LGEF Staff, Board, and Volunteers
LGEF succeeds due to the talent and effort of many dedicated individuals,
including both school parents and community members.
LGEF succeeds due to the talent and effort of many dedicated individuals,
including both school parents and community members.
LGEF Staff
LGEF staff keep the organization running and ensure continuity from year to year.
LGEF staff keep the organization running and ensure continuity from year to year.
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Campaign Manager | Hillari Zighelboim
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LGEF Finance Operations Manager | Karin Luton |
This is Hillari's first year managing the One Community LG Campaign and her 4th year serving on the LGEF board. She recently completed her term as President of the Van Meter Home & School Club and continues to serve on that board. She led planning efforts for the LGEF 40th Anniversary Event, the first annual One Community LG Pickleball Tournament, and other OCLG events. Hillari and her husband Andy cherish living and raising a family in Los Gatos, and their 3 boys attend Van Meter, Fisher & LGHS. She is passionate about education innovation in our public schools, and enjoys cultivating collaborative partnerships across our community to ensure the children in Los Gatos receive an exceptional education.
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Karin is in her fourth year as the LGEF Finance Operations Manager. She and her husband have a daughter at Los Gatos High School and one in college. Karin has previously volunteered for the Daves Home & School Club and Fisher Site Council in various roles. She is excited to continue to serve the community that welcomed her family when they moved from Seattle ten years ago.
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LGEF Board
The LGEF board are Los Gatos parent volunteers who care about ensuring the highest quality education for our children.
The LGEF board are Los Gatos parent volunteers who care about ensuring the highest quality education for our children.
President | Jessica Johnson
This is Jessica's eighth year on the LGEF Board and her second year as our board President. She has three sons, including students at Fisher Middle and Los Gatos High, plus a 5 year old, future LGUSD student. She stays active with a busy professional life as CEO of a successful business, while also helping middle schoolers with special needs to be more successful in their school environment. Jessica serves on the Fisher School Advisory Council, is Treasurer in her third year on the btc Board, is a past Treasurer of the Daves Ave Home & School Club, past Chair of the Daves Ave Auction & 5th grade Party, and a is sustaining member of Junior League of San Jose. Over the last 11 years as an LGUSD parent, Jessica has witnessed incredible improvement in the schools and is proud to support the enrichment programs for all Los Gatos students.
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Parliamentarian | Eric Dunstan
Eric is in his 11th year with the organization, having formerly served as President for two years and now as Parliamentarian. He and his wife, Dee Dee, have one son in 8th grade at Fisher and another son who is a junior at Los Gatos High School. Eric is a realtor and a founding member of the Dean's List of Real Estate Partners program and has managed its growth each year. Eric is excited to continue leading the organization as Parliamentarian to ensure our children receive a well-rounded education. He his most thankful for the music program as their son, Cole started playing violin at Fisher and is now in the chamber orchestra at LGHS. GO Mrs Krijnen!!!
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Co-Treasurer/Finance | Beth Jackson
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Co-Treasurer/Finance | Amanda Sullins
Amanda is currently serving her third year as Co-Treasurer for LGEF, bringing to the role over 25 years of experience as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Her professional background spans both public accounting and corporate finance, where she has cultivated a strong foundation in financial strategy, compliance, and operational efficiency. In her role with LGEF, Amanda collaborates closely with LGEF Board and LGUSD leadership to maintain fiscal responsibility, enhance financial transparency, and align operational planning with LGEF’s fundraising and programmatic goals. Amanda is deeply committed to advancing LGEF’s mission by strengthening its financial infrastructure, streamlining internal processes, and fostering a culture of accountability and stewardship. She and her husband are proud parents of two energetic boys who attend RJ Fisher and Louise Van Meter, further fueling her passion for supporting excellence in public education.
