Blue Oak School Advisory Board

In April, 2009 the Blue Oak School Advisory Board was established.  Comprised of a number of area professionals representing a broad range of businesses and vocations, the Advisory Board is charged with helping Blue Oak School fulfill our mission to continue to develop meaningful relationships with the people and organizations of the greater Napa community.  The Advisory Board also acts as a valuable sounding board for the School as we work to develop a strategic plan to guide us through the next 3-5 years.  With an in-depth knowledge of Blue Oak School, our mission, philosophy of education and program, members of the Advisory Board are in a unique position to be helpful and effective ambassadors for the School in the Napa Valley and beyond.

The Advisory Board is comprised of the following members, listed in alphabetical order:

  • Dr. Joe Carrillo is a trustee and the chair of the Community Benefit Committee at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center and is a founding member of Children's Health Initiative Napa County. He is a former Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and former Vice President for Community Health at Children's Hospital Boston. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

  • Barbara Nemko, PhD, has been Napa County Superintendent of Schools since 1997.  She began her more than forty years in education as a teacher in the New York City public school system.  The author of numerous articles, reports and curriculum materials, Nemko's research has focused on helping at-risk students to learn.  She has served as legislative chair for the County Superintendents Association, co-chaired the state's School-to-Career Task Force and Workforce Preparation subcommittee of the Master Plan for Education, and served on numerous CTE state committees.
  • Dan Peters, PhD, is a licensed psychologist with private practices in Napa and San Ramon.  Peters specializes in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and families with special emphasis on gifted and twice-exceptional individuals.  He was formerly the Director of Outpatient Services and Director of Programs for Aldea Children and Family Services.
  • Alex Ryan, a Blue Oak School parent, is CEO of Duckhorn Wine Company where he has also served as general manager and vice president of vineyard and winery operations.  Ryan is the President of the Wine Service Cooperative board of directors, serves on the board of the Napa Valley Vintners and is a former member of Appellation of St. Helena board. 
  • John Salmon, a Blue Oak School grandparent, co-founded and owns Upstream Investments LLC, a northern California based real estate investment and development organization dedicated to identifying unique and complex real estate development opportunities requiring innovative environmental, economic and entitlement processing on both public and private real estate.  Salmon has a unique background in public sector asset management and finance experience in both the small and large corporate settings.  With his wife, Dorothy Lind Salmon, he organizes the Napa Valley Leadership Luncheons, designed as opportunities for its membership of more than 50 area professionals to network, learn about key issues facing the Valley and work together toward common goals.