Tom Brown

CEO

Tom has significant startup experience in the private sector, as well as a background in corporate finance and education management. Prior to co-founding Beacon, he served as the President, and previously Chief Financial Officer, of Pacific Collegiate School, the top-rated, open-admission public high school in California. Tom is a graduate of Stanford University and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

J Zac Stein

Chief Operating Officer

J Zac is the co-founder of Ceiba College Prep and served as the Executive Director for its first two years. J Zac has experience teaching at Bishop Cotton School in India, as a grant writer at the Center for Social Development in Cambodia, and as the Business Manager of IvyGate. He has also assisted Professor Richard Light's ongoing research on student success in college. J Zac graduated with highest honors in Anthropology from Harvard.

Lori Butterworth

After thirteen years as a bilingual classroom teacher, Lori founded two award-winning, nationally recognized non-profit organizations: Jacob's Heart Children’s Cancer Association and the Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition. As a leader in the movement to improve conditions for children, she successfully designed, implemented, and secured sustainable funding for innovative programs that continue to provide emotional, financial and practical support to thousands of children with life-threatening conditions.

Lori spearheaded healthcare policy initiatives including the groundbreaking Nick Snow Children's Hospice and Palliative Care Act of 2006. Her awards include Oprah Winfrey's Use Your Life Award, the California Association of Nonprofits Award for Achievement in Innovation, and Santa Cruz Woman of the Year. Lori's contribution to the nonprofit sector was showcased at the TedX conference in 2011. Since graduating with honors from the University of California at Los Angeles, she has dedicated her life to improving conditions for under-served and at-risk youth.

Christal Alderton

6th Grade ELA

Christal began her teaching career at Radcliff Elementary in Watsonville. She taught there for five years, and is looking forward to seeing some of her former students who are now Ceiba Scholars! She graduated with a BS in Liberal Studies and her Teaching Credential from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. When she isn't teaching she loves to scrapbook and train for triathlons. She is a big San Diego Padres and Chargers fan! She is looking forward to a great year with her 6th graders!

Shelley Aschliman

8th Grade ELA

Shelley was drawn to teaching as an opportunity to work with creative and talented young people while sharing her love of reading, writing, and discussion. She is especially interested in using literature to help students think about themselves and their world. As an undergrad at McGill University (Montreal), Shelley majored in English Cultural Studies where she studied everything from Shakespeare to Shakira. After college she spent several years between New Orleans and Alaska, before finally moving to Northern California. A native Chicagoan, Shelley had to adjust to California's cool summers, the ocean, and hills, but eventually began to feel at home here.

Shelley's teaching experience includes work at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Santa Clara Unified (summer school), and Newcomer High School in San Francisco. Shelley earned her teaching credential and M.A. in Education from Stanford University. When she's not at Ceiba, Shelley can often be found hiking a trail, hanging out in a bookstore, or daydreaming. She's thrilled to be teaching—and learning from—the Ceiba 8th graders this year.

Alejandra Beristain-Barajas

7th Grade Math

Alejandra graduated from Santa Cruz High School and earned her bachelor's degree in Neurobiology from Harvard in 2010. Her passion for mathematics stemmed from her participation in SCHS's rigorous Math Academy program. As a first-generation college graduate, she is determined to prepare her students for college and to instill hard-working and resilient attitudes. Outside of school, she enjoys dancing and is a member of a local ballet folklórico dance company.

Cal Brackin

AmeriCorps Member

Cal graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. in International Studies. He started teaching as a snowboard instructor on the slopes of his hometown, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Continuing in outdoor education he took young adults to Costa Rica as a trip leader. He spent last summer as a camp counselor hiking throughout the Tetons with inner-city youth from D.C. One of his greatest accomplishments was traveling to South America for five-months to craft an illustrated journal, which he later turned into a printable book. He loves that education is a life-long adventure, whether in a classroom or on a mountain, and hopes to bring his passions of learning, illustrating, and being active to Ceiba.

