Board Members
Get To Know Us!
Board Member
Mary is new to the co-op, joining in April but eager to help wherever useful. Her previous business experience helps her serve as treasurer. Passionate about sustainability and conservation and heavily involved as a volunteer in the community as a Guardian Ad Litem and former foster parent, she is eager to bring her interests and expertise to the group to help build an inclusive, safe space for children and their grown ups while learning and protecting the wild and community spaces around them.
Board Member
Sam is enjoying her first year of homeschooling with her 6 year old daughter. She brings a variety of skills such as event planning, art and nature-based educational experiences with her background in culinary arts and business management. Sam has brought her love of gardening, animals, foraging and literature forward into the homeschool journey she shares with her daughter. She’s so excited to share and experience homeschooling with our co-op community, challenging herself with the role of grants and fundraising. Sam lives with her husband, Mike, daughter, chickens and little cat in Clayton. Sam and her daughter Ada have joined Girls Scouts of America, with Sam becoming a troop leader and Ada as the first mate.
Ashley Barbour
Board Member
Ashley is mom to two neurodivergent kiddos. She is passionate about autism advocacy and access to services. She enjoys painting, organizing, and chocolate. She brings a diverse background having served as a Social Worker and Interior Designer in previous roles. Having grown up in the country, she hopes to one day own a self-sustaining homestead that she can open up to the group. Ashley lives with her husband, two boys, and animals.
Emily Parrigin
Board Member
Emily is a mother of three wonderfully strong willed kids. She has a background in healthcare administration and music management. Her days are fueled by a love of traveling, music, and all things coffee. Emily’s goal is to curate inclusive experiences that broaden our children’s world view.
Brittany Donnellan
Board Member
Brittany has been homeschooling since 2022, and loves to use the freedom it allows to travel around the country with her husband and five kids. She is especially fond of hiking, camping, and history. Her family is working on goals of visiting each National Park, all 50 states, and the homes or libraries of every US President since George Washington. She is going to share this passion with our co-op community by leading a variety of outdoor and historic adventures!
NSTEAM was founded by Aggie Shah to create an inclusive and inspiring environment for families seeking secular, nature-based, and STEAM-driven experiences. Aggie and her family now travel full-time and the Board Members carry on her legacy.
Board Members are volunteer co-op members who are voted for each year. Personal opinions expressed by these board members do not represent Nature and STEAM Secular Co-op of Johnston County as a 501(c) non-profit entity.