Founder-President

Dheyanira, originally from Quito-Ecuador, is deeply committed to community engagement and empowerment. She actively participates in educational and community activities, particularly in her son’s schools and the broader Mission District. She leads a bilingual-bicultural learning community, skillfully blending art, music, and nature to enhance learning and healing, and to strengthen familial connections to cultural heritage.

Vice President

Lucia retired from the San Francisco Unified School District in 2016 after nearly 20 years as a family education advocate. A San Francisco resident for over 40 years, she raised two children who graduated from SF public schools. Lucia started with the Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), securing funding through grants to sustain it for 10 years. She later led the Even Start Family Literacy Program and the District English Learners Advisory Committee, which represented non-English speaking families to improve education. Her work has fostered lasting relationships among families that continue today.

Secretary

Andrew is a former public school Science teacher. He has taught high school Chemistry, Physics, and Integrated Science and has over 20 years of experience working with students at all levels from advanced honor students to students with IEPs and ESL students.  

He received his BA in Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis and his PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He did his post-doctoral research in X-ray crystallography at UCSF before becoming a public school science teacher at Mission High School in San Francisco.