Current Board Members

The Stargate School Board of Directors is elected by members of the Stargate Community. Board members typically serve 3-year terms. Guided by the school's mission, the Board sets the general direction and policy of the school, with a focus on longer-term and “big picture” issues.

Lindsey Paquette - President (Parent Member - Term Ends June 2026)

Lindsey Paquette has been a parent at Stargate for five years and has children currently attending both the elementary school and the middle school. Lindsey has served on Stargate’s School Accountability Committee for four years, where she was Committee Chair and Lead for KPI reporting. Lindsey was a part of the 2019-20 cohort of the Adams 12 Five Star Leadership Academy. Lindsey received a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Business. She has professional experience in management consulting, IT audit consulting, and internal quality control.

Lumakar Challa - Vice President (Parent Member - Term Ends June 2027)

Lumakar Challa has been a parent at Stargate for four years, with children currently attending both the middle school and the high school. Over the past year, he has served as the Chair of Stargate’s School Accountability Committee, contributing to the school's parent survey and KPI reporting.
Lumakar holds dual master’s degrees in Master of Computer Applications (MCA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Colorado State University. As an IT Director, he has professional experience in various technologies, including applications, databases, licensing, and cybersecurity. Additionally, Lumakar has more than 10 years of teaching experience and has volunteered in different roles in educational institutions.

Karla Lindgren- Secretary (Independent Member - Term Ends June 2027)

Karla Rocio Lindgren is an education attorney , and as an independent Stargate board member, she recognizes the need charter schools have for strong, accurate, and relevant legal advice. Karla has served as Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel for Rocky Mountain Prep for the past two years, with previous experience that includes BES and the Charter School Growth Fund. She has a JD from the University of Denver - Sturm College of Law and a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Central Florida.

She is passionate about the gifted community and feels that strong compliance and operations systems ultimately create an environment where students and staff feel safe and do their best work every day.

In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and two dogs, reading, crocheting, and watching the latest movies and shows.

Samantha Howorko - Treasurer (Independent Member - Term Ends June 2027)

Samantha Howorko is an alumni of Stargate and has served six years on the Stargate Governance Board. As an Independent Board member, with no children, she brings a unique perspective and as an alumni is passionate about serving our gifted community and ensuring a lifelong love of learning. She received her Bachelor's degree in Financial Analysis and International Business from Creighton University. Samantha is a Senior Commercial Relationship Manager and Vice President in commercial banking at Wells Fargo. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, hiking with her dog Louie, and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Meryl Faulkner- Board Member (Parent Director - Term Ends June 2026)

Dr. Meryl Faulkner is an experienced educator and leader in gifted education who currently serves as the Director of the Gifted and Talented department for Denver Public Schools. She is also a Stargate parent; her daughter, now in seventh grade, has attended the school since kindergarten.

Dr. Faulkner previously served as a governance board member from 2022–2025 and was a member of the School Accountability Committee during the 2021-22 school year. She holds a doctorate in gifted education and specializes in advanced academics, assessment, and equity-driven systems design. She is also the author of a book focused on evaluating charter school leaders and hosts the podcast “Exceptionally Speaking,” which centers on supporting twice-exceptional students. As a board member, she brings a collaborative, data-informed approach to governance and a strong commitment to academic excellence and accountability.

Lauren Steele- Board Member (Parent Director - Term Ends June 2027)

Lauren Steele is an educator and administrator who brings a strong background in teaching, leadership, and student development. After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado in 2014, Lauren began her career working across a range of school settings, including a charter school, a Title I public school, and a private preschool. She started her time as a kindergarten teacher, moved to fourth grade teaching and eventually became an administrator where her main goal was to build relationships between teachers and greater the school community. Her professional focus has centered on creating meaningful learning experiences for students by supporting differentiated instruction, fostering emotional growth, and empowering teachers to excel in the classroom.
Lauren is passionate about the gifted community and believes that strong academic and social-emotional supports allow students to thrive both in and out of the classroom. Now, as a parent of a first grader at Stargate, she is committed to giving back to a school that is already doing so much to nurture gifted learners.
In her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and cheering on her kids as they explore their own passions and interests.

Hari Sonnenahalli- Board Member (Parent Director - Term Ends June 2028)

Hari Sonnenahalli is a seasoned technology leader and Enterprise Architect at NTT Data Business Solutions, with over a decade of experience driving large-scale digital transformation programs. Specializing in SAP Business Technology Platform and AI-driven enterprise solutions, he has led multi-million-dollar initiatives helping organizations scale, innovate, and modernize their operations. Hari’s expertise extends beyond technical delivery. As the founder of a global R Programming community—one of the largest forums for Data Mining, Big Data, and AI—he is passionate about advancing data literacy and responsible technology adoption. He frequently speaks and writes on topics such as intelligent automation, cloud strategy, and the role of AI in building future-ready enterprises. Hari believes education is the foundation of innovation and leadership. As a parent and technologist, he is deeply committed to fostering environments where students can build strong analytical, creative, and leadership skills. As a member of the Board, Hari aims to collaborate closely with school leadership to enhance STEM programs, support operational excellence, and help shape forward-looking initiatives that prepare students for a rapidly evolving future.

Communication Pathways

For classroom or student-related concerns, please follow Stargate's Communication Pathways, which include contacts for outreach and the form(s) for submitting inquiries.