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Real Estate Program Chair | Brandi Tate
This is Brandi’s first year serving on the board. A seasoned realtor with over 20 years of experience in the Los Gatos and Silicon Valley communities, Brandi is a proud Santa Clara University alum and longtime Los Gatos resident. Deeply invested in the success of local schools, she is committed to leveraging her professional expertise, community connections, and passion for education to support students, teachers, and families—helping make Los Gatos schools the best they can be.
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VP Business Development | Alexis Barnickel
A dedicated and long-serving board member in her 9th year, Alexis leads the effort to engage our local business and real estate community to support our schools. Her dedication has resulted in not only meeting but exceeding fund raising goals each year. She has also played a large part in some of the Los Gatos school auctions. Alexis has one student at Daves Avenue where she is a Vice President of the Home and School Club and one student at Fisher where she is also on the HSC.
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VP LGUSD Initiatives | Sarah May |
Business Devlopment | Will Schmidt |
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Sarah just completed her first year on the LGEF board and is entering her third year serving as Secretary for the Van Meter Home & School Club. She has two kids at Van Meter - a son entering 4th grade and a daughter entering 2nd. Sarah and her husband, Josh - who grew up in Los Gatos - moved here from Philadelphia about five years ago. Professionally, Sarah consults to nonprofit organizations around talent recruitment, team management and culture, fundraising, and board relations.
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Will is in his third year on the LGEF board. He and his wife, Nika, have two children in the district - a son in fifth grade at Blossom Hill and a daughter in eighth grade at Fisher. Professionally, Will is a Mechanical Design Engineer for Apple. He is heavily involved in Los Gatos youth sports as the girls director and coach for Red Hawks Lacrosse Club, and as a coach of many years in rec soccer for Los Gatos United and for baseball with Los Gatos Little League.
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Innovation Grants | Doug Gregor |
Marketing Support | Emily Baratzadeh |
Doug is in his sixth year on the LGEF board. He and his wife, Amy, have daughters in fifth grade at Blossom Hill and eighth grade at Fisher. Professionally, Doug is a software engineer working to make coding more fun and more accessible. Doug is interested in the thoughtful integration of science, technology, and innovation throughout our children's education. On Team LGEF, Doug will focus on encouraging teacher participation in our Innovation Grants program.
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Emily is in her first year on the LGEF board. She and her husband Kia have a daughter heading into second grade at Van Meter and a son who will join her next year. Emily is a local realtor and also serves as the fundraising co-chair at the Van Meter Home & School Club. Emily joined the LGEF board because she is passionate about Los Gatos and feels that a strong education system is the key to a thriving community.
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One Community LG Chair | Jim Hamilton |
VP Major Donor | Janelle Winterhoff |
Jim is in his second year on the LGEF board. He and his wife have lived in Los Gatos for seven years and have four children. Their twin adult boys are pursuing careers, their daughter is at Fisher and their youngest son is at Van Meter. Jim is also active in Los Gatos Little League baseball as a coach. He has worked as a program manager in the tech industry throughout his career and is currently working at a startup.
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Janelle is continuing on the LGEF board this year as her second year to lead our efforts with private donors. She has a son at Daves Elementary and a daughter at the University of Oregon. She has a longstanding passion for building and investing in resources and infrastructure to maximize the potential of children. She is a Marketing Executive with over 20 years of experience working at Fortune 500 companies and enjoys traveling, cooking, Pilates and serving her community! We are excited to bring Janelle’s skills and passion to the LGEF board.
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Events | Drea Oliver |
Secretary | Jessica O'Connor |
Andrea (Drea) Oliver is a dedicated Daves Avenue and Fisher middle school volunteer with a strong background in organizing impactful events. Having volunteered for two consecutive years at the elementary level, she brings a wealth of experience and a passion for creating memorable experiences to the middle school community. She has co-chaired Dave’s Avenue Family movie night, and was behind their very popular VIP experience! Known for her attention to detail and creativity, Drea is committed to enhancing school life through engaging in well-organized events that bring students, teachers, and families together.
