Nia House Board Candidates
Meet the candidates hoping for your vote to serve on the Nia House Board of Directors for the 2024-25 school year.
by Wednesday, July 3, 2024
HOW:
Each family may submit 1 ballot. If two parents accidentally vote, the first submitted will be honored.
Vote online. Submit your ballot by Wednesday, July3 at 5pm.
WHO:
4 Parent Representatives
1 Staff Representative
2 Community Representatives
Parent Representative Candidates
Peter Jackson (Nora) - Parent Representative
I would be honored to have your support for my nomination to join the Board of Nia House. My daughter, Nora, is a graduate of Toddler West and is currently enrolled in Primary South. My wife Debra and I have been hoping since she was born that Nia House would be a part of her life, and ours. Many of our friends and colleagues had shared with us the transformative power of a Montessori education grounded in values of justice, equity, and care. Even my barber is both a Nia House graduate and parent! But what attracted me most to Nia House was the expectation of parent service. I love how our children are growing up in a community that is made possible in part by the generosity of their parents.
That’s why I volunteered earlier this year to support Eve, Stacey, and the Board in developing a fundraising strategy and marketing plan to celebrate Nia House’s 50 year anniversary. Every day I learn (or re-learn) something new about how to support Nora’s growth and development. When it comes to early childhood education, I’m very much a toddler. But I am fortunate to have had many experiences in my career that enable me to support Nia House in its fundraising, operations, and management. I’m excited to bring even more of that to our community by serving on the Board.
I’m a Partner at the global design and innovation firm, IDEO, where I’ve led our public sector and financial services practices. I’ve worked with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to prepare for the first ever redesign of its permanent exhibition, helped the FCC deliver high speed internet access to schools, libraries, and rural health centers, and designed a public education campaign for San Francisco in the throes of the pandemic. In my job, I use human-centered design to transform services, experiences, people, and organizations. Many of the values that Nia House holds dear are the ones I use every day in my work.
But I also know that service to our community can take many forms. That’s why our family has done everything from weekend chicken and rabbit coop duties, to volunteering at Nia House events, and making breakfast one morning at last year’s camping trip.
If elected to the Board, you can count on me to use my professional experience to help Nia House’s leadership plan and execute on the community’s vision for the school, to roll up my sleeves and lend a hand no matter how big or small the job, and to make time to connect with parents to understand how we can all work together to grow the impact Nia House has in our community and in each and every one of our homes.
Chrissie Bradley (Marie and Bay) - Incumbent Parent Representative
My husband and I frequently remind each other that enrolling in Nia House was the best parenting decision we’ve ever made. My son Bay started at Nia House in Amanda’s class in 2016, and my daughter Marie is currently carrying the family torch in Nicole’s class. Both of our (very different) children have thrived within the Montessori framework, and the collective wisdom and kindness of the teacher and parent community at Nia House has seen our family through so many triumphs and challenges over the years.
I feel strongly that quality childcare for working families needs to be accessible to all who need it, and I would love the opportunity to support Nia House’s work in maintaining a culture of equity and inclusion as a member of the Board.
And as we slowly emerge from the pandemic with Nia House’s core values strongly intact, I think we have an exciting opportunity to ramp up the in-person community-building and skill-sharing that so benefited the parent community before shelter-in-place.
Until recently I served on the Board of a small community organization fostering community and connections among Richmond families. Professionally, I do accessibility and communications work for an arts and disability organization in Richmond called NIAD, and I have a background in program management in higher education and non-profits arts institutions like UC Berkeley, SFMOMA and California College of the Arts. If elected, I would bring these skills and experience to my role as Board member with dedication and joy.
Sequoia Rodriquez (Dreu, Drea, JJ)- Incumbent Parent Representative
I would like to continue on the Board of Directors as a parent representative. I have been a member of the Nia House community for more than 5 years. My daughter Drea is an alumni of Nia House. After spending years at Nia House, Drea graduated and gave Nia House to her not primary aged sister, Dreu. Dreu is now thriving and enjoying life Primary North.
The Nia House community is welcoming, understanding and accepting of all. My older son attended public elementary school, so he did not get the Nia House experience. Prior to becoming part of the Nia House family, we never experienced a love like this. Nia House provides families with such strong community bonding and family-like connections while still maintaining a structured yet free educational experience.
I am currently the African Dance and Drumming teacher for the Berkeley Unified School District. I believe that my 18+ years of experience with the school district will support my contributions to the board. I have gained the skills and knowledge needed to help bring families in the school together. I have had a lot of experience putting on shows and performances for the district involving live music and dance to help bridge the gap between community and school involvement.
