administration

Nicole Cerra

**CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF LEARNING d.tech learning**
Nicole began her career in education serving in the AmeriCorps program and using creative writing to mentor at-risk teens in Seattle. She then taught English and AVID at Sweetwater High School, just one mile from the U.S. - Mexico border, and later moved to the Bay Area to work as an English and reading teacher, and coordinator of the ninth and tenth grade interdisciplinary teams at Capuchino High School. She is committed to helping all kids excel in a rigorous learning environment by personalizing the learning experience and emphasizing creativity. Nicole also conducts a summer institute for teachers.
**Contact:** **ncerra@dtechhs.org**

Hanan Holloway

**DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SERVICES d.tech learning**
Hanan Holloway graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Business Administration, Marketing, and embarked on a twelve-year career in retail as a Northern California buyer for Nordstrom. After a sabbatical to focus on raising her children, she began a part-time stint at Mills High School where d.tech was located during its founding year. She became intrigued by the program, kindness and energy of the students and staff and related strongly as the mother of highschoolers herself. As a result, she joined d.tech and is the very full-time Director of Business Services, managing development, human resources, billing, and facilities.
**Contact:** **hholloway@dtechhs.org**

Ashley Wong

**DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES d.tech learning**
Educational Specialist Ashley Wong is passionate about being a strong advocate for inclusive learning and self-direction. She serves students as the Director of Special Education to ensure that students of all abilities are able to access the general education curriculum. After receiving her Masters in Special Education from Notre Dame de Namur University, Ashley taught students with various needs at local middle and high schools and has experience in a wide array of Special Education programs, such as Resource Support, co-taught English, and Special Day Classes for math and reading intervention. In addition to overseeing d.tech’s Special Education department, Ashley is also dedicated to providing leadership and training to teachers in order to create inclusive and diversified learning experiences for all students.
**Contact:** **awong@dtechhs.org**

Margarita **Contreras**

**SCHOOL DIRECTOR**
Margarita is a Bay Area native who has worked in local schools and districts for 27 years. She began her career at Woodside High School, teaching history at all levels, specializing in teaching English learners. She also taught AVID before transitioning into coordinating the program for several years. Margarita is committed to building systems that support educational equity and social justice in schools. She has carried this vision in her leadership roles at the site and central office level for the past 19 years. Margarita is pursuing a Doctorate of Education at the University of Southern California. She is a first-generation, bilingual/bicultural Latin/x educator whose mission is to support ALL students in reaching their highest potential.
**Contact:** **mcontreras@dtechhs.org**

Christina Deberry

**ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF LEARNING**
Christina began her career in education as a special education assistant. Serving in schools, Christina saw the need for high quality Special Education teachers. Christina was inspired by the call to close the educational equity gap and joined Teach for America Corp as an Education Specialist. After three years in the classroom Christina joined Teach for America’s staff as a Manager of Teacher Leadership Development (MTLD). As an MTLD, Christina coached and provided professional development to teachers across Los Angeles. Christina relocated to the Bay area to serve at Voices as a TK-8 Dual Language Immersion Principal. Christina is an advocate for sparking change and growth in communities through learning. Christina lives by “ I can't guarantee that I’ll change the world but I guarantee that I will spark the mind that will”.
**Contact:** **cdeberry@dtechhs.org**

**Liz Ramirez**

**ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CULTURE**
As an experienced educator and curriculum consultant dedicated to social justice and equitable opportunities, Liz brings a strong educational background and a deep commitment to fostering academic excellence and socio-emotional growth in students. She holds a Masters in Educational Leadership with an Administrative Credential from Santa Clara University, in addition to a math teaching credential and B.S from Occidental College. Liz has honed her skills in fostering a positive learning environment and implementing differentiated instruction to enhance educational experiences. Throughout her career, she has prioritized student success and built positive relationships with families and communities, creating partnerships to support students' holistic development. Liz is eager to contribute her skills, enthusiasm, and commitment to the continued growth and success of Design Tech High School.
**Contact:** **lramirez@dtechhs.org**

board of trustees

board agenda and minutes

**Betsy Corcoran**

**BOARD PRESIDENT**
Betsy believes that great learning and creativity are two threads that help us create a joyful and vibrant life. Professionally, she’s been an award-winning journalist with organizations including The Washington Post, Scientific American and Forbes. And she’s been an entrepreneur, founding and running EdSurge, the go-to publication on education technology. Betsy also believes that the most fundamental innovation happens when you tap the power of community. As a long-time resident of the Bay Area and parent, she’s been a fan of DTech since its inception. In her spare time, she writes, swims and yes, is raising giant Sequoias from seed.
**Contact:** **bcorcoran@dtechhs.org**

