Eliza Alexander

Eliza is the Managing Director of AISNE Northern New England and recently led a successful merger between her previous association, ISANNE, with AISNE. Eliza has worked in the independent school community for over twenty years leading a wide array of educational initiatives. Raised in mid-coast Maine, Eliza began her career as a Spanish teacher specializing in Central America and Mexico. She has facilitated race and equity seminars across a number of sectors working with leaders in higher education, government, and non-profit organizations. 

1) how does your identity influence your work? 

I am a white cisgender woman, the eldest daughter of three children born to college-educated parents. I was raised in a family that elected to live in poverty in Maine in a white, rural, working-class community. I am passionate about racial justice, and I have spent much of my adult life unpacking and trying to better understand how being white has shaped me and my life. Helping to build compassionate, resilient and justice-centered communities is life-long work, and remembering myself as a young girl playing in Maine’s woods helps me center and value children in my approach.

2) what brought you to SF-CESS?

I officially joined SF-CESS last fall, but first met Greg Peters about a decade ago through Camilla Greene, and was introduced to SF-CESS’s model for equity and coaching at Maret School.  Since then our paths have crossed many times, and I have loved getting to know and collaborate with other members of the organization as well.  It has been an exciting and joyful experience for me to join such a  talented and passionate group of racial justice leaders this past year.

Jonathan Dearman, Secretary
Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty

Fannie Gonzales-Sprouse

Teacher
Garfield Community School, RCESS

Holly Hinderlie

Gregory Peters
Executive Director
SF-CESS

Dr. Gregory Peters is school reform leader with a longstanding history working within both local and national efforts.  As Principal of San Francisco’s Leadership High School, Gregory and his teachers effectively created a National Demonstration and Mentor School that made progress in closing the racial achievement gap and was “highly commended for… graduating all their students – of every race/ ethnicity – University of California eligible.”

Building from his successful experiences and results, Gregory now leads The San Francisco Coalition of Essential Small Schools, which, established in 2005, is committed “to interrupt and transform current and systemic educational inequities to ensure all students have access to personalized, equitable and high performing schools that believe and demonstrate each student can, should and will succeed.”  Towards this mission, Gregory facilitates equity-focused, educational transformation throughout the nation. 

Gregory’s instructional expertise and leadership in curriculum and school design; data based inquiry; and equity-centered professional development have resulted in a number recognitions including CESN’s “Commitment to Equity Award” and CANEC’s “Innovations in Excellence Award”.

Gregory earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership & Social Justice from California State University East Bay in 2012; his dissertation focused on Teacher Transformation. 

Lupe Torres-Khalil
Principal
Garfield Community School, RCESS