Board Members
Connie Froggatt - President & Chair of the Board of Directors
Connie Froggatt is in her fifth term as a member of the MCEF Board of Directors. She previously served as President and Vice President. Connie is a former Vice Chair of the Montgomery County School Board. Prior to joining the School Board, she was the Advanced Placement Testing Coordinator for Blacksburg High School (BHS) and President of the BHS Parent-Teacher-Student Organization. She is currently serving on the Moss Arts Center Partners Board and the 100+ Women Who Care NRV Administrative Board. Connie lives in Blacksburg with her husband of 31 years, Mark, and their two shelties, Sophie and Dustin.
Derek Rountree - Vice President
Deana Sentman - Treasurer
Deana Sentman is currently the Associate Controller of Radford University in Radford, Virginia. She is a graduate of Radford University (BBA Accounting and Finance) and Virginia Tech (Masters of Taxation). She has over 10 years of experience in public and private accounting with specialization experience in non-profits, real estate, investment firms, and manufacturing. She is a member of the AICPA and VSCPA, and a recipient of the VSCPA Top 5 under 35 Accountants in Virginia. She lives in Blacksburg with her husband, son, two dogs and one cat.
Kate Stone - Secretary
Kate Stone graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS in English and from Radford University with an MS in Special Education. She served MCPS for 15 years in the field of special education, first as an instructional assistant, then as a special education teacher and lead special education teacher. She is a strong advocate for inclusive practices. Kate is currently working as a substitute teacher for MCPS as well as an IEP support specialist with Giles County Public Schools. Kate lives in Blacksburg with her husband.
Dr. Bernard Bragen - MCPS Superintendent
Dr. Bernard F. Bragen, Jr. is the superintendent for Montgomery County Public Schools. Bragen has nine years of superintendent experience in public schools in New Jersey. His educational career began as a special education teacher and child study team member when, after 10 years, he moved into administration. He has been a Supervisor of Special Education, Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, and Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. Barbara Wickham - MCPS Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
Dr. Jonathan Schulz - MCPS Grant Writer
Jonathan Schulz is the Supervisor of Grants and Innovation. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech, as well as a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Radford University. He taught at the elementary level for one year in North Carolina and seven years in Montgomery County, served as MCPS Supervisor/Administrator of Mathematics for eleven years, and has been in his present position since 2018.
Danny Knott
Danny Knott is the Principal of Christiansburg Middle School for Montgomery County Public Schools. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech and Radford University. Danny is currently serving in his 39th year as an educator with MCPS. He has been a teacher, coach, middle and high school athletic director, high school assistant principal, and middle and high school principal. Danny has served on the state Executive Committees of the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and the Virginia High School League.
Dr. Tiffany LaCroix
Dr. Tiffany LaCroix began her career as a high school mathematics teacher in Columbia, MO where she earned her undergraduate degree and Master’s in Education from the University of Missouri – Columbia. She then went on to teach high school mathematics in Raleigh, NC where she also served as department chair. Tiffany earned her doctorate from Virginia Tech and currently serves on the faculty of Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum at the University of Missouri – Columbia where she teaches elementary and secondary mathematics methods courses virtually to undergraduates, masters students, and educational specialists. She has been an MCPS parent for seven years and previously served as the PTO President at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School.
Our Mission
The mission of the Montgomery County Educational Foundation is to provide financial support to enable students, teachers, and administrators to discover, advance, and enhance educational opportunities. An investment in our schools is an investment in this community and the development of productive global citizens. The Foundation's goals include:
Provide opportunities beyond the scope of available public resources in preschool through 12th grade.
Provide resources for creativity and innovative programs and materials.
Strengthen educational leadership to improve student achievement.
Seek and develop avenues for businesses, individuals, and organizations to contribute to MCPS.
Our Vision
The Montgomery County Educational Foundation is dedicated to engaging the community and providing sustainable funding to broaden the educational opportunities for all students by empowering educators and encouraging innovation.
