The support and involvement of the parent body of Explorer Elementary Charter School has been fundamental to the school's inception and success. When the School was still a vision, a group of eager parents became involved to assist in securing and renovating a site for Explorer. Parents were critical to making the building ready for students when Explorer opened September 5, 2000.

During its first year a vibrant Parent Council was formed. In its second year, bylaws and articles of incorporation were written for the Council by parents. The Council has an Executive Committee that meets monthly as well as open Council meetings monthly. The Parent Council is a great way for parents to have a voice in our school.



Kim Soltero: President
Kim Soltero is the mother of 4^th-grader Will and 1^st-grader Michael. In the past, she has chaired Explorer projects such as ExplorerWear, the Welcome Picnic, Yearbook, and Communications. She has a degree in Sociology from Rice University (where she met her husband, Gabe) and works as a marketing copywriter/project manager for a textbook publishing company.


Erica Lund: VP/Communications
Erica Lund is the parent of two Explorer students: a fourth grader and a kindergartener.  She has been active in our school community for over four years; supporting the students, teachers, and Parent Council in different capacities.  This is her first year as a member of the Executive.  Erica has an MBA in Marketing from Canada’s Schulich School of Business and she works as a Marketing Consultant in her spare time.


Tracy Wilkinson: Treasurer
Tracy Wilkinson is the mother of three girls: Taylor, who is in 7th grade at HTM; Jamie, in 4th grade with Ms. Kuhl; and Riley, in kindergarten with Mr. Sarda. A graduate of S.D.S.U. with a B.S. in business finance, Tracy worked and played for Sport Chalet (where she also met her husband of 13 years) for 12 years as a manager, bookkeeper, and cashier.


Elaine Provencher: Parliamentarian
Elaine Provencher is an active volunteer—and for good reason, all 4 of her children have attended Explorer. Elaine has held various positions in the school, such as Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Jog-a-thon chair, Room Parent Coordinator, and has also taught computers in the classrooms. She is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Her hobbies include spending time with her husband and 4 children, boating, traveling, swimming and playing volleyball.


Anna Tachco Jimenez: Secretary
Anna Tachco Jimenez attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and received her degree in education from California Lutheran University. She was director of admissions and director of communication at The Children's School before starting a part-time job doing book keeping for a local marketing company. Anna's part-time job allows her the opportunity to spend more time chauffeuring her two children, Santana (4th grade) and Benny (2nd grade), to their many social events. This is her first year on the Parent Council and she co-chaired Art From the Heart in 2005-2006. Besides reading anything she can get her hands on, Anna enjoys a good camping trip, the Chargers games (when they are winning) and spending lots of time with her family.


Kelly Moore: Room Parent Coordinator
Kelly Moore is the parent of an Explorer fourth grader.  She has been active in the school for over two years working to support classroom and school activities as a Room Parent, an Everyone a Reader Program tutor, and co-chair of the Scholastic Book Fair.  This is Kelly’s first year as a member of the Executive Council.  Kelly is a Virginia native, whose professional career includes human resources management and consulting in staff training and performance improvement.


Patti Bruffey, Alumni Member
Patti Bruffey has two children at High Tech Middle.  Weston is a sixth grader and Wade is a seventh grader. Patti has experience in operations and regional sales management, having earned her BS in Business Administration and Marketing from the Ohio State University.  Patti has been involved in extensive volunteer work at her children's schools and for Children's Hospital.  She fervently believes in the Explorer philosophy and continues to take an active roll in the Explorer Community.  She has given her time, developing and managing fundraising opportunities, organizing events, and working in the classrooms. In her free time, you will find her practicing Pilates, playing beach volleyball or heading to the mountains to go snowboarding.


Lise Bernard, Board Liaison
Lise Bernard is the mother of two boys, ages 10 and 13. She has a degree in Psychology from the College of New Jersey and worked for many years selling institutional investments. Now she makes enormous investments of her time and energy in Explorer, serving many years on Parent Council and it’s Executive Board. In 2004 and 2006, Lise co-chaired Art from the Heart. In free moments, Lise enjoys spending time with her family, reading, karate and golf.


Carol Mead, VP/Volunteer Coordinator
Carol Mead is a mother of two students, one at High Tech Middle and one at Explorer. She is a professional dance artist. Retired from performing, she now teaches and choreographs for special projects and assists her husband, Julian, with his business.  She directed the dance program at the Bishop's School in La Jolla for 11 years before choosing to stay at home with her family and work project to project. She has volunteered at Explorer as a room parent, AFTH committee, End of Year Celebration and now serves the Volunteer Coordinator.  


Cris Anderson: Fundraising Committee Chair
Cris Anderson has two daughters ages 9 and 11. One attends High Tech Middle and one is at Explorer. She manages a busy career as Director of Client Relations and Marketing in a law office specializing in real estate law.  This is Cris’s third year as Fundraising Committee Chair.  As Fundraising Chair at Explorer she has pursued grant writing opportunities, solicited corporations and local businesses and works closely with the Art from the Heart in obtaining donations for the event. In her spare time, she loves to travel, play tennis, and volleyball.


Lindsay Grubensky, At-Large Member
Lindsay is a mother of two children at Explorer Elementary, Parker in the 4th grade and Colin in the 2nd grade. She is a chronic volunteer for many things at Explorer, including Art from the Heart (the Wine Lady!) and the Scholastic Book Fair. She is also the coordinator of disaster planning for Explorer. Professionally, Lindsay is a pediatric ER nurse and educator. In her free time she is an avid swimmer, soccer coach and loves to snuggle with her boys.

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