Meet the Board Shaping Our Foundation's Future

Introducing the dedicated leaders who give their time, talent, and passion to expand opportunity for every student in Northwest Allen County Schools.

Front Row: Secretary Gillian Frazier, Vice President Amber Bouthot, Superintendent Wayne Barker, Executive Director Amber Toole, President Steve Bennett, Treasurer Missy Fraze || Second Row: Kathryn Rudolph Diekhoff, Katie Schwartz, Ryan Tufo, Trent Diller, Liz Hathaway, Ryan Heath, Kate Virag, Sarah Hartman, Kristi Schlatter

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The NACS Education Foundation exists because an exceptional school district deserves extraordinary community support. Behind every grant awarded, every innovative program funded, and every barrier removed stands a board of volunteers who believe deeply in the power of public education. This spring, we're proud to introduce the remarkable individuals who make it all possible.

Executive Board

Steve Bennett

President

Steve is a passionate advocate for education and community impact. As a board member at Vincent Village and active volunteer with Junior Achievement, Engage Mentoring, and INVets, Steve is deeply committed to supporting students, young professionals, and transitioning veterans. He brings expertise in strategic leadership, workforce development, and building partnerships that connect education to real-world opportunity. As a parent in NACS, he believes in the power of education to shape strong futures and vibrant communities.

Amber Bouthot

Vice President

Amber is a dedicated Fort Wayne transplant who quickly fell in love with the region after relocating in 2002. Since then, she has become a staunch advocate for the community, building a diverse professional background in nonprofit development, marketing, and publishing. She currently owns Red Bird Writing, a freelance firm specializing in grant management and marketing support for local nonprofits, as well as Fort Wayne Food Tours, a seasonal tourism business that showcases the city’s rich history, arts, and local businesses.

Amber’s leadership experience includes serving on the Boards of Directors for Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana (YLNI), Arts United, Anthony Wayne Rotary, and Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana. She has also served on the marketing committees for Greater Fort Wayne Inc., and Women's United. A resident of the Northwest Allen County Schools (NACS) district since 2017, she is deeply invested in the local school community. She and her husband, Adam, have two daughters currently attending Oak View Elementary, where she has also served as the PTO President since 2022.

Gillian Frazier

Secretary

Gillian Frazier serves as the Director of Marketing & Communications at Lutheran Social Services of Indiana, where she leads strategic messaging, fundraising initiatives, and community engagement efforts across the organization’s 10 programs. With nearly two decades of nonprofit leadership experience, Gillian brings expertise in event planning, communications, and building mission‑driven partnerships. Beyond her professional work, Gillian is an active member of the NACS community. She is the mom of two Chargers—a freshman at Carroll High School and a sixth grader at Carroll Middle School—and the ultimate Charger Pride fan as both a band mom and the wife of Phil Frazier, Assistant Director of Bands at CHS. Her long history of volunteering within the schools and various community youth programs reflects her passion for strengthening education and supporting student success.

Missy Fraze

Treasurer

Missy Fraze is a dedicated educational leader with more than 20 years of experience in K–12 public education, serving as a classroom teacher, building leader, and district administrator. She is a strong advocate for Career and Technical Education and expanding opportunities that support career and college readiness, with a focus on preparing all students for success beyond graduation. Her work is grounded in a belief that education should connect learning to real-world pathways and empower students to discover their strengths and interests.

Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Missy spent 30 years living and working in Alaska before returning to her hometown community. This experience broadened her perspective and deepened her commitment to community-connected schools. As a parent of two students in Northwest Allen County Schools, she brings both professional expertise and personal passion to her work, with a deep commitment to strengthening partnerships, supporting innovative programs, and creating meaningful opportunities for every student.

Board of Directors

Dr. Matthew Barb

He is originally from Elkhart and earned a degree in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University before attending Indiana University School of Medicine. There, he met his wife, Catherine Chung, an OB/GYN physician. They have three children and have lived in the district since 2004.

