Blue Oak School's Board of Trustees sets policy for the School, reviews the implementation of those policies and is responsible for the financial aspects of the School, including fundraising.
M uch of the Board's work is done through committee. Committees are formed with the needs of the School and the qualifications of the trustees in mind. Occasionally members of the School community who are not trustees are asked to serve on a board committee because of their special expertise. Serving on a board committee is by invitation only.
For more information about the board function at independent schools, like Blue Oak School, visit the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) for a review of principles of good practice.
Blue Oak School Board of Trustees
Wendi Moore, Chair
Wendi came to Napa in 1996 and has been very involved in supporting education, health and other nonprofit organizations ever since. She has been an active participant and chair of several fundraisers for a variety of nonprofit organizations in Napa Valley. Wendi also served as the board president of the St. Helena Cooperative Nursery School, was president of the Vichy Elementary School Parent Club and established Blue Oak School's involvement in the Reach Out and Read Program at Clinic Ole. She received her BA in development students from the University of California Berkeley and completed a Masters in Latin American studies at New York University.
David Green, Treasurer
David C. Green, a member of the Blue Oak School Board of Trustees, Chairs the Finance Committee. A veteran wine industry executive, David has brought his financial, sales and marketing managment expertise to Chalone Wine Group, Turnbull Winery, Lancaster Estate, Joel Gott Wines, and Brassfield Estates. David's two children have attended Blue Oak School.
Caren Hatton, Secretary & Trustee
Caren graduated from The University of Michigan with a BS in kinesiology. She worked as a research assistant at the University of Michigan Medical Center before moving to retail as a manager for the Dayton Hudson Corporation in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She later returned to the pharmaceutical industry, first in sales for Reed and Carnrick Pharmaceuticals, and then in strategic marketing at corporate headquarters on the East Coast for Reed and Carnrick, Connaught Laboratories and Forrest Laboratories, respectively. In 1998, Caren moved to San Francisco with husband Fritz to launch their wine brand, Arietta. Once launched, Caren returned to pharmaceuticals, this time on the advertising side, working for Kane and Finkel, a small San Francisco agency. Now living in St. Helena, Caren is mom to Hattie, age 3, and Libby, age 8, a Blue Oak Lower School student. Caren is also a professional volunteer and strategic advisor to Arietta and her husband.
Jennifer Becker, Trustee
Jennifer Becker brings to her role as trustee a wealth of experience in marketing, beginning with her background in consumer direct marketing for well-known brands such as Quaker Oats, Pepsi, Nike, Wells Fargo and Charles Schwab. As the vice president of Customer Relationship Marketing (CRM) at Robert Mondavi, she was responsible for developing award-winning websites, direct marketing campaigns, wine clubs and e-commerce systems. In 2001, Jennifer founded Ensemble Marketing Group to help premium wineries build their consumer direct business. A frequent speaker at industry conferences, she also serves on the advisory boards of WISE Academy, the Cypress Group and SC21. Jennifer has been a Blue Oak School parent since 2006 and an active volunteer at the School, most recently serving as a member, and now as chair, of the Board's Communications Committee.
Lisa Cort, Trustee
Lisa spent more than 13 years as a marketing professional creating, developing, managing and implementing innovative communication programs in business-to-business and consumer markets at several Bay Area high-tech and interactive media companies. Lisa and her husband, David Goldman, are co-founding families of Blue Oak School. They have two children attending the school. Lisa has served on several boards in Napa Valley including the St. Helena Cooperative Nursery School and the Napa Valley Community Foundation.
Renee Hernandez, Trustee
Renee Hernandez is the Director of the Educational Talent Search Program at Napa Valley College which assists low-income and first-generation (the first in their family to attend college) students to succeed in school and transition into college. Student participants are in grades six through twelve and attend Napa Valley Unified School District designated schools. Hernandez holds two Masters in Counseling and is also part of the counseling faculty at Napa Valley College. Locally, Hernandez is a Member of the Napa Valley Hispanic Network and Board Member of CyberMill Club House, and Puertas Abiertas (Open Doors).
Bruce Phillips, Trustee
Bruce Phillips is the Director of IT Business Strategy at Constellation Brands Inc., and Managing Partner of Phillips Family Farming LLC where he oversees the Phillips family's vineyard - Vine Hill Ranch. Previous to joining the Blue Oak School Board, Phillips served as President of the Board of Trustees of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers. Phillps lives in Napa with his wife and two children.
Tim Rodgers, Past Chair, Trustee
Tim Rodgers is President of Walsh Vineyards Management Inc. and lives in Napa with his wife Shanna and their two daughters Mardi and Alia, both of whom attend Blue Oak’s Lower School. Tim has been farming in the Napa and Sonoma valleys for 20 years and is a graduate of UC Davis. Tim enjoys taking his daughters to school and is active in the Development, Admission and Diversity Committees at Blue Oak School.
Tracy Schuler, Trustee
Tracy Schuler worked in the technology industry in marketing and management. Along with her husband Barry M. Schuler and David Goldman, she co-founded Medior, Inc., an interactive company, which eventually was sold to and operated within America Online. Tracy and her husband are co-founding families of Blue Oak School and the parents of two students at the School.
Sally Sheekey, Trustee
Sally has been an active parent volunteer since arriving at Blue Oak School. She has served as an officer of the School’s Parent Association, was a member of the 2008 Beneath the Canopy Steering Committee and served as the chair for the 2009 Beneath the Canopy benefit auction. A supporter and believer in independent school education, she is the proud parent of a Blue Oak School student. Prior to staying home to raise her son, Sally worked in facilities management, real estate and interior design. She holds a BA in Interior Design and a Masters in Business Administration.
Peggy Burgess-Wilkinson, Trustee
Peggy is a real estate broker with Sotheby's International Realty specializing in estate, vineyard and winery properties. An attorney with 15+ years in both corporate and private practice, Peggy's focus is on real estate and environmental compliance. After working as senior counsel at The Clorox Company, Peggy began a private practice in Napa Valley. Peggy holds several NASD securities licenses and has started several businesses, including the Wilkinson Family Vineyards label. An active volunteer, Peggy served as the President of the Board for Friends of Sunrise Montessori School and currently sits on the Board at Cope Family Center. Peggy's oldest child started at Blue Oak in 2002 and her two others are currently enrolled.