COA Board Member Spotlight: John Is Rowing Across the Pacific for Veterans

At Carolus Online Academy, we are lucky to have board members who don’t just show up to meetings, they show up for their communities in a big way. This month, Executive Director Pam Sieger sat down with COA board member John for a candid conversation about the school he believes in, the cause he is rowing an ocean for, and why giving back is at the center of everything he does. 

Meet John 

John has been part of the COA family since the school’s early days. With a background in workforce development and a deep passion for public service, he brings a unique perspective to the board: one focused on making sure students are not just learning but are truly being prepared for life beyond the classroom. 

“I firmly believe that education and workforce development are inextricably linked,” John shared. “The more we think about education as preparation for the workforce, and for becoming productive members of our communities, the better off everyone will be.” 

A True Believer in COA’s Mission 

John spoke openly about COA’s journey, including some of the early challenges the school faced and the hard work it took to course-correct and move forward. 

“We have corrected the errors. We are moving in the right direction,” he said. “But we are not where we want to be yet, and we should be honest about that, even as we celebrate how far we’ve come.” 

He was especially excited about COA’s three career pathways, which connect academics directly to real-world skills and industries. 

“Our students shouldn’t just learn from books. They should learn what it’s like to be part of the real world, what it’s like to show up in a workplace.” 

John also shared some encouraging news: local district support for COA is growing, families are actively seeking out COA as an alternative, and enrollment continues to climb. 

“We see that the school is growing. We are becoming a school that families trust.” 

Rowing 2,400 Miles for Veterans’ Mental Health 

If leading a school board and advocating for workforce development weren’t enough, John is also preparing to row across the Pacific Ocean. 

This summer, John and three teammates will row a 31-foot ocean rowing boat nonstop from Monterey, California to Hawaii, a journey of roughly 2,400 miles. There is no motor, no sail, and no outside support. The crew will make their own fresh water onboard and row in rotating shifts for an estimated 40 days at sea. 

He is doing it to raise money and awareness for veterans’ mental health, a cause that became personal through his 30-year friendship with a former Special Forces operator. 

“He stood between me and the bad guys,” John said. “Because of people like him, the rest of us don’t have to worry. We don’t do enough for those men and women.” 

The statistics that motivated him are striking: 

· The Department of Defense spends less than 1% of its budget on mental health 

· The Veterans Affairs Administration directs less than 10% of its resources to mental health services for former service members 

“If we can reach even one former service member who is struggling, if we get that one person to seek help, then rowing 2,400 miles across the Pacific is a very small price to pay.” 

Why Service Is at the Heart of Everything 

Whether it’s his work with COA, his career in workforce development, or his upcoming ocean row, John’s driving force is simple: helping people who need it most. 

“I believe government and organizations like COA exist to help those most in need,” he said. “A lot of people, if they lost their job tomorrow, could call a friend and land on their feet. For a lot of other people, that’s not the reality. Those are the people I care about.” 

A Message to the COA Community 

“This school can be one of the best in the state, I genuinely believe that. But it’s going to take all of us.” 

He’ll be somewhere in the Pacific Ocean when the next school year kicks off, but his commitment to COA is unwavering. We are proud to have him in our corner!

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