Jennifer Boroica

Physical Education

Jennifer began her teaching career at Ceiba. Jennifer loves working with young energetic people and has worked with children in after school programs, as well as in coaching. After receiving her B.A. in science and her teaching credentials from CSU Sacramento, she substitute taught in the Sacramento region during the 2010-2011 year. She is now ready to expose students to a variety of physical activities and different forms of movement, as well as teach students to be active for life. Having recently moved to the Santa Cruz region, and being near the beach, Jennifer is looking forward to experience surfing! She is looking forward to experience what this region has to offer and has already started a ritual of weekly hikes with friends.

Lindsay Butler

High School Leader

Lindsay began her career teacher English at Alain Leroy Locke Senior High School in South Los Angeles. From there, she taught at Ànimo Inglewood Charter High School, which was rated one of the nation's best high schools in U.S. News & World Report, before transitioning into a Principal In Training program at View Park Prep Accelerated Charter High School, which had a 100% high school graduation rate and 97% college acceptance rate. Most recently, Lindsay served as the Knowledge Manager at ICEF Public Schools, where she supported principals and developed teachers at 15 charter schools in South Los Angeles.

Lindsay is fiercely committed to college readiness. As the first in her family to attend college, she had to navigate the application process alone, beginning at Saddleback Community College before transferring to University of California, Santa Barbara to complete her B.A. in English. Lindsay went on to receive her M.A. in secondary education from Loyola Marymount University and a Doctorate in Education Leadership from USC.

Ryeon Corsi

AmeriCorps Member

Ryeon graduated from Carleton College with a BA in American Studies. On a college fellowship to research the Korean adoption system, she volunteered at the Babies Home that sheltered her as an infant, while teaching English to Korean students. Upon graduation, she taught as a Rhetoric Assistant at a Summer Writing Program for high school seniors before driving to Cape Cod, where she served her first year of AmeriCorps.

Weathered tough from the Minnesotan winters, she spent most of her year outdoors—trail-building, shell-fishing, and rescuing stranded dolphins—while also teaching elementary students about conservation and gardening. As a National Park Service intern in Arizona, she assisted with the Green Rangers program, which served local elementary schools. After teaching as a Naturalist on an organic farm in Willits, CA, she is thrilled to bring her energy and enthusiasm for learning, literacy, and the environment to Ceiba, knowing that the staff and students here will teach her just as much as she can offer them!

Kate Emery

7th Grade ELA

Kate got her degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University. She later completed the teaching credential program at San Jose State University. She taught for two years at Colegio Colonial Bilingüe, an innovative private school in Antigua, Guatemala. After returning to the U.S., she worked as a first grade teacher in Monterey County before arriving at Ceiba. When she is not teaching, she enjoys swimming, reading, ceramics and spending time with her family.

Pat Garsky

6th Grade Math

Pat is a native of Soquel, She has spent the past twenty-six years in education, all of which has been at the middle school level. Pat graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz with a bachelor's degree in Earth Science and worked for California State Parks for two years as a naturalist at Big Basin and Henry Cowell State Park. Knowing that what she really wanted to do was teach science and math to middle school students, Pat went back to San Jose State University and received my California Teaching Credential. She has worked in a variety of different school districts and settings including small private schools, large public middle schools and now at her first charter.

Pat is very active in her church and has been pursuing my Master's Degree in Religious Education through an online program through Loyola University of New Orleans, which is why she chose Loyola as her homeroom college. She is a single mom of two girls, one is attending Cabrillo College and the other is at her alma mater, Soquel High School. Pat is part of an intergenerational family, living with both her parents in the family home in Soquel. Active in 4-H and the Jr. Fair Board as a teenager, she is excited coming to Ceiba and having the opportunity to learn and grow in her profession along with her students.

Sandra Gonzalez

Office Assistant

Sandra born and raised in Watsonville, CA (2004 WHS alumni), Sandra's first job was in a real estate office in Watsonville. It has always granted her great satisfaction being able to organize and getting tasks done! In 2009, she graduated from Bethany University with a B.A. in Music. She went on to teaching private music lessons around the Central Coast reaching areas such as Castroville, Salinas, and Seaside.

