Board of Education

Dawn Kirk represents District A on the Thompson School Board, elected in November 2019. She and her family have a long history in Thompson School District as Loveland natives, raised in district schools, and her children attend or have graduated from Thompson Schools.

Dawn is a learning and development professional with 18 years of saving lives in the public service industry. She has participated on many school and district committees. Additionally, Dawn facilitates strategic planning and leadership training with several nonprofits, serving on the Kids@Heart board, mentoring dreamers, and developing an internship program to build young women's technical skills.

Dawn's focus is on the key areas of parent and community engagement, building community, and sharing successes across the school district because there are a lot of great things happening in Thompson schools to be excited about. Evaluating the efficacy of existing programs for fiscal oversight and prioritizing development best practices, as well as taking care of the people who take care of students with trauma training and self-care for staff, are key priorities for our district.

Elected 2019
Re-elected 2023
Term expires 2027

Mike Scholl has been a resident of Loveland, Colorado, for 17 years and is the proud father of two boys: a graduate of Loveland High School's Class of 2024 and a senior in the class of 2026. His oldest, Connor, is currently a sophomore at the University of Kansas studying business marketing.

He moved to Loveland in 2008 to lead the revitalization of Downtown, bringing a vision rooted in economic development and community building. Mike was the driving force behind The Foundry Redevelopment project, overseeing every phase from concept to completion. His leadership also helped deliver important community projects, such as the expansion of the Rialto Theater, the development of Gallery Flats, and the Sprouts grocery store. Mike also played a key role in bringing Value Plastics (now Nordson MEDICAL) to Loveland, just one of many successful projects that reflect his deep commitment to building a stronger local economy and a vibrant community. Mike left his position with the city in July of 2019 to pursue a career as a consultant.

Mike currently serves on the board of the Pulliam Community Building Foundation and has been an active volunteer in the community for many years. He coached youth baseball with the Loveland Baseball Association and previously served on the Loveland Youth Gardeners board.

Professionally, Mike works as a municipal consultant specializing in economic development strategy, affordable housing, and community planning. His work has given him deep insight into how communities function and how to turn good ideas into real progress.

Mike holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Michigan.

Elected 2025
Term expires 2029

Nancy is a lifelong resident of Northern Colorado who was born and raised in Longmont and, in 2000, moved to Loveland with her husband, Robert. Nancy and Robert have a blended family of three daughters: Amanda, who is married to Matt Sprague and has two children, Tatum and Asher; Emily Theisen and Miranda Theisen. Emily and Miranda both went to school in the Thompson School District and graduated from Mountain View High School.

Nancy served in the United States Navy from 1979 to 1985 as an Aviation Storekeeper, stationed at NAS Miramar in San Diego and NAS Atsugi in Japan. She received an honorable discharge with the final rank of E-5. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Regis University in 2003.

Nancy is an enthusiastic accountant who loves discovering the “story” hidden in the numbers and has spent most of her career in the role of CFO/Controller, focusing on building bridges between finance and operations, which is the best way to ensure integrity in financial reports and, most importantly, creates collaboration between different departments. Nancy is a volunteer instructor and consultant with the Larimer Small Business Development Center, as she loves teaching business owners about business finance and management and helping them find solutions to the issues they face in building a successful company.

Nancy strongly believes that America is a great country filled with opportunities for success and that education is the keystone to success for all children. She is passionate about ensuring that public education’s number one priority must always be to provide the best education possible for all kids.

As a School Board Director, Nancy is committed to ensuring that all voices are respected, parents are empowered, and taxpayer monies benefit kids, so that together we can create a positive learning environment and make Thompson School District a great place to learn and work!

Elected 2021
Re-elected 2023
Term expires 2027

Denise Chapman was elected to the Thompson School District Board of Education to represent District D in November 2023. Denise has a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University, a Master of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, and a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Purdue University. She has worked in the electronic design, network emulation, and test industry since 1997. Denise and her family have a long history with the Thompson School District. She is a TSD graduate; her children attend or have graduated from Thompson Schools; and her father and sister have over 60 years of combined teaching, coaching, and administrative service within the district.

Having been actively involved in various educational initiatives and witnessing firsthand the challenges faced by students, teachers, and parents, Denise ran for the Thompson Board of Education to contribute her time, skills, and perspectives to help shape the direction of our local schools. She believes that every child deserves access to a quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances, and serving on the school board allows her to advocate for policies and initiatives that promote academic excellence, equity, and inclusivity. She aims to be a voice for all stakeholders, working collaboratively to ensure that our schools provide an environment where every student thrives academically, socially, and emotionally.

Elected 2023
Term expires 2027

Alexandra Lessem was elected to represent District E in November 2021. She was born and raised in Colorado and has lived in Loveland since 2004. She has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Carleton College in Northfield, MN, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles, CA, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO.

Dr. Lessem has worked in healthcare since 2004 and is currently employed as a family nurse practitioner providing primary care to patients in the Loveland/Fort Collins area. She has two children who have attended district schools since kindergarten, and she has been an active school and community volunteer for many years. Alexandra believes in the power of public schools to provide a great education to all students and in working with families and community partners to support the schools, students, and teachers.

Elected 2021
Re-elected 2025
Term Expires 2029

Lori Goebel was elected to represent District F in November 2025. She grew up in a small farming community in Minnesota, where her parents instilled in her the values of hard work, family, and a deep respect for education. A longtime resident of Loveland, she and her husband, James, have a blended family of five adult children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandsons, with a proud multigenerational legacy of military service. It is this legacy of service and dedication to the rising generations that prompted her to run for the Thompson Board of Education. With more than 25 years in ministry, Lori serves alongside her husband at Faith Now Fellowship. Her experience includes jail and prison ministry and community outreach across several states.

Her professional background includes office management, small-business ownership, retail, and she previously owned and operated two martial arts studios, teaching young people confidence, discipline, and leadership. She served on the Loveland Planning Commission, where she served two terms as Chairwoman. Lori is also a graduate of Charis Bible College.

As a school board director, Lori is committed to supporting parents, strengthening academic excellence, ensuring safe and respectful learning environments, and preparing students for responsible citizenship. She approaches her service with gratitude, dedication, and a firm belief in the partnership between schools, families, and the community.

Elected 2025
Term expires 2029

Stu Boyd was elected to represent District G in November 2019. A product of TSD schools, Stu is a graduate of Berthoud High School, as are his two daughters. In May of 2019, Stu completed 50 years as an educator in the Thompson schools — 36 years as a teacher, administrator, and curriculum specialist, and 14 years following retirement as a substitute teacher and teacher mentor.

Stu is proud to have received one of the last diplomas awarded by Colorado State College (CSC) before it became the University of Northern Colorado. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English from CSC and a Master of Education degree in secondary school administration from Colorado State University. He has been active in the Berthoud and Loveland communities for many years, having served as president of the board of directors of the Thompson Education Foundation and Meals on Wheels of Loveland-Berthoud. He is also a charter member of the Berthoud Schools Fund's board of directors.

In 2011, Stu was honored by the Berthoud Chamber of Commerce as the first recipient of the Doc Fickel Award, which recognizes exemplary service to the Berthoud community. Stu believes that public education is the backbone of our democratic society and that all students deserve an education that is appropriate to their academic and individual needs.

Elected 2019
Re-elected 2023
Term expires 2027