Alexa happily joins the Board bringing 40 years of experience in the public school system as a teacher, staff developer, systems change facilitator, and principal. From an undergrad major in Dramatic Art, followed by elementary teaching and administrative credentials, and a Master’s in staff development, she offers a commitment to equitable education, joy in the Arts, and an interest in how systems can work toward moral and humane aims. In retirement, she has focused on community building, housing and food justice, and has become a neighborhood farmer.

Phyllis (Flip) Jewell served on the Woolman board of trustees from 2015 to 2018, and returned to the board in 2020. Her board work has focused on personnel and governance matters, and she currently clerks the board’s Committee for Trustees. She has practiced immigration law in San Francisco since 1985, and founded her own firm in 1996, nurturing its growth from four to thirty-plus employees. Her nonprofit governance experience outside of Woolman includes past appointed and elected roles in the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Flip’s first awareness of Woolman came when she was in high school in California and her grandparents, members of Quaker meetings in Michigan, suggested she might wish to transfer to the John Woolman School. That didn’t happen, but many years later, when Flip had a high schooler of her own, Woolman reappeared in her life when her son learned about the Woolman Semester School and applied to attend. His time at Woolman was a transformative and deeply educational experience. The opportunities that Woolman continues to provide to young people – the connection to the land and each other; radical acceptance of one another; being away from the media bombardment endemic in other peer settings; and a deep engagement with the meaning of peace, justice, and sustainability –are what inspire Flip to support Woolman.

Dana is a John Woolman School alumna from the class of 1996. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from Dominican University of California as well as certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Luma Practitioner. Dana brings with her experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Currently, she works as an Audit Advisory & Risk Management Manager for a Bay Area software company where she has also supported Finance teams worldwide in the implementation of new systems and processes. Prior to that, after having spent several years as a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Northern California, she took on a council position managing the Fall Product and Cookie Sale fundraising programs for her region. She is the recipient of the Girl Scout Appreciation Pin, Green Angel Award, Centennial Award, and Honor Pin. Additionally, Dana has served on a number of volunteer lead boards in her local community supporting education and youth sports.

Heidi received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 1988 from Bryn Mawr College, and Masters in Psychology with an emphasis in Somatic Family Therapy in 1995 at the California Institute of Integral Studies. She is a California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She also has a private practice as a Tri-lingual Psychologist, with an international practice in English, Spanish and Portuguese focusing on a range of issues from trauma to depression, attachment issues and marital conflict. She lived in Africa for 11 years working as a psychotherapist and Quaker Missionary. During her time in Kenya, she provided counseling as an income generating project for Watoto wa Lwanga whose activities focused on providing skills and schooling for orphans and vulnerable children. Later she worked supporting the Alternatives to Violence Project Kenya Trust in their work in refugee camps, slums and prisons. Previously in South Africa, she helped establish and direct the Mahube AIDS Project at the Wesley Methodist City Mission in Pretoria. She also worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marin & Napa as Associate Executive Director, and the Marin YMCA as Director of Youth & Family Services. She began worshipping with Quakers during her college years, and became a member of San Francisco Monthly Meeting in 2001. She currently lives in San Francisco, California.

Sandra became interested in CPFEA during the Woolman Semester School. She saw youth blossom from the experience and knows that it made a real difference in their lives. Sandra started attending a Friends Meeting in 1983 with her family while living in Bloomsburg, PA and was active with all the Quaker Meetings that she attended or been a member. In 1997 she and her family settled in the Bay Area where she attends SF Friends Meeting. She graduated from the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research in 1985 with a Masters in Social Policy and Program Development. She earned a second Master’s in Law and Social Policy. She has worked with Palestinian activist, Mubarak Awad, and Nonviolence International as well as Bread for the World.

Among many positions, she served on Hospitality, Children’s Religious Education, and Peace and Social Concerns Committee in San Francisco. She has also served on the Latin America Concerns Committee of Yearly Meeting. She worked for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) as the Peace Education Coordinator since 1999. She has served on the Steering Committee for some of the large pre-war demonstrations that took place in San Francisco before the Iraq War started to small work committees that keep programs alive and growing. She supervises the work of Pablo Paredes who started a youth program that is focused on migrant youth.

Lew worked at JWS from 1974-78 teaching Farm and Garden, Math, Photography and PE. Previously, Lew and his wife, Eddy, established Sunflower School, a K through 8 parent-cooperative that accommodated many of the JWS staff children and served as the first alternative elementary school in the County.

Lew has spent his working life in education at each of the local public high schools. His career includes service projects in Mississippi, Laos and Romania. His board experience extends to BriarPatch Coop, United Way, Nevada County Public Access TV, KVMR, and the Nevada City Schools.

Lew returns to Woolman at Sierra Friends Center in hopes of reinvigorating the education program, developing a retreat center and stewarding the scarred landscape by supporting the organic farming program and helping to re-establish a vital community spirit.

Andy lives in Boise, Idaho and retired from an engineering career that included a diversion into university academics. He remains actively engineering in a consulting arrangement.

Jennifer was the interim executive director for Woolman until May 31, 2024 at which time she rejoined the board. Jennifer moved back to her home in Boise, Idaho and remains busy with volunteering and other activities.

Bio coming soon…