She has a love and joy for teaching music and has continued doing so as a side job. She is a volunteer Choir Conductor at her local community church in Castroville, CA and conducts a choir of over 25 people ranging from ages 5 to 55+. She has helped coordinate youth and children events and not only does she enjoy putting together all that is logistic, but also participates in the music area as well. She is excited to be part of such an amazing team at Ceiba College Prep!

Ashley Koch

6th & 9th Grade Science

Ashley is originally from Indianapolis. Not really sure which life path she was going to take, she majored in Political Science and French with minors in English and Biology at Transylvania University in Lexington, KY. After graduating from college she headed to the south of France where she found herself teaching English in two small rural schools to Pre-K through 6th graders.

Thinking that teaching was the direction she was headed in she returned to the states to do two years with a Teach for America in a small town about an hour and a half north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Two years in the deep south left her wanting a new adventure, so after visiting her brothers, one who was living in Monterey, the other in San Francisco, on spring break, she decided to look for teaching positions on the central coast. She stumbled upon Ceiba College Prep and decided it was the right fit for her. The combination of high expectations, college preparation and a positive atmosphere makes her extremely excited about being part of the team. Ashley has two dogs, Zeke and Cotton, who do everything with her. Her grandest life goal is to hike and camp, preferable through backpacking, in every national park.

Carol Mann

8th Grade Algebra

Carol had an interesting journey to teaching with a few twists along the way. After high school she joined the Air Force as a computer technician, getting the chance to travel the world and work on "ancient" computers that are now museum pieces. After leaving the Air Force, she received her electrical engineering degree at Arizona State University, moved to California and worked as a hardware design engineer.

After a few years, though, the pull to education became strong and she returned to school to earn a "Technology in Education" certificate from the University of California-Santa Cruz, moving away from engineering to providing technology support for various schools in Silicon Valley. This was a great job, combining both her love of technology and her joy of working with students. Before too long, though, she found herself wanting to spend more time working with students and returned to college full-time to earn her teaching credential from San Jose State University.

She is passionate about helping all students discover their love of math and finding different ways for students to build a foundation of mathematical understanding that will allow them to be successful in both higher education and in life. She is delighted to teach Algebra to the hardworking, dedicated students at Ceiba College Prep.

Kylie McGregor

9th grade ELA

Kylie joined the Ceiba College Prep team this year. After a fabulous two months of infantile life in London, England, Kylie McGregor and her family moved to Walnut Creek, California, where she spent the rest of her childhood. She attended San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, California, where she participated in Varsity Water Polo, Varsity Swimming, and the Drama Club. After high school she went to UC Berkeley where she majored in English, with a concentration in modern American novels and the manipulation of perspective by modern authors.

She also was a member of the Varsity Lightweight Rowing team, Delta Delta Delta Sorority, and worked at Cal Performances (a performing arts company). For her teaching credential, Kylie ventured down to UC Santa Barbara where she spent a year practicing teaching and writing a thesis on critical thinking in the English classroom. In her spare time, Kylie enjoys windsurfing, writing, and gardening. Kylie is very excited to be at Ceiba teaching ninth grade English and loves her students!

Antonina Shapovalova

AmeirCorps Member

Antonina is originally from Kiev, Ukraine, but grew up in Los Angeles. Antonina has been an admirer of languages and cultures from a young age. In high school she spent a year abroad in Germany, where she lived with a host family and attended a Gymnasium. Shortly after, she enrolled in the International Relations program at University of California, Davis. To continue expanding her cultural knowledge, Antonina participated in multiple study abroad programs while at UCD: she spent one summer in St. Petersburg, Russia; another summer backpacking across Sweden, Denmark and Germany studying sustainable cities; and a semester in Budapest, Hungary.

