1. AMIRA MOSTAFA, M.A., NCSP, LEP amostafa@tamdistrict.org
Lead School Psychologist, Tamalpais Union High Sch. Dist, Marin County, CA
Amira earned her M.A. and B.A. from San Francisco State University. She has joint
clinical and school psychology graduate training. Amira has worked with students in
preschool through college, eventually finding her niche with adolescents. She has
expertise in social-emotional issues and in Special Education and 504 law. Amira is the
Lead Psychologist for her district, with responsibility for due process and residential
treatment cases. She has developed best practice procedures for suicide prevention and
for crisis response and management. She provides county-wide trainings and
consultation on responding to suicidal youth. Additionally, Amira maintains a private
practice as a Licensed Educational Psychologist, and is a Nationally Certified School
Psychologist. For balance, she practices bikram yoga, runs, gardens, dances, and
explores the world with her family.
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2. NANCY S. WASSERMAN
nwasserman@rossvalleyschools.org & nancrose@aol.com
Principal, Wade Thomas Elem., Ross Valley School District
Nancy received her B.A. from University of California, Berkeley, California and her
teaching credential at California State University, Northridge, California. She has
worked in education for over 30 years as a teacher, staff developer, and administrator.
Currently, she is the principal of a K-5 school after having served as an assistant principal
for three years at middle School. She taught middle school for 15 years previous to
becoming an administrator. Nancy was a teaching associate for the EQUALS/Family
Math program housed at Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley
for 12 years, providing math staff development for teachers, K-12. She is a daily
walker, hiker, and seasonal mountain climber.
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3. JESUS BECERRA chuyb5@hotmail.com or jmbecerra@capousd.org
Elem. Teaching Assistant Principal II, Capistrano Unified SD
Jesus Becerra works as a teaching assistant principal for Capistrano Unified School
District. He currently has a kindergarten dual immersion teaching position. graduated
from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and
teaching credential. He also received a Masters degree in Educational Leadership and is
currently pursuing his Tier II administrative credential. Although a quiet individual, he
enjoys making friends and learning new things. Jesus Becerra is married to his lovely
wife of eight years. They have two beautiful children, Veronica and Noé and are
expecting their third child. Jesus enjoys spending time with his family and visiting theme
parks. His family has four pets, a tarantula, two snakes and a Russian tortoise.
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4. JANINE ANTOINE antpatrice@gmail.com
Assistant Principal, School Counseling Ser., Central HS/TriC Los Angeles USD
Janine graduated from Hampton University with a degree in Business Management,
obtained and MBA then traveled the country closing savings and loans for 10 years
before discovering her true calling, education. Since, she obtained a teaching credential,
Masters in Educational Counseling with a PPS and CWA from California State
University, Los Angeles and a Preliminary Administrative Credential. She now has 14
years of experience in education. She enjoys skiing, scuba diving, traveling, NASCAR
racing, knitting and spending time with her family.
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5. CORBETT ELSEN celsen@tamdistrict.org
Principal, Tamiscal High School & Tamalpais Adult School, Tamalpais UHSD
A Michigan native, Corbett Elsen graduated from Northwestern in 2000 (BS Industrial
Engineering and Economics). After some years working in the business world,
volunteering for the Peace Corps in Malawi, and teaching mathematics, he got his MA
(Education) from Stanford University. After serving as assistant principal for two years,
he became the Principal of his district’s independent study high school and adult school
this past summer. He is married and spends his weekends enjoying the outdoors of
Marin County and the city of San Francisco.
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6. DAVID SONDHEIM dsondheim@tamdistrict.org
Assistant Principal, Redwood High School
David Sondheim received his BA in Psychobiology and Chemistry from UC Santa Cruz.
He taught for 23 years in South Central Los Angeles, South San Francisco and Marin
County, CA as a computer and science teacher focusing on integrating curriculum,
project-based learning, integrating technology, school-to-career and supporting
underperforming students. After many years as a mentor teacher, instructional
improvement coordinator, technology coordinator, department chair and district
department facilitator, he is in his second year of administration as an Assistant Principal
at Redwood High School in Larkspur, CA. He has crossed two continents on
motorcycle and is hoping to cross a third, eventually. Family, sports and music keep him
happy when he is not working.
