Board of Trustees
Gary H. Bechtel
Gary Bechtel received his high school degree from Robert Louis Stevenson School and went on to graduate from the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, California, with a BA in Business Administration. He began his professional career working at Bechtel Corporation in Labor Relations. It was this frontline interaction that prompted him to take some after-hour classes in labor law from Golden Gate University. His career included numerous job assignments that required multiple relocations throughout the United States. He relocated back to the San Francisco Bay Area to assume responsibility for one of the operating companies that included national and international projects. He was subsequently elected to the board of directors of the Bechtel Group of Companies. He retired at age 45 and moved back to Charlotte, North Carolina, to own and manage a NASCAR Cup team and two Busch teams.Aletha Coleman
Aletha Coleman was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, received her BA from the University of Hawaii, with Honors, and her JD from the University of California's Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. Aletha worked for the major accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand and became a Certified Public Accountant in California. Aletha has used her J.D. and her CPA. in her work for non-profit organizations. Her special interests are education and elder care. She serves on the board of trustees for both Mid-Peninsula High School and the Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. She previously served two terms on the boards of the International School of the Peninsula, Avenidas of Palo Alto, Self Help for the Elderly of Santa Clara County and Verde Valley School in Sedona, Arizona.Cathie Foster
Cathie Foster's interest in Mid-Peninsula High School began when her son enrolled at the school in 2003. He graduated in 2005 and is continuing his studies at University of Oregon—something she didn't think would be possible before Mid-Peninsula changed his life. Mid-Peninsula High School made such a difference in her son's future that she was thrilled to join the board in July of that year. She also serves on the board of trustees of Kara, an organization that provides grief counseling services, and is Treasurer of the Cantor Arts Center's fundraising committee, Treasure Market.Richard Hof
Richard Hof has been in education for over 25 years. He has an MS in School Management and Administration and an Administrative Credential (K-9, Life) from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he graduated with Major Honors and a BA in Aesthetic Studies. His experience includes teaching kindergarten through sixth grade, administering a GATE (gifted) program, running a school resource center and completing five years as a division head at a large independent school. Richard also served for seven years as Assistant Head of School for Saint Andrew's School in Saratoga, California. During the 2007-08 school year, Richard was the interim Director of Admissions and Development for Mid-Peninsula High School. Richard is beginning the 2008-09 year as Head of School at Beacon Day School in Oakland, California.Elad Levinson
Elad Levinson joined the board of trustees of Mid-Peninsula in August 2008. Elad has worked as a psychotherapist for the past 40 years, is co-founder of Camp Tawonga, and taught and designed a variety of courses. He has experience as a consultant in Human Resources and Organizational Development. For example, Elad has led workshops in Human Resources, Stress Management and Strategic Planning for numerous types of organizations, ranging from start-ups to large companies in both the public and private sector. His training and expertise in leadership has aided him in coaching leaders in small and medium-size companies. Today, Elad has a specific interest in helping business's start green and sustainable firms and is currently designing and implementing a new non-profit, Pounds for Poverty.Worth (Wissy) Ludwick
Wissy Ludwick graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in Economics and then received her MBA in Finance at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She worked for 18 years at Xerox and Xerox Venture Capital and retired as CEO of StepperVision, Inc., a venture spinout of Xerox Palo Alto Research Center. Previously, Wissy was on the Data Systems staff of C&P Telephone Company, was a staff economist for former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors and was a research analyst for Loomis Sayles investment consultants. She is currently a private investor and member of non-profit boards. She recently completed a six-year term on the Avenidas board and a seven-year term on the board of Eastside College Prep, as the school grew to include a fully accredited four-year high school and middle school. She was also on the board of the Palo Alto Foundation for Education (currently called Partners in Education), the Association for Senior Day Health and various PTA boards of her children's Palo Alto schools, K-12.John Northway
John Northway is the architect who designed the building for the school. He has lived and practiced architecture on the Peninsula all of his life. He has served on Architectural Review Boards and Planning Commissions, so he has a good knowledge of the community and many of its leaders. As an architect, he brings a different perspective to the board and to the problem-solving process that the board must face and deal with. He has also served on numerous non-profit boards throughout the years. John finds the opportunity of being involved in the administration of an innovative and unique high school like Mid-Peninsula to be great fun and a great challenge.Melissa Powar
Melissa Powar runs Powar Growth Management, a boutique law firm that assists small companies in managing their human capital. A San Francisco Bay Area native, Melissa graduated from Amherst College and went on to receive a JD from The University of Chicago Law School. Melissa also holds an MA in Education from Lesley University. In addition to her legal practice, Melissa taught Humanities to 6th, 7th and 8th grade students for four years in Massachusetts and is committed to education and youth issues.Jackie Schmidt-Posner
Jackie Schmidt-Posner is an educator who has worked in administrative, teaching and advising roles with students at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Santa Clara University and, for the past 20 years, at the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University, where she currently serves as the Interim Managing Director. Her passion is empowering individual students to develop their unique talents and gifts and to nurture a commitment to using these for the common good. She holds a PhD in Administration and Policy Analysis (Stanford University) and an MA in Student Development (Ohio State University). Her own public service activities include serving eight years (two terms) as an elected trustee of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, where she developed an interest in, and appreciation for, "alternative" education for high school students. She looks forward to continuing to advocate for widening the range of educational options for young people by serving as a trustee of Mid-Peninsula High School.Bethany St. Clair
Bethany St. Clair has more than 14 years of human resource experience. Her most recent position was Director of Human Resources for Metreon, A Sony Entertainment Center in San Francisco. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in secondary education, is a credentialed teacher for the State of California, and currently is enrolled in the Continuing Studies Program at Stanford University. Bethany owns and operates St. Clair Organize and Design and is working on a book about the spirit of de-cluttering. She's a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, member of the San Francisco Bay Area-NAPO and serves on the board of trustees at Mid-Peninsula High School as vice chair.Tara Stein
Tara Diann Stein did her undergraduate studies at Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley, and also holds a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Southern California and a Juris Doctor degree from what is now known as Santa Clara University. She worked as a librarian at the Medical-Dental Library at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts. Subsequently, she established a general law practice in Morgan Hill, California, and then worked in a small law firm, which focuses on business law and civil litigation. In 1999, she accepted employment with Manzanita Management Corporation. She also serves on the board of The Christensen Fund, located in Palo Alto, California.Rick Stultz
Rick Stultz graduated from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1969. For most of his career he operated a company whose business is to acquire, manage, finance and further develop properties for groups of local investors. In this role, he created and executed short- and long-term investment strategies, developed leasing strategies and negotiated leases, arranged refinancing for managed properties and managed the day-to-day affairs of the various properties. Currently, he is no longer active in acquiring properties but continues to manage the other aspects of the business. In addition, he has established an architectural photography business serving architects and commercial real estate firms.Dee Ann Miller Suppes
Dee Ann Miller Suppes, a native Texan, received a degree in Public Relations from the University of Texas at Austin in 1985. After many successful years in media and advertising sales management, Dee Ann returned to graduate school at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco and received an MA in Counseling Psychology. She is currently in the process of earning her hours toward Marriage & Family Therapist licensure. Her passion lies in helping children and adolescents recognize and fulfill their authentic purpose. Dee Ann is active in the Junior League of San Francisco, Glide Memorial Church and Bing Nursery School. She holds a vision for creating a more peaceful sustainable world, starting with the education of our next generation of young people. Dee Ann resides in Palo Alto with her husband and two young children. She is excited about the opportunity to serve as a trustee for Mid- Peninsula High School and to inform the community about this unique educational experience.