Our Board of Directors

Children’s House is a not for profit corporation of perpetual duration. The board sets the policies for the corporation and is ultimately responsible for its operations and development. Any parent, staff, or community member is welcome to bring items to the board. The board meets monthly, and once during each semester, the board holds an Open Meeting where parents and community members are welcome to attend. The board members bring a variety of expertise to the school and they are honored to serve the students, the staff, and the community. The board is the ultimate representative of the children: our job is to make sure that resources are allocated in the interest of the children so that CMS can be the best possible place to be a developing and learning child. Board members are volunteers and do not receive any compensation for their work. To contact the Board please email: board@cmsnorman.org.

Christina Foss

President

Christina Foss serves as the Policy Director for 929 Strategies, a public policy firm providing comprehensive consulting services across the public and private sectors. She has extensive experience in governmental and public affairs having served in the state and federal levels of government as well as the nonprofit sector.  Most recently, she managed government affairs at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and served as Director of Public Affairs at the Oklahoma Department of Labor. She has been on the front lines of several major policy and regulatory reforms building diverse coalitions to collaborate toward a common goal.Christina received her Bachelor of Arts in Classics and Letters from the University of Oklahoma and will obtain her Master of Business Administration from Oklahoma City University in 2022. She is currently serving on the Classen Montessori School Board and resides in Norman with her husband and two young children.

Lenae Clemments

Secretary

Lenae is an Oklahoma native and obtained her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Oklahoma. In 2006, she earned her Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in Administration and Community Practice. Lenae has worked for the State of Oklahoma for over 17 years and is currently the Program and Policy Analyst at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. When she isn’t working or volunteering, you will find her with her husband at either a soccer or baseball field cheering on their children. Both of her children attended CMS for 5 years.

Julia Abramson

Julia is an education professional with more than 25 years experience, and she is a published author on topics in cultural history and society including fakery and deception, food culture, and financial culture. Since 1999 she has worked as a research and teaching professor at the University of Oklahoma, where she is recognized for the ability to inspire students to attain high levels of creative achievement. In 2023 she was appointed Faculty Fellow in the Office of the Vice President for Research & Partnerships. Julia completed the B.A. in French at Bryn Mawr College and took the Ph.D. at Princeton University. Passionate about community building, sustainability, and the values associated with the Montessori method, she also enjoys gardening with local and area plants.

Leah Wall-Pollan

Leah graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Agricultural Development and a double minor in Economics and Political Science. She earned a Master of Science degree from Oklahoma State University. Leah met her husband, Casey while finishing graduate school at Oklahoma State. They are the parents of twin, 14 year old boys, Cache and Asher, who are both in the Middle School program. After graduation, Leah worked for the State of Oklahoma in community economic development in Norman for 3 years. Having a desire to work in the private non profit sector, Leah transitioned to Oklahoma League for the Blind, now New View OK, as the Development Director for 3 years. During her time at OLB, she raised $1.2 million for the Vision Rehabilitation Clinic. Science Museum OK, formerly Omniplex, recruited her to manage the museum’s development campaigns. During her leadership as Development Officer, SMO raised $1.5 million yearly for their annual giving campaign and $2.5 million for the capital campaign. At the time of her departure to stay home with her premature twins, SMO reached fiscal stability after operating for years in a deficit. Leah and Casey are now partners in Phoenix Hardwood and Plywood, which has become the largest hardwood and plywood distributor in Oklahoma, and continue to manage their cattle farm.

Jason Andes

Jason is from Norman Oklahoma and resides there with his wife Angela and their daughter. He is the owner and partner of Brookfield custom Homes LLC, BCH commercial Construction, and CMG management group. Jason graduated from the University Oklahoma with a BLS degree emphasis natural science and economics, and he is a third generation Oklahoma builder. Along the 25 years experience in residential, commercial, and light industrial construction, Jason found enjoyment with past board and committee membership positions in Habitat for humanity, Men’s association of Norman, Basco and Oklahoma state home builders association, the Oklahoma IRC/IBC code adoption committee, and the Norman youth soccer association(Celtics). He’s currently an active member on the board of chapter advisors of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Jason chairs the board’s building committee and as thus oversees the development of new school grounds for CMS.