Our Team
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- Board
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- Leadership Team
- Central Team
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- GO Fresno
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Andrea Somerville
Advisory Board
Why I GO
I agree with Arne Duncan who said that "the difference between a life of promise and a life of peril hinges not on a student's potential, but on the quality of the local pubic school." Underperforming schools and poor quality education are solvable problems. GO is doing something to help solve these problems. And that is why I continue to support GO.
Andrea Somerville
Advisory Board
Somerville Consulting Firm works in partnership with nonprofits, foundations, and social impact businesses to improve their efficacy and impact. Andrea Somerville, Principal Consultant and Founder of SCF, is skilled in strategic thinking and planning and helps her clients create strategies that bridge the gap between vision and goals and develop action plans that bring those strategies to life.
Andrea provides a range of support, including helping organizations design and implement fundraising strategies and capital campaigns, refine organizational strategic direction, launch new program initiatives, and build high-functioning, effective boards.
Prior to launching her consulting practice, Andrea spent five years a Director of Development, designing fundraising strategy and overseeing implementation for three robust funding programs.
A trained attorney, Andrea spent six years litigating business and employment disputes, as well as providing advice and counseling to Fortune 500 corporations. After practicing law, Andrea spent two years traveling extensively throughout South America, volunteering and learned Spanish.
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Brandon Nicholson
Leadership Council, Oakland
Why I GO
"We are in this period of time where what predicts kids' experiences is zip code. Across zip codes there is great disparity. There needs to be a way to address those disparities. We need to change or transform the system in a way where more kids will succeed."
Brandon Nicholson
Leadership Council, Oakland
Brandon is the founding executive director of The Hidden Genius Project, an Oakland-based nonprofit that supports young African-American males in technology, leadership, and entrepreneurship. The Hidden Genius Project has served close to 1,000 kids.
Why public education?
I went to Oakland public schools from K-8, and then I had the opportunity to participate in the Better Chance Program. I attended a private high school for free. I felt I was prepared for the school thanks to my experience at Claremont, but what struck me was ‘Why was I able to afford this as opposed to someone else?’ Not everyone has the opportunity and support at school and home that I did.
Why Oakland?
I was born and raised here. As I was able to see more of the world in high school and college, I realized how diverse Oakland is and how important of a place it is politically and culturally. I know it has its challenges– school achievement, violence, and poverty– but it also has a certain level of swag, cultural intelligence, and a great deal of pride.
What are your vices?
I definitely try too much, in a good way. I try to do as much as possible in a given day and sit on various boards. I don’t have a problem saying no. I just want to do things and make things happen.
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Darcel Sanders
Chief Executive Officer
Why I GO
I GO because I believe that truly equitable educational outcomes will only be achieved when all stakeholders have a seat and a say at the table. First as student, then a teacher, and now a family member I have seen what is possible when inequitable systems are intentionally interrupted to empower students, their families, and champions-- and I've seen and experienced what happens when this is not the case. I'm in this work to support the movement of our system to the possible and to ensure that as many people as possible acquire the skills and resources to hold our leaders accountable.
Darcel Sanders
Chief Executive Officer
Darcel joined our growing organization from Teach For America, where she spent three years working on the California Capital Valley team, most recently as the Interim Executive Director, and on the California team as Vice President, California Government Affairs. Prior to joining TFA, Darcel worked in the California State Senate departing as Legislative Director to Senator Carol Liu (SD, 25), then Chair of the Senate Education Committee. Darcel began her policy career as an intern in Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Washington D.C. office. She also taught at Frick Middle School in Oakland and was Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Mills College.
A Central Valley native, Darcel is inspired by our work in Fresno, Oakland, and West Contra Costa. She is excited to bring her classroom experience and public policy knowledge to our team, especially as we look to expand our reach and impact.
What is your favorite quote?