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7. LEO KOSTELNIK lkostelnik@bolinas-stinson.org
Principal, Bolinas-Stinson Union School District
Leo received his administrative credential from San Francisco State University, his M.Ed.
from Harvard, and his B.A. from Yale. He has taught every grade, 1-12, over 19 years
of teaching in public and private schools, and been a principal for 4 years. Since 2001,
he has consulted for Math Solutions, offering professional development to K-8 math
teachers in the U.S and Canada. He is one of the authors of Do The Math, a K-6
mathematics intervention curriculum (Scholastic), and is presently on the author team of
the Middle School Mathematics Reasoning Inventory, working with Marilyn Burns on
assessments to be published in 2012. Leo enjoys being with his wife Megan and children
Cass (8), Valentin (9), and Satchel (12), and coaching youth wrestling.
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8. EVE HELEN GORDON eve.gordon@ousd.k12.ca.us
Principal, MetWest High School, Oakland Unified SD
Eve Gordon received her Tier 1 Administrative credential from California State
University, East Bay; her MA from Mills College, and her BA from UC Santa Cruz. She’
s been at MetWest High School for the past 7 years, as a teacher for 2 years before
taking over the principalship. Her work has been focused on the small schools’ efforts to
successfully serve inner city African American and Latino students and families. She has
developed expertise in the areas of engaging disengaged learners, cultural competence,
creating shared leadership within schools, project based learning, and internship based
academic learning. She balances the seriousness of the work with an excellent sense of
humor, and looks forward to making you laugh.
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9. BEVERLY JARRETT Beverly.Jarrett@OUSD.k12.ca.us
Principal Far West High School, Oakland Unified SD
Beverly is originally from St. Louis, Mo. where she earned her BA in education and
taught elementary school for seven years. She spent the next fifteen years exploring
career options in insurance and theater before returning to education. Beverly has made
Oakland her home for more than twenty years. For the last fifteen years she has served
the Oakland Unified School District in the capacity of teacher, asst. principal and
currently as principal of Far West High School. Far West is a small comprehensive high
school with a focus on visual art. She earned her MS in Educational Leadership as well
as her Administrative Credential from Cal State Hayward. She loves to travel and has
led several tour groups to Senegal, West Africa.
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10. YOLANDA GARDEA ygardea@lausd.net
Assistant Principal, Music Academy,
Central LA High School #9 for the Visual & Performing Arts, Los Angeles USD
Yolanda Gardea received her Bachelors Degree in Music Education and Teachers
Credential from the University of California, Los Angeles; her Masters Degree in Music
Education from California State University, Northridge and a Masters Degree in
Educational Administration from California State University, Northridge. She served as
music teacher for 21 years at Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood,
California where she created a very successful music program. She served as an
Assistant Principal at North Hollywood High School for two years. Yolanda is currently
the founding Assistant Principal of the Music Academy at Central Los Angeles High
School #9 for the Visual and Performing Arts in the Los Angeles Unified School District;
established in the fall of 2009.
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11. NADIA SHAIQ nadiashaiq@gmail.com
Principal, Celerity Octavia Charter School
Nadia Shaiq received a Masters in Education, teaching credential, and BA in Human
Development from the University of California, San Diego. Professionally she has been a
teacher of various elementary grades, a curriculum specialist of elementary and middle
school teachers, and a principal of Celerity Octavia Charter School located in Los
Angeles. She is passionate about using students’ language and culture to bridge the gap
between home and school and to provide all students with rigorous, meaningful
education. Her research and publication topics include critical discussion in the primary
grades, home and academic identities of high school students, and bilingual children’s
awareness of classroom language patterns. She is fluent in Spanish and Urdu. She
enjoys reading, travelling, and eating a good dessert!
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12. RENE MARTINEZ rmarti16@lausd.net or renmart1987@yahoo.com
Assistant Principal, Central High school/Tri-C, Los Angeles USD. Rene received his
B.A. in Psychology from Cal State University Los Angeles; Masters Degree was earned
in Marriage Family Therapy School-Based with Authorizations in Pupil Services and
Child Welfare and Attendance from Cal State University Los Angeles; and an
Administrative Credential from National University. His background include: 4 years
teaching at a middle school level, 5 years as an Academic High School Counselor,
College Counselor, Testing Coordinator, 3 years as a Pupil Services and Attendance
Counselor at a middle school and 4 years as an Assistant Principal at a Continuation and
a Community Day High School. Outside of work he enjoys sports, working out and
taking on remodeling projects around the house.
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13. KIM STIFFLER kstiffler@tamdistrict.org
Assistant Principal, Tamalpais Union High School District, Marin County, CA
Kim earned a B.S. degree in Anthropology from UCLA in 1996 in addition to a B.S.
degree in Biology and a teaching credential from Colorado State University in 2000. She
taught high school science and leadership for 8 years before moving on to administration.
