Board of Trustees
Angela Musto, President
Angela has been a teacher for over 18 years in charter and traditional public schools and currently teaches at Belle Vernon Area High School. She holds an MS in Educational Psychology and a BS in Physics Education.
As an educator and mother, Angela understands the deep need for variety in educational models so that all students feel supported. The mission, vision, and curriculum at Dogwood Charter School align with Angela’s own educational methodologies. As part of the Board, she looks forward to supporting the school in hiring and developing a well-rounded team of equally committed teachers. She also brings grant writing experience to Dogwood, hoping to help the school get as much funding as possible!
Amelia Bauer, Vice President
Amelia is a Mechanical Engineer and team lead at Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, with an education background that includes both a BS and an MS in Mechanical Engineering. She will bring to Dogwood Charter School her knowledge of structural engineering to ensure a safe, code-compliant school facility, as well as a passion for leadership and building personal relationships, which she believes are foundational to any successful organization.
Amelia witnesses first-hand the need for agile, flexible engineers and scientists who can work in a variety of environments—skills that, when developed at a young age, allow for greater
innovation at work and beyond. When we foster a love of learning in kids, they become adults who continue to learn and love learning, growing, and innovating based on what they learn. She believes Dogwood Charter School can foster that love of learning in its students.
Jessica Vozel, Secretary
Jessica Vozel is a writer with an MA in Literature and an MFA in Creative Writing. After her time in academia, teaching college writing, she worked as a freelance writer and journalist and later co-founded a copywriting and marketing company in the travel industry. She has also worked as a writing tutor and volunteer facilitator for kids and teens who seek to express themselves in words.
Her interest in innovative education models led her to Dogwood, and she is excited to be a part of an endeavor that aims to bring out a love of learning in all students.
Franny McAleer
Franny has over 30 years of experience in education as an educator, educational consultant, professor, and the founder of Learner’s Link. This consulting firm helps educators and administrators develop creative courses and instructional strategies, as well as work on their professional development.
For Franny, an interest in new possibilities in education began when one of her 4th-grade students raised his hand during a lesson on architecture and asked, What if instead of just learning about the columns the ancients used, we created our own? This “What if?” kickstarted Franny’s lifelong fascination with novel learning methods. She is interested in what is possible at Dogwood Charter School, with its goals of inspiring wonder and the uniqueness of each child and providing them with a place to live, learn, grow, and question in a challenging and engaging setting.
Mark Schnupp, Treasurer
Mark is a retired IT professional who offered technical support for various businesses and organizations during his career, including 15 years of experience supporting two charter schools in downtown Pittsburgh. His work at the charter schools encompassed over 800 users, devices, servers, security door systems, and video surveillance equipment. He was also intimately involved with the selection of equipment like laptops, printers, smart boards, and more while also considering and addressing budgetary concerns.
Mark brings to the Dogwood school board his technical experience for the benefit of students, staff, and administrators and is committed to ensuring the success of the school and—most importantly—the students.