Meet the Bay Ed Fund Team

Abby is a lifelong educator, community builder, and equity advocate with experience spanning K-12, higher education, EdTech, and the nonprofit sector. She is passionate about expanding access to opportunity, and brings two decades of experience as a college access and success leader, creating pathways to and through college for low-income, first generation students. Abby has worked in deep partnership with families, and seen the transformative impact that effective and sustained family partnership can have on student outcomes and school culture.

Ash has dedicated his entire career to the pursuit of equity through public education. He began his career as an elementary bilingual education teacher in Houston, where he grew up. He’s served in leadership roles in schools, districts, state departments of education, advocacy organizations, and in philanthropy. His family’s journey and the sum of his professional experiences have brought him to the Bay Ed Fund because he believes deeply that the students, families, and educators closest to the biggest challenges must have power in setting the vision and direction to address them.

Crystal has worked in the education and nonprofit sectors for over 10 years. She has previously worked as a teacher, community organizer, and a program director. Crystal was raised and educated in the Bay Area. She is the daughter of immigrants, and a first-generation college graduate. Combined, these experiences have deeply shaped her commitment to work in partnership with communities to build equitable and sustainable systems where every student can thrive and access a high quality of life.

Denise has spent her career working on bringing excellence to human resources and systems design within the education and non-profit sectors. Her formal education in Psychology and Conflict Resolution inspired her to work in mission-based organizations. She has previously worked as a human resources specialist, designer, and independent contractor. She is committed to doing her part to create equal opportunities to students across the Bay Area and always bring joy to the workplace.

Dr. Nicole Williams Browning is a servant leader with 28 years of service to public education. Her background includes educational non-profit, charter management organizations, traditional K-12 districts, community colleges, and both private and public universities. Creating the conditions that foster liberatory conditions and systems, and sustainable leadership practices and development are Nicole's heart work, and her sustaining "why" as an educator. Her specific background is dedicated to systems and practices that support executive leaders, district leaders, teachers, and teams to significantly narrow the opportunity and equity gaps in public schools and organizations.

Gina has worked across the K-12 landscape, beginning her career as a Transitional Kindergarten Liaison and most recently serving as an Improvement Advisor to high schools across California. She is deeply driven by seeing all students reach their full potential. Gina leverages her expertise in human-centered design and Improvement Science to uncover and scale innovations that are already present within schools. She was drawn to the Bay Ed Fund because of its commitment to centering the voices of students, families, and teachers in defining and leading change.

Heather, a Golden Apple Award-winning educator, brings 24 years of Bay Area Title One teaching experience. A native San Franciscan and daughter of an immigrant, she holds a BA in Cultural Anthropology and an MEd focused on underserved youth. As a former Union President, Heather values building trust and fostering relationships with stakeholders, and has honed her expertise in negotiations and contract language. She is committed to driving equity and meaningful change at the classroom, school, and district levels. Heather’s vision centers on empowering leaders and helping communities dream big, find their voices, and create lasting connections.

As a first generation college graduate, Paul has spent the last two decades working to ensure all students have access to an excellent education. Prior to this role, Paul served as the Executive Director of Teach for America, Bay Area. Before joining the TFA-Bay team, Paul was on the national executive leadership team at TFA. Paul has deep relationships with superintendents, school leaders, elected and community leaders across the Bay.

Rachel has spent her career working for organizations and programs seeking to address the opportunity gap for students in public education. She began her career as an elementary school teacher, before working at The Bridgespan Group and Rocketship Public Schools. Her professional experiences, as well as her family’s story, has solidified her belief in the power of communities of changemakers to build the education systems that we all want to be a part of.

Rossmeri Alfaro is a passionate advocate for educational equity and immigrant rights, with over a decade of experience in higher education and non-profits. Born in Sinaloa, Mexico, and raised in East Palo Alto, CA, she transformed her journey from an undocumented student to a first-generation college graduate into a mission to empower underrepresented communities. Rossmeri earned her BA in Sociology from CSU Sacramento, where she had a transformative study abroad experience in London. Her work focuses on creating opportunities and resources for others, driven by her personal experiences and commitment to the transformative power of education. As a board member of El Concilio of San Mateo County and the San Jose Area Authority, Rossmeri tirelessly advocates for community needs and educational access, making her a pivotal force in advancing equity and empowerment.

Rui is a first-generation immigrant whose transformative public school experience opened doors to the American dream. Having attended both urban and suburban public schools, she witnessed firsthand how disparate resources and systems can shape student opportunities - an experience that drives her work today. Her career in education spans traditional districts, charter schools, nonprofits, and the private sector, most recently as the Chief Business Official at Belmont-Redwood Shores School District. She is passionate about creating the systems and structures that allow school communities to focus on what matters most - serving students.