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. Do not complain; make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot make a change then change the way you’ve been thinking; you may find a new solution. Never whine, whining lets a brute know that a victim is in the neighborhood. Be certain that you do not die without having done something wonderful for humanity.” -Dr. Maya Angelou
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Emmile Ignacio Brack
Board
Why I GO
All children have the right to spaces of belonging that affirm their identities, foster a love for learning and inquiry, and equip them with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets to lead thriving lives.
Emmile Ignacio Brack
Board
Emmile is currently the Managing Director of Finance & Operations for the National Equity Project and has over 15 years of nonprofit management experience in the areas of strategy, growth, finance & accounting, data, technology and operations. Prior to joining the National Equity Project, Emmile supported nonprofit organizations as an independent consultant to revamp their theories of change, core values and strategic plans as well as analyze their data and operational processes, using a more intentional equity lens.
Before striking out on her own, Emmile was Vice President of Operations for Schoolzilla, a public-benefit corporation that creates data tools for school leaders, and worked at Aspire Public Schools for 7 years, serving as Chief of Staff and Vice President of Operations. Emmile earned her MBA from The George Washington University and her bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University.
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Jonathan Klein
Co-Founder
Why I GO
"Our communities' urgent need to address persistent opportunity gaps for our children of color and the evolving skills necessary for the 21st century economy demand that we commit ourselves to a fundamental transformation of public education. GO is about developing innovative leaders with the vision, care, skills and information to make the changes to our public schools that our kids deserve."
Jonathan Klein
Co-Founder
Jonathan is passionate about improving public schools in low-income communities.
Since his first job after college teaching in Compton, CA, he has been a fundraiser, community organizer and political advocate. Jonathan began working with parents, educators, and community members in 2008 to develop GO’s Oakland network, and became Executive Director in 2012. Based on GO’s work in Oakland, Jonathan was one of three finalists for the Peter Jennings Award for Civic Leadership, presented annually to one of the 30,000 Teach For America alumni for work that has led to far-reaching systemic change. New Schools Venture Fund also named Jonathan Change Agent of the Year in 2013.
In 2003, he co-founded what is now the Oakland Public Education Fund, a non-profit organization that has helped hard-pressed schools raise $20 million for special programs and extra teachers. He was also the Bay Area Director of Teach for America, Chief Program Officer at the Rogers Family Foundation, and Special Assistant to the State Administrator in the Oakland Unified School District as a Broad Resident.
Jonathan received an MBA from the Haas School of Business in 2008, and was a Lecturer there on nonprofit leadership and management. He also helped found Revolution Foods. Jonathan is a fully credentialed California teacher and received a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University. Jonathan lives with his wife and two children in Oakland’s Dimond District.
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Kathleen Maloney
Leadership Council, West Contra Costa
Why I GO
I partner with GO because I believe that advocacy and organizing are critical to achieving an equitable, high quality education for all West Contra Costa students.
Kathleen Maloney
Leadership Council, West Contra Costa
Kathleen is an El Cerrito parent and passionate education advocate who is both personally and professionally dedicated to improving outcomes in West Contra Costa County schools. She has worked for the Irene S. Scully Family Foundation since 2007, having served as the Foundation’s Program Officer and Director of Programs before taking on her current role as Executive Director.
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Lindsey Bird
Board
Why I GO
Access to quality and equitable education is the backbone of thriving communities and American democracy.
Lindsey Bird
Board
Lindsey recently left a seventeen year teaching career, the past decade of which was spent as the developer, instructor, and coordinator of the Language Institute, a specialized program serving immigrant, refugee, and asylum seeking high school students in Modesto, California, which was nationally recognized as a model for supporting the needs of newcomer students. Lindsey is a social justice champion and ally to immigrant students and families at the local, state, and national level. An alumna of the Teach Plus California fellowship, Lindsey advocated the state legislature for tenure reform, as well as successfully inserting explicit protections for newcomer students in the education code.
Lindsey is currently an Education Leadership Coach for Teach Plus California and works as an independent consultant for schools, districts, and text book publishers aiming to build equitable pathways and meaningful access for diverse multilingual student profiles.
