We are a group of local parents and residents that desire to see an alternative public education option in Truckee. Our goal is to complement the current educational model in our community and provide an alternative option for students and teachers. We are a diverse group of volunteers that are organized and highly motivated to turning this grass-roots effort into a reality. We are committed to bringing a progressive and successful  educational experience to the Tahoe Truckee community.

Founding Board of Directors

Kim Bradley, Chair
Kim Bradley is a non-profit consultant who specializes in meeting facilitation, strategic planning, grant writing, and project development. She has worked in various roles with Tahoe Truckee social service and educational organizations for the past 14 years, including: Project Coordinator for Education Matters, Director of the Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee, TTUSD Coordinator of Community and Youth Development, and Tahoe Women’s Services Prevention Program Coordinator. She played a key role in the creation of the KidZone and the Kings Beach and Truckee Family Resource Centers. She has an early childhood development background and has served as the Truckee Parent Co-Op Director/TTUSD Adult Education Instructor and YMCA Head Preschool Teacher. She has a B.S. in Human Development and is a certified Mastering Meetings and ORID Facilitator.

Erica Stein, Treasurer/Co-Chair
Erica Stein’s experience includes being a Summer Camp Director/CFO and a Registered Nurse. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from California State University, Chico. Currently Erica works as the Director of Walton’s Grizzly Lodge Summer Camp. Erica manages the budget, accounts payable and receivable, and payroll for the corporation. In addition, she is an on-site Director, responsible for the safety and well-being of one thousand campers each summer. Erica is also a Registered Nurse. Erica’s professional affiliations include serving as a board member for the Western Association of Independent Camps and membership in the KidZone Foundation Guild. Erica and her husband have three children.

Alison Schwedner, Secretary
Alison Schwedner is the Director of the Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee, an organization comprised of 35 education, health and social service agencies that partner together to address the fundamental needs of families in the Tahoe Truckee region. She has worked in the non-profit sector for 13 years, including managing the safe house program for Tahoe Women's Services and managing staff and programs at the North Tahoe Family Resource Center for 5 years. In addition, Alison has worked for the Colorado Department of Corrections assisting ex-offenders reintegrate into the community and continue their education. She has served as a volunteer for several community organizations, including youth mentoring. Alison has a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology.


Melissa Williams, Chair of Fundraising/Grants
Melissa Williams is a managing editor for the humanities and social sciences division of McGraw-Hill Higher Education. She has worked as an editor for educational books for the past 18 years. Melissa recently served on the Board of Bookbuilders West, a non-profit association that brings publishers together and supports literacy programs, as chair of the education and program committee and on their scholarship and newsletter committees. Melissa has a B.A. in English and Communications and has worked in public relations and as a journalist for Associated Press. She has served as a fundraiser and volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and Christmas in April.

Carolyn Gallagher, Chair of Public Relations/Marketing
Carolyn Gallagher has been working with children for more than 20 years. Her experience has been primarily with preschool and elementary school-age children. Carolyn’s educational background includes the study of early childhood education and human development. Carolyn has taught preschool in both public and private school settings. Her most recent experience working with children was running her own in-home childcare, where she developed a curriculum that she pulled from her study of different theories and pedagogies. Carolyn regularly volunteers in her kindergartner’s class, as well as keeping busy with her two younger children.

Anna Demm, Chair of Curriculum/Expeditionary Learning
Anna Demm has a B.A. in English from the University of Vermont. She has lived in the Tahoe/Truckee area for more than 13 years. Anna is employed by Squaw Valley Sport Shop, where she is the Office Manager. Anna served on the Truckee Donner Public Utility District's Water and Energy Conservation Citizens Advisory Committee from August 2007-2008, where she took part in creating a Water and Energy Conservation Plan and helped implement the TDPUD LED Christmas Light Swap. Anna volunteers every week in her daughter’s kindergarten class at Truckee Elementary and she also has a daughter in preschool.

Cristina Wooley, Chair of Facilities and Outside Services
Cristina Wooley is a local real estate and land use attorney. She serves on the Board of the Family Resource Center of Truckee, a local non-profit organization that serves our community’s most vulnerable families. She’s previously served on the Board of Sierra Nevada Children’s Services and helped create “Club Amiguitos,” a preschool program designed to integrate the youngest members of our community in play, with the goal of life-long understanding, friendship, and tolerance. Cristina volunteers regularly in her children’s classrooms, as well as for the Glenshire Elementary PTO, and as leader of Girl Scout Troop 116. Cristina received her B.A. in Business Administration from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and her J.D. from UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall. Cristina is a member of the California State Bar Association, the Multiple Listing Service of the Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors, and the Natural Resources Defense Board (NRDC).


Also: SunMie Won, Jen Wilkin, Elizabeth Bell, Jill Penwarden, Dana Mudd, Angelica Stone and Kerri Flaherty.