After graduating in June 2010 Antonina wanted to get involved in civic leadership, so she joined AmeriCorps and moved to Wenatchee, Washington. There she served at the local community college teaching adults and discovered her passion for education. She has come to Ceiba to dive deeper into the educational system and help create an environment where students can realize their potential and thrive.

Heidy Shinn

Middle School Leader

Heidy began her teaching career at Providence Summerbridge, a summer program that places high school students in front of a classroom of urban middle school students for an intensive six weeks of learning and fun, and she was instantly sold on a lifelong passion for education. Heidy majored in psychology and sociology while an undergrad at Boston University and in education administration at Harvard School of Education, because she wanted to gain a deeper understanding of both her students and the communities she would later serve.

She then taught for several years, most notably at Excel Academy in Boston, and KIPP Heartwood Academy in San Jose. While at KIPP, she received the National Excellence in Teaching Award in 2008. Becoming more and more interested in school design, Heidy made the leap into administration as the founding Dean of Student Life at Atlas Preparatory School in Colorado Springs prior to her current post as the School Leader at Ceiba College Prep. When she's not at 280 Main, Heidy spends her time outdoors on hikes and runs around the Santa Cruz area. Lastly, despite her numerous moves about the country, her allegiance to the Red Sox Nation has remained gold. Yoooooouk!

Shelly Perez

Office Manager

Shelly Perez, Office Manager, has over fifteen years working in a variety of different office settings, most recently at Calabasas Elementary in Watsonville. Shelly is the proud graduate of Cranston High School East in Rhode Island and the parent of a Ceiba scholars.

Carly Silva

7th & 8th Grade Science

Carly is a Watsonville native who has taught at Landmark Elementary, A.M. Winn Elementary School, Ethel I. Baker Elementary School and Smythe Academy. Carly holds a B.S. from University of California at Davis with an emphasis in Biology.

Monica Villarón

9th Grade Algebra and Geometry

Monica was born and raised in Watsonville. She obtained her mathematics degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. As an undergraduate, she was able to work in various schools through the Cal Teach program. She then entered the University of California, Davis to obtain her teaching credential. In 2012, she will be completing her masters of education at the University of California, Davis.

Monica decided to return to her community to provide outreach as well as to encourage more students to enter the STEM fields. Her wide range of experience in cross-disciplinary research in the sciences and engineering has sparked interest in the students. Ms. Villarón comes from a long line of educators and is very excited to share her love of math to her students. When she is not in Ceiba, you can find her spending time with family, traveling, or listening to music.

Nick Winnie

7th/8th Grade Social Studies

Nick received his BA in History, Master's in Education, and teaching credential from UC Santa Cruz. He began his path towards teaching in the Watts neighborhood of South Los Angeles several years ago, working at Alain Leroy Locke High School. He has worked as a student teacher at Rolling Hills Middle School and North Monterey County High School in Castroville. Before beginning his life as a history teacher, Nick worked for several years with a variety of political organizations and campaigns in California, Washington DC, and Colorado, including President Obama's 2008 swing-state campaign in Northern Colorado.

When he's not teaching, Nick enjoys adventuring in Central America, surfing the beautiful waves of the Monterey Bay, reading, barbequing, and playing slide guitar. Nick is very excited to begin his teaching career surrounded by the talented staff and enthusiastic, inquisitive students of Ceiba College Prep.

Judith Carey

Director

Judith is Vice President/Director of Marketing for Journeyworks Publishing, a respected national publisher of health education materials for public health departments, schools, hospitals and youth-serving groups. A longtime marketing professional, Judith previously worked in the publishing division of ETR Associates, a national nonprofit health education organization and as a publicist in the Boston area. She serves on the Board of the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust and is the past Board President of Pacific Collegiate School, where she served on the Board from 2005 - 2010.