Lindsey earned a BA in Social Science from California State University Chico and a M.Ed. in literacy and digital learning from the University of San Diego. Check out Lindsey’s TED Talk on the super power of empathy.
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Louis Willacy
Board
Why I GO
Ensuring all kids have access to a quality public education goes a long way towards ensuring equal opportunity for all.
Louis Willacy
Board
Louis is SVP of Legal & Head of Corporate Development at if(we), a social technology company based in San Francisco, where he oversees all legal matters, including intellectual property, corporate governance, securities compliance, litigation and government affairs. He also leads teams for finance and accounting, people operations and facilities, including employee recruitment and retention, and is responsible for driving corporate development and strategic transactions.
Louis has significant experience with online media, privacy and technology law and has been closely involved with the evolution of the industry for the past 10 years. Prior to working with if(we), Louis served as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer of Ennovate Media, a media technology company based in New York, where he was responsible for key client relations. He also served as Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs with The Deal, L.L.C., a financial news publishing company also based in New York.
Louis began his legal career as a corporate associate with Dewey Ballantine LLP working on mergers and acquisitions and securities offerings. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University (B.A.) and Columbia Law School (J.D.), where he served as an Editor of the Columbia Law Review.
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Amanda Nielsen
Chief of Staff
Why I GO
My commitment to this field stems from a deep belief that education is one of the keys to unlocking a healthier future for all.
Amanda Nielsen
Chief of Staff
Amanda Nielsen brings 10+ years of experience as a public health professional within the non-profit, healthcare, and public sectors. As Chief of Staff at GO, Amanda works closely with Senior Leadership, supporting special projects.
Prior to joining GO Public Schools as Chief of Staff Consultant, Amanda was the Chief of Staff at the United States Virgin Islands Department of Human Services. Amanda received her Master of Public Health from the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University and her Bachelor’s degree in a self-designed major, in Collective Community Development and Social Policy from Lafayette College.
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Natalie Tovani-Walchuk
Chief Impact Officer
Why I GO
Together, I believe we can create an inclusive space where all come to the table with honest stories and curious ears; to share worries, successes, and solutions; and to draw energy, urgency, and inspiration from a shared commitment to doing what’s best for our babies.
Natalie Tovani-Walchuk
Chief Impact Officer
Natalie is a Richmond local and founding principal of Caliber Schools Beta Academy. She was raised in Richmond and now is proud to raise her children there.
Over the past 10 years, she has been a school leader at parochial and public schools in West Contra Costa and Alameda counties serving students in grades Pre K-12. Most recently, Natalie was the principal of Glenview Elementary in Oakland where, under her leadership, the school experienced double-digit growth in both Math and ELA on the California Standards Test (CST). In 2011, Glenview achieved the most growth in the district for African American students in Math. In her final year in Oakland, Natalie received the Excellence in Educational Leadership Award with an unprecedented number of nominations.
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Nik Howard
Board
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Reggie Lee
Leadership Council, Oakland
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Scottie Smith
Leadership Council, West Contra Costa
Why I GO
I GO because every child in our community -- especially low-income students and students of color -- deserves justice and equal opportunity. We must work together until this is a reality for all of our students.
Scottie Smith
Leadership Council, West Contra Costa
A West Contra Costa grandparent and community-based organization leader, Scottie has been an education advocate for over 35 years. She began working in Montgomery County, Maryland as a parent volunteer in the local schools and was elected the first Special Needs Chair for the Montgomery County Public School system. As Chair, she advocated for the educational rights of Exceptional Students, and the establishment of a parent center that provided resources and advocacy services to parents, teachers, and students.
Scottie also co-founded The March 4 Education, a grassroots organization that advocates for equity in educational funding at the state and national levels. She has served many parents and students in Contra Costa County, Alameda County, and San Francisco.
She provides personal advocacy and training sessions for parents/students, social service agencies and others on 504, IDEA, and regular education issues.
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Sonjhia Lowery
Board
