Board of Directors
Melinda Bihn
Dr. Melinda Bihn returned to her home state of California to lead French American and International in 2014. She has worked in both international schools in Europe and independent schools in the United States, and speaks French and German in addition to English. Melinda has a B.A. in English with a minor in French, a master's in comparative literature, a master's in the teaching and administration of English as a second language, and a doctorate in educational leadership. Her doctoral dissertation at the University of Pennsylvania focused on international students in independent schools. Melinda has been an independent school trustee and has served on the boards of the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE), and she was a 2019 Fellow at the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership of Teachers College, Columbia University.
Roger Bridges
Roger Bridges is a lifelong educator and counseling professional who has worked with young people, families, schools, and community organizations for nearly four decades. He is the Founder and Principal of Building Bridges Consulting. He formerly served as Assistant Head of School for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Windward School in Los Angeles and as Associate Head of School for Advancement, Equity & Inclusion, and Counseling at Echo Horizon School in Culver City. Mr. Bridges began his independent school career as Associate Director of Counseling at The Branson School in Ross, CA. He has served as a facilitator and motivational speaker for schools and community-based organizations, including The Bill & Melinda Gates Leadership Institute, PACT Adopt (The Bay Area, CA), St. Lawrence of Brindisi School (Watts, CA), St. Mark’s School of Altadena and St. Monica's High School (Santa Monica, CA). Additionally, he has been the keynote speaker for The Buckley School’s MLK Jr. Service Day (Sherman Oaks, CA). Nationally, Mr. Bridges has been a featured workshop presenter on issues of equity and inclusion at the annual National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Conference as well as the annual NAIS-sponsored People of Color Conference. He is also the co-founder and co-director of the Empowerment and Engagement Coalition Conference for African American Youth (Greater Los Angeles Area).
Baudelia Chavez Taylor
Baudelia Chavez Taylor is in her seventh year as Head of School at Crestview Preparatory School in La Canada, CA. Prior to her headship, she was the Director of Early Childhood Programs at The Center for Early Education in West Hollywood, CA. She spent the early years of her career as a teacher at Bellagio Road Newcomer School, a lab school for LAUSD that beta-tested second language programs. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Arts in History with a Minor in Education. After receiving her certification in early childhood from UCLA, she completed an elementary credentialing program from National University where she earned her M.A. in Education specializing in Teaching and Learning in a Global Society. She compliments her work as an educator by serving as a member of the Los Angeles Advisory Board for Common Sense Media. Previously, she served as a trustee at the Maggy Haves School, where she focused her efforts on the Head's Evaluation and Audit committees. Also, she served as a trustee for a religious organization, helping spearhead its education and social action committees.
Christopher Dennis
Christopher Dennis is the Associate Head of School at Campbell Hall School in Studio City, CA. He previously served as the Director of Equity and Diversity at Collegiate School of New York, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Case Management at Scripps College, and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Bowdoin College. Christopher has extensive experience in faculty and staff recruitment, enrollment management, international relations, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, outcomes-driven program design, and policy adherence. Christopher's commitment to diversity and equity is not just a professional duty, but a personal mission. He has championed diverse student access and equity through organizations such as A Better Chance, Inc. His efforts have been recognized by the National Black MBA Association’s L.A. chapter boards and Project Onyx Youth Leadership Institute. In 2023, he was honored with the prestigious Reveta Bowers Legacy Award, a testament to his exceptional contributions. Christopher's journey in education began at Concordia University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he made a significant impact on urban learners as a program supervisor in the Student of Color Retention Program and an instructor in the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center with the Urban Education Summer Scholar Program. This early career experience laid the foundation for his unwavering commitment to diversity and equity in education. His academic achievements include a B.A. in Kinesiology, an M.S. in Organizational Management, an M.Ed in Higher Education Administration and Policy, and he is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Education for Social Justice at the University of San Diego.
Jaime Dominguez
Jaime Dominguez is the Head of School at Oakwood School, a K-12 independent school in North Hollywood, California. Prior to Oakwood, Jaime was Head of School at Stuart Hall for Boys in San Francisco, a position he held for 14 years and before then he was a teacher and administrator at the American School in London from 1997-2005. During his tenure at the American School, Jaime served as assistant principal and principal of the middle school, taught middle school math and science, and coached Varsity and Junior Varsity basketball and tennis. Jaime began his career in New York City teaching 7th and 8th grade science as one of the earliest corps members of Teach for America. Following his time in New York, he taught middle and high school math and science in Austin,Texas. Jaime served on the Board of Teach for America Bay Area, and he is a founding board member and former board chair of the New School of San Francisco. The New School is a tuition-free public school whose mission is grounded in the tenets of inclusion, inquiry and personalized learning. Jaime is bilingual and grew up among an extended bicultural family in El Paso, Texas. He cultivated an early interest in the visual arts of ceramics, woodworking, and painting, to which he remains committed today. While attending Princeton University, Jaime was the President of the Ballet Folklórico Dance Company of Princeton. He received his B.A. in Biology from Princeton and his M.A. in Educational Administration from Michigan State University.