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Jessica is honored to be joining the LGEF board. She has previously served as vice-president and volunteer coordinator for the Lexington HSC board and president and fundraising chair on the LGPNS board. She has two boys at Lex in 2nd and 4th grade. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the owner of a group therapy practice in San Jose that supports the mental health of children and their families in the community. She is passionate about volunteering and thanks her husband, Addis, for his unwavering support in her philanthropic roles.
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LGUSD Liaisons
Liaisons serve as a vital link between the LGEF board and school communities, helping to share information, promote engagement, and support fundraising efforts.
Liaisons serve as a vital link between the LGEF board and school communities, helping to share information, promote engagement, and support fundraising efforts.
Lexington Liaison | Stacy Connolly
Stacy is in her first year serving on the LGEF board and is entering her second year as President of the Lexington Home and School Club, having previously served as Treasurer. With over 25 years of experience in higher education, she brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to supporting educational initiatives. A parent of two children, Stacy is committed to enhancing the school experience for all students. She enjoys fundraising and looks forward to helping the district provide valuable resources for the community.
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Daves Ave Liaison | Jessica Gwynn
Jessica joined the LGEF Board this year as the Daves Avenue liaison and is currently serving her second term as Daves Avenue Home & School Club President. She was previously President Elect, making this her third year on the Daves HSC Board. Jessica is retired after a 20 year career in finance and accounting in the tech industry. Prior to retirement, she was Senior Director of Revenue Strategy at Salesforce, with additional experience in financial strategy, consulting and public accounting. She and her husband Tom moved to Monte Sereno in 2019. They have three kids, one at Fisher and two at Daves. They moved to the community for the educational opportunities this district provides and have loved every minute of it!
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Louise Van Meter Liaison | Kristin Finkelstein |
RJ Fisher Liaison | Nitze Dormady |
Kristin joined the LGEF Board this year as the Van Meter liaison and is currently serving her first term as Van Meter Home & School Club President. She previously launched the Service Above Self program at the school and successfully restarted K-Kids, a student leadership group focused on service. Kristin brings over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, with a background in sales and marketing at both startups and established companies. She now works as a freelance marketing consultant. A longtime South Bay local, Kristin feels fortunate to raise her family in Los Gatos, where she and her husband Jeff have lived for nearly 10 years. They have three children—two at Van Meter and one at Fisher Middle School.
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Nitze is new to LGEF board and is in her first year serving as President of Fisher Home & School Club. With a wealth of experience, she previously led the Lexington Home & School Club for many years, where she honed her leadership skills and developed a deep understanding of education partnerships. In addition to her role on the board, Nitze is passionate about fostering teamwork and sportsmanship as Head Coach of both the Girls JV 6th and 7th grade volleyball teams at Fisher. Nitze is a proud mother of four children, including a daughter currently in 6th grade at Fisher. She also has three young adult children who are embarking on their journeys. Nitze shares her life with her husband, Shane Dormady, a respected professional Oncologist at El Camino Health.
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Blossom Hill Liaison | Kerry Newlin
Serving as a communication link between Blossom Hill and LGEF board.
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LGUSD Trustees
We are grateful for the full, ongoing support of the Los Gatos Union School District Superintendent and members of the Board of Trustees who attend LGEF board meetings and assist us in setting our direction.
We are grateful for the full, ongoing support of the Los Gatos Union School District Superintendent and members of the Board of Trustees who attend LGEF board meetings and assist us in setting our direction.
LGUSD Board of Trustees | Peter Noymer
A member of the LGUSD Board of Trustees, Peter has lived in Los Gatos with his family since 2003. He and his wife have three children who had amazing experiences at Van Meter and Fisher.
You can read more about Peter here |
LGUSD Board of Trustees | Courtney Monk
A member of the LGUSD Board of Trustees, Courtney has focused her career on improving educational outcomes and opportunities for students from all backgrounds. She and her husband have two children attending LGUSD schools.
You can read more about Courtney here |
Tax Information for Contributions to One Community LG
17010 Roberts Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Tax I.D. #: 94-2874929
17010 Roberts Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Tax I.D. #: 94-2874929