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STAFF OF MISSION LEARNING CENTER

Alexis Filippini, Executive Director
E-mail: alexis@mlcsf.org

Alexis began her collaboration with MLC by serving on the MLC advisory board while she was an assistant professor in the special education department at San Francisco State University. At SFSU, she taught courses and conducted research in literacy and in positive behavior supports (including classroom management and conflict resolution). She also co-coordinated a credential program, secured grant funding, and served on the UC Berkeley – SFSU joint doctoral program faculty. Alexis maintains her relationship with SFSU and UCB through mentoring graduate students who have literacy interests relevant to MLC’s mission.

Alexis’s interests in reading and reading difficulties grew out of her experience on the federally funded Proyecto La Patera at UC Santa Barbara. For several years she provided direct early literacy support services to Spanish speaking students and their families, in addition to leading research and evaluation teams. In her many home visits in southern California, she developed a strong connection to Latino/a culture that drew her to the Mission district when she moved to San Francisco. Every day on her short bike ride to MLC, she is delighted to be part of a historic organization in this vibrant and warm community.

Lillian Egloff, After School Program Coordinator and Instructor top^
E-mail: lillian@mlcsf.org

Lillian is an experienced youth worker, with a passion for inspiring children to grow academically, creatively and socially. She strives to make her classroom a supportive and interactive place where children enjoy being. She believes that developing community and enthusiasm in the classroom is key to instilling a love of learning in her students.


Christopher Schwandt, Site Coordinator   top^
E-mail: christopher@mlcsf.org

Chris began his career in education in 2002 as a high school social studies teacher in Colorado for “at risk” youth. After three years of teaching high school and earning a master’s degree in Educational Foundations, Practice, and Policy at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Chris moved overseas to travel and teach English as a foreign language. He joined Mission Learning Center in September, 2008 as a literacy instructor for 4th and 5th grade students in the after school program at Leonard R. Flynn Elementary. He is passionate about helping students who are below grade level in reading and writing, and strives to make sure fewer children “fall through the cracks” in the public education system.

Isabel S. Nevarez, Bookkeeper-Administrative Assistant     top^
E-mail: isabel@mlcsf.org

Isabel Nevarez is the Bookkeeper / Administrative Assistant of Mission Learning Center since September 2005, and brings over 10 years of Bookkeeping and accounting experience in California. She has a BA in accounting. Isabel has many years of experience working with the community. Isabel has worked in many of the activities in Saint Peter's Parish in San Francisco for about 14 years. Currently Isabel is participating in San Leander's Parish activities located in San Leandro, California. Isabel is proud to be part of Mission Learning center and loves to work with the community.

AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM STAFF OF MISSION LEARNING CENTER
Centro del Pueblo (MLC)
Lillian Egloff, ASP Coordinator and Instructor E-mail: lillian@mlcsf.org
Ofelia Almonte, Reading Instructor
Dan By Kim, Reading Instructor

Leonard R. Flynn Elementary
Christopher Schwandt, Coordinator Christopher@mlcsf.org
Beleza Chan, Instructor
Madeline Oatman, Instructor
Xander Piper, Instructor
Wendy Salazar, Instructional Aide
Charles Stevens, Instructor
Krystina Orozco, Instructional Aide
Maricon De La Peña, Instructional Aide

MISSION LEARNING CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS    top^


Larry Schmidlin, President of the Board top^

Larry Schmidlin has held a variety of management and technical positions in the software development industry over the last 17 years. He currently works at Wells Fargo managing the development of new mobile banking technologies. In addition to the financial industry, Larry has been involved with firewall security, portals, and enterprise asset management companies. Larry's love of books has prompted him to write 2 children's books


Mary Nelson, Vice President of the Board top^

Mary Nelson has a background in operations, finance, program management and strategic planning within high-tech, growth companies. She is currently the Vice President of Customer Service at mBlox, Inc., the world's largest mobile transaction network, and was previously Vice President of Customer Care at New Edge Networks, a subsidiary of EarthLink. She holds an MBA from Portland State University and a Bachelor's degree in Finance from University of Portland. Mary can often be found reading on an airplane as she pursues her love of travel


Julie Lein, Secretary and Treasurer  top^

As a Russian ex-pat, Julie knows first-hand the difficulties of learning to read in your non-native language. Julie is currently an Analyst at Tulchin Research, a progressive polling firm based in San Francisco. In addition to serving clients in the environmental, labor, and non-profit sectors, Julie enjoys giving back to the San Francisco community. She serves on the Advisory Board for the New Leaders Council, a progressive leadership training program, and the Executive Board of the Good Ol' Girls, a progressive women's group. She graduated with a degree in Public Policy from Stanford University.


Katherine Casey top^

Katherine has been committed to education since her time at Stanford, when she worked with Women and Youth Supporting Each Other, East Palo Alto Stanford Academy, and the Liberation Curriculum of the MLK Papers Project. Katherine’s work experience includes the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford, Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, and the Silver Giving Foundation. She currently works for Education Pioneers, helping to run a graduate Fellowship program that recruits and trains leaders for the education sector. Katherine remains involved with the Haas and Coro Centers, was a member of the Summer Youth Project Steering Panel for Northern California Grantmakers, and participated in San Francisco’s New Leaders Council.


Alfredo Pedroza
*Former Mission Learning Center Student  top^

Alfredo is the liason to districts 9, 11, and the Latino community for the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services. A former Mission Learning Center student, Alfredo has come full circle and now sits on the Board of Directors.


Alexis Smith top^

Alexis' varied background includes staffing a U.S. Senator, consulting the Mexican federal government on transparency issues, working in the high-tech industry, and coordinating large grants for nonprofits and universities. She is currently a Vice President at Barbary Coast Consulting, a local public affairs consulting firm. Alexis is a native of the Bay Area and resident of the Mission Dolores neighborhood. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley and a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Chicago. In addition to her involvement with Mission Learning Center, Alexis serves on the Executive Board of the San Francisco Young Democrats.


Rocio Avila
*Former Mission Learning Center Student  top^

Rocío Alejandra Avila is an attorney at La Raza Centro Legal, Inc. She directs the Workers’ Rights Program’s legal services and litigation. She represents low-wage, predominately immigrant workers in employment matters, with a focus on wage enforcement, employment discrimination and verification issues. She is a graduate of Golden Gate University School of law and the University of California, Santa Cruz. Rocio was born and raised in the Mission District of San Francisco. As a former Mission Learning Center student, Rocio is proud to be back at MLC, as a board member, to help ensure that more children and youth like her continue to benefit from MLC’s legacy.