Nisa Frank
Nisa Frank is the Head of School at Prospect Sierra after serving as the Head of Lower School at The Hamlin School in San Francisco. Prior to her tenure at The Hamlin School, Nisa was the Assistant Head of Preschool and Lower School at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Nisa taught 2nd grade for seven years at The Town School in New York, NY, where she also served on the Board of Trustees before becoming the Director of Admission at Waterside School in Stamford, Connecticut. Nisa also serves on the boards of Aspire Public Schools and the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. Nisa holds a BS in child and adolescent development from San Francisco State University, an M.S. Ed. in early childhood education from Bank Street College of Education, and a M.S. Ed. in private school leadership from Teachers College at Columbia University (Klingenstein Center).
Phil Gutierrez
Stephanie Holly
Stephanie Holly is the Chief Financial & Operations Officer at Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad, California, where she has served since 2019. She also serves at the co-advisor to the student-directed investment fund (“Firebird Fund”). Prior to Pacific Ridge School, much of Stephanie’s professional career was spent in leadership roles within the Financial Services industry. She was drawn to Pacific Ridge because of the mission, purpose, entrepreneurial spirit, and reputation of the school, but quickly came to learn that she had found her professional purpose -- leveraging her skills to support the important mission of independent schools. She has extensive experience in the areas of finance, accounting, strategic planning, human resources, risk and safety, facilities, and information technology. Stephanie has a B.A. in Finance with minors in Entrepreneurship and Psychology from The University of Portland in Portland, Oregon. She lived and studied in Fremantle, Australia and London, England during her time at UP. She also participated in the Entrepreneur Scholars Program which was an enhanced educational experience for students interested in entrepreneurship and understanding the global economy.
Sara Poplack
Sara Poplack is the Associate Head of School for Academics at Phillips Brooks School in Menlo Park. She has spent most of her career in elementary education focused on building effective professional development, innovative curriculum, and impactful instructional coaching systems. Prior to her current role, Sara worked as the Director of Instructional Coaching for a nonprofit pilot program reimagining mathematics intervention in low performing school districts. In her decade at Keys School in Palo Alto, she taught third grade and held several administrative positions, including Assistant Head of Lower School and Interim Director of Admissions. Prior to moving to California, Sara taught for five years in independent schools in Connecticut and New Mexico. Sara holds an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Santa Clara University, an M.A. in Elementary Education from Fairfield University, and B.A. in Psychology: Neuroscience from Colby College.
Alona Scott
Ricco Siasoco
Ricco Siasoco (he/him) is an educator with more than 22 years of leadership experience. He is currently the Dean of Student Life and Culture at The Waverly School, where he supports students in navigating academic, co-curricular, and socio-emotional life. Ricco has served in senior leadership, classroom teaching, and diversity practitioner roles at The Urban School of San Francisco, The Chadwick School, The Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Prep for Prep, and Boston College. He is a frequent speaker and facilitator on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics including the NAIS People of Color Conference, Asian American Educators, NYSAIS Gender and Sexuality Diversity, and the NEH Institute on Immigration in California. He holds a BS from Boston University, an MFA from Bennington College, and is completing his EdD from Teachers College, Columbia University. Ricco is a board member at Marin Primary & Middle School, California Teacher Development Cooperative, and Kundiman, one of the nation’s leading Asian American literary organizations. Ricco published a collection of short stories entitled The Foley Artist (Gaudy Boy Press, 2019).
Mariama Richards
Pankti Sevak
Pankti Sevak is the Head of School at San Francisco Friends School. She has worked in schools for almost three decades, most recently serving as both the Middle School Head and Dean of the Faculty at Friends Seminary, a K–12 Quaker school with a 200-year history in New York City. Until her recent move to the West Coast, Pankti also served as a faculty member and director for the Divisional Leadership Institute of the New York State Association of Independent Schools.
Joel Sohn
Joel Sohn currently serves as the assistant head of school for planning and strategic initiatives at Head-Royce School in Oakland, CA. Joel has held multiple leadership roles in different independent schools, primarily focusing on improving the culture of belonging through strategic initiatives and practices. Joel serves on the board of One Schoolhouse and on the educator advisory board for Teach AAPI. Named a NAIS teacher of the future in 2013, Joel continues to work with teachers in developing effective and creative teaching practices that benefit all students. He also plays an active role in mentorship and leadership cultivation of AANHPI educators in independent schools across the country through his work with Asian Educators Alliance (AsEA).