She earned a Master’s degree in educational leadership and administrative credential
from San Francisco State. This is Kim’s second year as an assistant principal at
Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, California. She lives with her husband Steve and
her dogs Bella and Bodhi…who enjoy dragging her to the beach and mountains as often
as they can.
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14. KIMI KEAN kimikean@gmail.com
Regional Executive Director, Oakland USD
Kimi is the PreK-8 Regional Executive Officer in the Oakland Unified School District.
She supervises and supports 26 dynamic PreK-9 Principals through coaching and
differentiated professional development. Kimi earned a BA in Ethnic Studies from UC
Berkeley in 1995 and a MA in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College at
Columbia University in New York City in 2000. Previously, Kimi spent 10 years at
ACORN Woodland Elementary a small, community-based school in East Oakland.
Kimi is invested in deepening understanding of leadership in effective, equity-centered
learning communities. When not at school, Kimi loves spending quality time with her
amazing partner, Alex (who grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil) and two daughters, Gisele, 7
and Camila 3. Kimi is fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese.
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15. GISELA M. DIEZ Gisela1023@aol.com gmd3706@lausd.net
Assistant Principal, Elem. Inst. Specialist, Los Angeles USD
Born in Havana, Cuba, Gisela came to the United States at the age of 11. In due time,
she graduated from Mt. St. Mary’s College, did her credential work at UCLA, and
received her Master’s degree and Administrative Credential from California State
University, Northridge. In her 28 years as a teacher, teacher trainer, bilingual
coordinator and assistant principal, her focus has been helping students with diverse
needs and backgrounds. Although her duties and responsibilities have changed over the
years, Mrs. Diez remains a kindergarten teacher at heart. When not at school, Gisela
enjoys reading, listening to choral music, and sharing a good laugh with a friend.
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16. KAREN WILLIAMS kwlliams@lausd.net
Assistant Principal, Secondary Counseling Ser., East Valley HS, North Hollywood
Karen earned her M.A. degrees in both Special Education and Education Leadership
and Policy Studies at California State University, Northridge. She has worked for more
than 20 years in the field of education as a Special Education Teacher, Counselor and
Coordinator. Karen has been in her position as an Assistant Principal for four years
where she works to support low achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Karen resides with her husband and fifteen year old daughter.
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BRAZIL COORDINATOR
PAULO ALVES DE SOUZA FILHO pasfpaulo@yahoo.com.br
Paulo is a graduate of chemistry at the University Federal of Rio de Janeiro - Chemistry
Institute (UFRJ /IQ). He received a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) with a
focus on Industry of Oil & Gas at Federal Center of the Technology (CEFET). His
experience includes 15 years in education- teaching chemistry and environmental classes
in both public and private schools. Paulo also works in the Health and Environmental
Sciences Department at the Prefeitura of Rio de Janeiro City -where he develops
programs for the prevention of environmental risks in the workplace. Outside of work,
he enjoys traveling, reading and dancing. He loves sports, spending time swimming at the
beach, and playing soccer with friends.
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ADJUNCT FACULTY
PAULA HARVEY pharvey@frazmtn.com, pharvey@el-tejon.org
Ms. Harvey is Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Prog. El Tejon Unified School
District. She received her M.Ed in Curriculum & Instruction from CSU Bakersfield,
where she focused on new teacher support and retention, her teaching credential from
Sonoma State University, and her B.S. from California State University, Northridge.
Currently, she is the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Programs for the El Tejon
Unified School District, located at the top of the Grapevine, about 75 miles north of Los
Angeles. Her experience includes 24 years as a classroom teacher, and nine years in
bank management prior to her career in education. Ms. Harvey lives deep in the
Tehachapi Mountains, where she shares her home with many animals including a
wolf-dog, four desert tortoises, chickens and turkeys and occasional wild visitors. She is
a hiker and potter.
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FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, LEADERSHIP INNOVATION
LINDA OROZCO, PH.D. Lorozco14@yahoo.com
Founder & President, Leadership Innovation
Dr. Orozco received her Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of
Minnesota; her M.A. from Calif. State University, Long Beach; and her B.A. from
Whittier College. She is past Director of the Professional Administration Credential
Program and Professor of Educational Leadership at California State University,
Fullerton. Her experience includes 23 years in educational leadership including both
public and private educational settings, district and county offices of education, and
higher education administration. Major research and publication endeavors include
technology in education and administration, educating diverse populations, as well as
effective interagency collaboration. She continues to conduct research internationally
including Brazil, Thailand and Vietnam. She is an avid surfer and runner. Skype-name:
lindachristineorozco
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