Morgan Vien

**BOARD MEMBER**
Morgan Vien is a leader, a learner and designer. Her current suite of work includes serving as a Deeper Learning Coach with Envision Learning Partners, School Retool Coach with IDEO, Design Facilitator with the d.school at Stanford, Liberatory Design Faculty for the National Equity Project, and a Mira Fellow where she is learning to incubate world changing ideas. Prior to this chapter she was the Principal of an arts-integration, expeditionary learning school, called ASCEND, in Oakland, and served as a Founding Teacher in Oakland’s New Small Autonomous Schools movement. Morgan works at the intersection of equity and design to transform systems. She believes that more equitable outcomes for all stakeholders are possible when we take a human-centered approach to the ways ‘we work,’ and when we design for complexity. By building strong teams and using design thinking, she works to cultivate the conditions for sustainable innovation and change-making. Morgan has earned a BA in Media Studies, Communications from the University of Washington, and two Master’s and credentials from UC Berkeley in Developmental Education and Educational Leadership. Morgan loves getting outside with her family and dogs. She can be found hiking, camping, and traveling whenever possible. If you look closely enough you might see sparks of light coming from her workspace as she designs new futures and makes magic happen. #staystoked
***Contact:*** ***mvien@dtechhs.org***

Beily Pan

**BOARD MEMBER**
Beily has over 10+ years of experience in strategy and sales operations at large and small tech companies including Google, NYC SaaS startups (Splash, Grovo, Mag+), Sony Electronics, and Walmart. She has an MBA in Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management, an economics degree from Dartmouth College, and spent two years in the Peace Corps helping small businesses in Peru. She is passionate about data driven problem solving and execution. In her free time, she tries to get others to do CrossFit workouts and enjoys reading.
**Contact:** **bpan@dtechhs.org**

Alan Crystal

**BOARD MEMBER**
Alan Crystal is a finance leader with experience scaling operations in organizations ranging from startup to Fortune 500, and industries including fintech, Internet, and enterprise software. Most recently, he was CFO of SmartBiz, a venture-backed fintech company that created an online platform to help under-served entrepreneurs get access to low-cost financing. He has an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA in Political Science from Stanford University. He started his career as a community development volunteer with the Peace Corps in Senegal. His wife is an elementary school educator, and they have three children -- two in college and one in high school. He's enthusiastic about the role that design principles can play in education. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the Bay Area hills -- on foot or on road bike.
**Contact:** **acrystal@dtechhs.org**

Dan Carroll

BOARD MEMBER

Dan Carroll is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Clever, a single sign-on solution used by more than 95,000 K-12 U.S. schools. Before co-founding Clever, Dan was a Teach for America science teacher and then Director of Data & Technology at STRIVE Prep in Denver. He received his bachelor’s degree in human evolutionary biology from Harvard. He spends his free time ebiking with his wife and 4 year old daughter in search of the best playground.

Contact: dcarroll@dtechhs.org

**Lauren Sneed**

**BOARD MEMBER**
Lauren is a researcher – practitioner with plans of completing her doctoral degree in educational leadership (emphasis: social justice & equity) in 2025. She is committed to educational equity and access for every student with an expertise in serving system-impacted populations. Her research focuses on disrupting the school to prison pipeline. Her positionality and expertise combined with decades of experience in the K-16 and beyond educational systems embodies cultural humility infused with innovation and advocacy. Lauren contributes to career education policy in California and has worked with the American Civil Liberties Union to investigate, report and ensure system effectiveness in alternative school settings. Originally from a Southern California family who led by example, Lauren is an alumni Faculty Lecturer who enjoys teaching a social justice and career exploration course in the Department of Counseling at San Francisco State University.
**Contact:** **lsneed@dtechhs.org**

Amy Jenkins

**BOARD MEMBER**
Amy leads sales, success, marketing, and operations for Meadow. She has spent most of her career in education, focused on opening up opportunities and access for students. Most recently, Amy was the Head of Schools and Businesses for Outschool during a time of tremendous growth. Prior to that, Amy was the COO of Education Elements, an investor with NewSchools Venture Fund, a consultant, a middle school teacher, and an afterschool program provider. Amy has an AB from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She lives in California with two daughters who inspire her to make the world a better place.
**Contact:** **ajenkins@dtechhs.org**

**Shamar Edwards**

**BOARD MEMBER**
Shamar Edwards has over 20 years experience leading and transforming schools as an educator, administrator, principal, and coach. She currently serves as a Senior Director of Equity for Alameda Unified School District. She holds 3 masters degrees in the following areas: Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, USC, Masters in Education Administration with an emphasis in Social Justice, UC Berkeley, Masters in Negotiation Conflict Resolution and Peace building, CSU Dominguez Hills. Shamar Edwards has extensive training in Restorative Justice Practices, Trauma Informed Pedagogy, Culturally Responsive and Anti-Racist Pedagogy. Her consultancy work focuses on Restorative School Leadership and she specializes in training school leaders to build their core competencies in emotional intelligence, communication, and conflict management skills.
**Contact:** **sedwards@dtechhs.org**

parent group (coming soon!)

Learn how parents can get involved and take leadership roles here.

Banner Photo credit: Jeremy Bitterman