I would be honored to serve as a member on the Nia House board to continue to support the Nia House mission. I would also like to provide my help to ensure that more families in the community are able to learn and become part of the Nia House mission as well.
Adriana Penuela-Useche- Incumbent Parent Representative (Lucia and Emilia)
During Lucia's 3 years at Nia House, we have seen her personality, secure attachment, and ability to flourish tremendously. This highlights how Nia House provides holistic education during formative years, cultivating individuals with diverse mindsets, equity lenses, and holistic visions of social and environmental sustainability. I am running to continue on the Nia House board because I value this opportunity to serve and support staff in nurturing our children. As treasurer, I have developed financial policies, invested funds, and ensured fiduciary responsibility.
In my day job, I run a climate tech consultancy for entrepreneurs, helping them turn scientific strategies into businesses that could reduce our carbon footprint, drawing on my background as a Chemical Engineer and Berkeley MBA.
As a passionate advocate for holistic education and equity, I am eager to continue serving on the Nia House Board as a parent representative. With expertise in business management, finance, and innovative thinking, I will challenge the status quo and explore how education can empower and shape our children's lives.
Community Representative
Sonya Sanchez- Incumbent Community Representative (Aria, Dashielle)
My goal in serving on the Nia House Board is to give back to the Nia House Community. Nia House’s mission to bring together children from different socio-economic backgrounds to grow and work in harmony and cooperation resonates both personally and professionally. On a personal level, I have seen the deep and lasting impact that Nia House has had on our two children (Dashiell, 14 and Aria, 10). Like all Nia House children, our children carry with them a deep sense of self-care, care of community and a strong educational foundation. I am profoundly thankful to the Nia House leadership and teachers for bestowing these gifts.
On a professional level, Nia House's mission also resonates deeply. As Senior Principal Counsel at the University of California, I support the University's efforts to ensure equal access to programs and activities for all. As a national leader in the Title IX legal arena, I draft policies and procedures, craft novel litigation strategies, and provide national thought leadership on Title IX related issues. More recently, I have led the University’s effort to revise its Non-Discrimination policies to ensure that all allegations of harassment and discrimination based on all protected class are handled effectively. I also had the honor and privilege of being a key contributor to UC’s DACA litigation culminating in the court’s granting a nation-wide preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration from deporting DACA students and workers across the nations.
Ultimately, all these efforts are in service of ensuring equitable access to programs and activities. My hope is to use the skills, knowledge and insights gained through my work at UC to contribute to Nia House's critical mission. Through my work at UC and beyond, I have looked for opportunities to create an inclusive learning environment for the professional development of the diverse attorney members in the organization. I am humbled and energized at the prospect of supporting Nia House's vibrant and critical community.
Nathan Hood- Incumbent Board President (Jonah and Noelle)
I am excited to announce my reelection campaign for the NH Board!
About Me:
Proud parent of three (17, 6, 4), including one at NH!
Born and bred in Detroit, but my partner grew up one block up from NH and I have come to truly cherish the program, staff and greater community
Committed to ensuring NH “stays around” so that others can experience it as well, by:
Supporting staff materially and otherwise
Providing financial aid and other resources to attract a diverse population
Developing and enhancing long-term planning
Current NH Involvement:
As the 2022-2023 Board Treasurer and 2023-2024 Board President I helped:
Increase all staff salaries by at least 5 percent
Increase tuition for the highest income/wealth families, in order to ensure availability of financial aid
Commit not to raise financial aid tuition rates
Work toward the goal of at least 50 percent families receiving financial aid
Lay the groundwork for a long-term investment strategy
I'm excited to continue and enhance this work in the next year!
Outside of NH:
EBMUD finance department, ex-BART Budget, Civil Rights and Planning departments, ex-non profit program management
Residential realtor and investor
First Congregational Church of Berkeley - Finance Committee Chair
Developed and monitored budget similar in size to NH
Co-managed major building fire damage, insurance claim and re-build
Navigated “interesting Berkeley personalities”
IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program - Volunteer
Prepared and filed low-income tax returns
Opened bank accounts
Conducted credit report reviews
Led financial literacy workshops
Represented the program at public events
Vote N.H. (me) for N.H. (you!)
Staff Representative
Sambo Nhey - Staff Representative
The Nia House community continues to inspire me daily, from the incredible children, the devoted parents, and to the talented staff. The invaluable experiences in the classrooms has given me the passion and the motivation to obtain my AMS Early Childhood credentials. Over my 8 years here at Nia House- from current teacher and parent to alumni parent, I have witnessed the importance of a strong community through the interconnectedness that we all share here at Nia House - which is the mission and traditions that is upheld in our school. It would be an honor to represent the voice of staff, while contributing to upholding Nia House’s traditions and the development of its continued success.