Greg Davis

Director

Greg comes to Beacon with a strong background in finance and management consulting. Mr. Davis was a Principal for Key Principal Partners since its inception in 1998. Over the 17 years prior to that, Mr. Davis gained management and financial experience with Sanwa Business Credit, Savant Capital and Bank of America and was a management consultant for Opinion Research Corporation and RS Carmichael & Company. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Reed Hastings

Advisor

Reed is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Netflix, the world's largest online entertainment subscription service. Mr. Hastings is a founding member of NewSchools.org, Aspire Public Schools and EdVoice.net. He led the successful drive in 1998 for a stronger charter school law. He is a member of Technology Network (TechNet), where he served as CEO for a year. In 2000, he joined with the California Teachers' Association, Governor Gray Davis, John Doerr, and others to win the battle for easier passage of local school construction bonds. He also served as President of the California State Board of Education for two terms under Gray Davis.

Michele Hutton

Advisor

Michele assists the Network on best practices in middle school. She is the English Department Chair and the Director of Literacy Instruction at Prospect Hill Academy Middle School. Prior to Prospect Hill, Ms. Hutton spent six years in the Humanities Department at Pacific Collegiate School, the last three as the Department Head. While at PCS, she developed the school's "Academic Literacy Class", a study skills class for incoming 7th graders, the "Academic Base Camp," a summer bridge program for incoming students, and calibrated the English and History curriculums to meet state standards.

Ankur Luthra

Director

Ankur is an Investment Professional at Ziff Brothers Investments, where he invests in public technology companies globally. Prior to Ziff, Ankur was a Vice President at Summit Partners, a multi-billion dollar private equity firm. Ankur is a Rhodes Scholar who earned his MS in Computer Science from Oxford University and his MBA from Harvard Business School as a Soros Fellow. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Ankur attended the University of California, Berkeley, were he majored in Computer Science and was University Valedictorian of Berkeley's 6,000 student undergraduate class. In 2001, he founded Computer Literacy 4 Kids, a non-profit focused on getting computers and a technology-based education to underprivileged students, and he currently serves as Chairman.

Tom MacDonald

Advisor

Tom has significant experience in the education, non-profit and private sectors. Most recently he served as the President and C.E.O. of Hawaiian Trust Co. Ltd., where he had responsibility for $12 Billion of client assets and managed a staff of 350. His myriad experiences include serving as a Captain in the U.S Army during Vietnam, as an Assistant Professor of English at the State University of New York, and as the Chair of the Finance Committee on the Hawaii Charter School Review Panel, which chartered and supervised 31 Hawaii charter schools.

Mr. MacDonald has also been involved with the United Way of Santa Cruz County and served on the Board of Directors of Above the Line Homeless Kids Shelter and the Pajaro Community Health Trust. Mr. MacDonald received his Bachelor's degree at University of Rhode Island, and a Master's Degree in English and American Literature at Stanford University where he taught freshman English. He is also a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program.

James Reinhart

Advisor

James is a co-founder of the Beacon Education Network and began his career as a teacher. In 2003, he became the Development & Communications Director at Pacific Collegiate School where he was directly involved in raising more than 2 million dollars in private donations. From 2003-05, while managing a Federal Dissemination Grant for "best-practices in governance and curriculum", James visited more than 60 of the best public schools in America. James is a graduate of Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government, where he was a Goldsmith Fellow for his work in Social Enterprise. He is currently the co-founder and CEO of ThredUp.

Michael Sayer

Advisor

Michael Sayer is an executive with over 25 years of senior (CEO, GM, VP) leadership in domestic and international sales, marketing, and operational management in the high technology sector. Mike has lead teams for both private and public companies in the US, Europe and Asia. He is highly regarded for consistently achieving top results through leadership, planning and motivating staff beyond the immediate organization. Mike holds a B.S in Industrial Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK.

Dina Hoffman

Director

Dina is a member of the California Bar and practices estate planning law in Santa Cruz County. Dina sits on the Board of Directors at the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, and was recently honored with the Roland K. Hall Award from the Santa Cruz County Bar Association, which is presented to attorneys who have displayed outstanding public service to their communities. Dina is a graduate of Stanford University and UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law.