BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Douglas Winters is a licensed professional engineer, real estate broker, entrepreneur, and community volunteer who brings a diverse professional background and strong commitment to education and youth development. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Rutgers University.

Mr. Winters began his career working in civil engineering and project management on federal infrastructure projects, supporting agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Defense, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He later transitioned into real estate and entrepreneurship, where he has been involved in numerous real estate investment, development, and brokerage projects.

Winters previously taught high school mathematics and coached varsity basketball, experiences that continue to influence his commitment to education and mentorship. 

Today, he is proud to call Hilton Head Island home and enjoys being part of the vibrant Lowcountry community. He believes strong schools are central to strong communities and values collaboration, integrity, and service in supporting educational organizations.

 Jennifer Wheeler is the Founder and Treasurer of Live Oak Academy of the Lowcountry, where she oversees the organization’s financial strategy and long-term growth. She holds a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences, bringing both business expertise and a people-centered approach to her leadership.

A Hilton Head Island resident since 2014, Jennifer and her husband, Jason, are local business owners who founded Hilton Head Island Boat Rentals and Sales and also own Carolina Canvas, a marine services company serving the Lowcountry boating community.

Inspired by her own children, Jennifer established Live Oak Academy to fill a need for an educational option that supports a wide range of instruction within a single school environment. She is thrilled to launch Live Oak Academy as the island's only preschool-middle school Reggio-inspired school. 

A Hilton Head Island native, Sarah Middleton brings more than two decades of experience in education and school leadership to the Live Oak Academy Board of Directors. Sarah earned her Bachelors of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Clemson University and her Masters of Education in Integrating the Arts into the Curriculum from Lesley University. Sarah has taught in elementary classrooms in California, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and maintains an active South Carolina teaching license. 

Sarah brings a record of building strong school communities. Previously a three-year PTA President and School Improvement Council member at a local school, she created and led school family activities as well as community-wide fundraising events. 

At Live Oak Academy, she is excited to focus on growing community partnerships, local business support, and fundraising events to help the school thrive. Sarah and her husband, Bill, are the parents of three children.

 Sophia Catsambis is Professor Emerita of Sociology at Queens College and

the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY). She received her Ph.D. from New York University. For 35 years, she trained undergraduate and graduate students in sociology of education, data analytics and statistics. At Queens College, Catsambis served as Director of the MA Program in Data Analytics and Applied Social Research. 

Her research focuses on national equity concerns in education through large-scale longitudinal survey data. She has studied gender and race differences in STEM performance and opportunity; inter-relationships among family, community, and school; ability grouping and tracking in elementary and secondary education; parentalinvolvement in secondary education; social equality in access to higher education. 

Her work has received national attention and has been published in major peer-reviewed education journals. Catsambis has received several major research awards, including awards from the National Institutes of Health (NICHD), National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Education, and Ford Foundation. She has served in honorific positions such as Research Associate at the Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed at Risk (CRESPAR) at Johns Hopkins University, Research Consultant at the Office of Institutional Research, CUNY, and member of National Review Panels for NSF, NCES, U.S. Department of Education, and American Association of University Women.

 Matt Cuccaro brings an evidence-based approach to leadership and human development. He received his Master of Education with a specialization in counseling/sport psychology from Boston University and Bachelor of Business Administration from Loyola University Maryland. Matt has been collaborating with athletes, coaches, parents, businesses and educators on the mental/emotional aspects of elite performance since 2006. His clients include Olympians, NCAA All-Americans, Championship teams, professional athletes, and Fortune 500 leaders. 

As a Performance and Leadership Consultant with telos Sport Performance Coaching, Matt maximizes the curiosity, courage and potential of individuals and teams through interactive workshops, virtual training spaces, individual meetings, speaking engagements, publications and the launch of telos Tech App company. His TEDx Talk Courage: Leaning Into Fear has shaped a new perspective for many who have gone on to seek, achieve and maintain unprecedented levels of personal and team performance. 

As a 20+ year resident of Hilton Head, Matt enjoys family time in the Lowcountry with his wife and son exploring our waterways, playing sports and advocating for youth development initiatives in our community. 

 Matt looks forward to contributing to building strong systems around Live Oak Academy's  mission and vision. 

Dörte Hardage is an educator, school administrator and author who brings extensive experience in early childhood and elementary education, teacher development, and family engagement. She holds a German teaching qualification from the University of Bonn, evaluated as equivalent to a master’s degree, and a Master of Science in Early Childhood Studies with a specialization in Leadership, Administration, and Management from Walden University.

Ms. Hardage currently serves as Deputy Head of the Primary School at the German International School Washington D.C. Previously, she led the school’s early elementary program for more than a decade, developing its educational approach and guiding a team of teachers. Her work combines classroom experience with curriculum development, school improvement, and close collaboration with families.

A strong advocate for playful learning, creativity, and children’s social and emotional development, Ms. Hardage has authored two educational books published in Germany and leads professional development workshops for educators. She is particularly interested in helping children become confident, independent learners while ensuring they feel safe, valued, and connected to their school community.

Ms. Hardage is married and she and her husband have three adult children, one of which has been living on Hilton Head Island. They also spent longer periods of time on the island in a small villa. With those ties, Ms. Hardage welcomes the opportunity to contribute her experience and perspective to the Live Oaks school community. She believes that strong schools grow through trusting relationships, thoughtful collaboration, and a shared commitment to helping every child thrive.