Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is legally and ethically responsible for all activities of the organization. Under Florida law, the “Board of Directors” means the group of persons vested with the management of the affairs of the organization. The Board may delegate certain responsibilities to various committees or staff of the organization, but Board Members are expected to oversee and protect all of the corporation’s operations and assets. The Board has responsibility for maintaining high legal and ethical standards for the organization, and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
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The Playgarden, Inc.'s Board of Directors is a volunteer group comprised of current and past parents, faculty, alumni, and other community members. The Board operates in a three-pillar partnership with the College of Teachers and the School Administration and is advised by a carefully selected Advisory Council.
If you are interested in supporting our school by becoming a board member, please email board@theplaygarden.org.
Linda McCauley
President
Linda McCauley joined the board in 2021 as Vice President and moved into the role of President of the Board of Directors in October 2022. She has a Master of Sciences in Information Systems and Operations from the Naval Post Graduate School and Bachelor of Arts in History from University of North Florida.
Linda served in the Navy for 17 years working her way up the ranks to Operations manager before starting a family back home in Jacksonville where she founded Wild Child Hat Co. creating child friendly and media free hats with joyful designs. She brings her many talents of form and warmth to our Three Pillars system of governance.
Meghan Fiveash
Secretary
Meghan joined our board in 2022 bringing with her years of experience in the Nonprofit realm. She is the Communications Coordinator for Feeding America and has worked with Groundwork Jacksonville in Program Development and Native Sun in many capacities. She has parlayed into a career that promoting healthy nutrition and community building. She is a past board member for Slow Food First Coast and Dig Local offering her talents in service leadership. She has two children that attended The Playgarden and her third is enjoying his second year.
Mark Wallace
Treasurer
Mark serves on The Playgarden Board of Directors Finance Committee. He is an Analyst for Truist Bank with years of experience in the field supporting the community. He and is lovely wife have one child at The Playgarden, one alumni and one that attends our Ladybug Forest program.
Erin Harrelson
Resource and Development Chair
Erin is originally from Southern California and has been in Florida since 2012. She graduated from University of Nevada, Reno with a degree in Journalism and worked many years in sales and marketing prior to returning to school and earning a M.S. in Athletic Training from Florida International University. She previously worked at Miami Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute with their renowned team of orthopedic surgeons, volunteered with a Miami based semi-pro soccer team, and created and led a medical service trip for Athletic Training students and professionals to provide medical services in underserved communities in Costa Rica. Upon moving to Jacksonville in 2016 she worked at Edward Waters University and was a mentor to DCPS high school athletic trainers in the Project 17 program under Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program. Erin continues to play soccer and loves to be active, go on family adventures, and be involved in humanitarian endeavors. Erin has two kiddos enrolled at The Playgarden having a ball!
Adana Whyte
College of Teachers Representative
Ms. Adana serves as a Pedagogical Chair for the College of Teachers and Senior Lead Teacher for the Butterfly & Hummingbird program. She holds a bachelor's degree in fine arts, has worked in a variety of early childhood settings with children with diverse learning styles and needs. Since joining The Playgarden faculty in 2011, Miss Adana completed LifeWays Early Childhood Education Training through LifeWays of North America in Lincolnville, Maine. She has completed numerous trainings including Explorations Training through The Center for Anthroposophy and is currently seeking her Masters of Waldorf Education with a transdisciplinary focus in Healing Education. She has been a LifeWays Mentor for many years and she had the distinguished pleasure to teach handwork courses for our recent year long LifeWays Certification training. Ms. Adana brings her gentle natural warmth and love of fiber arts to our littlest ones in our Playgarden family.
Megan Del Pizzo
Finance Committee
Megan Bush Del Pizzo serves on the finance committee of The Playgarden Board of Directors. She is a native of Jacksonville Beach and a fourth-generation automotive dealer. Megan is a Vice President at the Tom Bush Family of Dealerships where she utilizes her business expertise to grow the family business which employs over 325 people in the region. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Automotive Dealers Association (FADA) and the Pace Center for Girls Jacksonville. Megan and her husband have 2 children at The Playgarden, currently in the Butterfly and Dragonfly programs.
Liz Johnson
Board Member
Elizabeth is a Virginia native, growing up just outside of Washington D.C. until moving to Florida in 2016. A graduate of James Madison University, with a B.B.A in Hospitality and Tourism Management, her experience ranges from hotels to meetings management and most recently is Vice President of The Moery Company, an association revenue consulting firm. Elizabeth and her husband Andrew have two children, Summer (an alumni of the Playgarden)and Miller, who is two years old. Liz is the Chair of the Resource Development Committee and organizes the Annual Fundraiser.