He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and, along with his wife, practices at Parkview, where he is involved in primary care, preoperative medicine, and residency training programs. He is active at Covenant United Methodist Church, serving on the leadership board, playing in the handbell choir, and helping lead youth group. Their oldest son is graduating from college this year, their middle daughter continues her college studies, and their youngest daughter is graduating from CHS. In his free time, he enjoys exercising on local trails, working on home projects and gardening, reading, and traveling.

Kathryn Rudolph Diekhoff

Kathryn is a dedicated NACS parent and strong advocate for public education, drawn to the Education Foundation as a vital pathway to expand resources, strengthen community connections, and support excellence for all students. With her children in the early stages of their NACS journey, she's especially motivated to build something that benefits both current and future generations.

She brings extensive board and nonprofit leadership experience across organizations including DePauw University, Parkview, and multiple local foundations, with a strong background in fundraising, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. An active Oak View Elementary PTO volunteer, Kathryn is passionate about connecting people and resources to meaningful causes — and committed to growing the foundation for the long term.

Trent Diller

Trent Diller is an Agency Partner/Producer with Insurance Management Group and has also spent several years coaching 8th grade football at Maple Creek Middle School. A K–12 NACS alumnus, he remains closely connected to the NACS community. His wife, Nikki, substitutes within NACS, and their two children, Colton and Rhemy, are current NACS students. He is passionate about supporting NACS staff and students and empowering them to continue pursuing excellence in education.

Sarah Hartman

Sarah Hartman serves as the Lead School Social Worker at Northwest Allen County Schools, where she is dedicated to supporting the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students. With a strong belief that every child deserves access to the resources and support necessary to thrive, Sarah works to remove barriers to learning and strengthen connections between schools, families, and the community. She brings both professional expertise and genuine compassion to her role, valuing relationships as the foundation for meaningful change. Sarah is proud to serve on the board and contribute to a mission that expands opportunities and creates brighter futures for all students.

Ryan Heath

Ryan has focused most of his career on analytics and strategy for higher education advancement.  He currently serves as the Senior Director of Insights and Analytics at Columbia University’s Office of Alumni and Development, where he has worked for nearly 20 years. A strong believer in public education, Ryan is excited to lend his expertise to the NACS Education Foundation and its mission.  Ryan and his wife, Aubrey (who works in the literacy program at Cedar Canyon Elementary), have two children attending NACS schools.

Katie Schwartz

Katie is a marketing professional with more than 12 years of experience across content strategy, digital marketing, and event promotion. She has led campaigns, managed brand messaging, and supported audience growth across a variety of industries, including work with local organizations such as PHP, Parkview Health, and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Katie is passionate about using storytelling and strategic marketing to increase awareness and strengthen community connections. She is also a parent of two children in the district, with a third joining in fall 2027

Ryan Tufo

Ryan Tufo is a Senior Manager of Information Technology at Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, where he leads engineering teams focused on delivering high-quality services and technology solutions for employees, agents, and customers. With more than 20 years of experience, he is known for building strong teams, fostering collaboration, and driving service excellence across complex environments. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Indiana State University and a Master of Divinity from Midwestern Theological Seminary, bringing both technical expertise and values-driven leadership to his work.Ryan and his wife, Andrea, have been married for 20 years and have three children who attend NACS schools. As a parent and strong supporter of public education, he is deeply invested in the success of the NACS community and committed to empowering leaders and strengthening organizations.

Kate Virag

Huntertown resident and proud NACS parent Kate Virag has spent her professional career in the Fort Wayne area in a variety of marketing and communications roles. Kate is Vice President of Earned Media at The Ferguson Agency, where she leads a team of communications professionals.

A graduate of Indiana University Bloomington (Go Hoosiers!), Kate is passionate about voluntarism and community service, currently serving on boards for PBS Fort Wayne, the Play Like Bray Foundation and CAP LLC through Arts United, in addition to her role on the NACS Education Foundation board.

She and her husband Dustin own Pak Mail on Dupont Road, and their two children (currently in 5th and 9th grades) and have attended NACS schools since kindergarten.

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This board represents the very best of the NACS community — educators, healthcare professionals, marketing experts, technologists, and nonprofit leaders, all united by a common belief: that investing in our schools is investing in all of us. We're grateful for their service and excited for what we'll build together.