OUR VISION

Our Vision is every public school in California has engaged students, effective teachers and leaders, enriching environments that allow every student to reach his or her full potential, and supportive communities that believe in the value and quality of public education.

The organization is anchored by a small professional staff, a highly engaged 11-member Board of Directors, a complement of highly skilled and effective consultants, strong partnerships with the California Department of Education (CDE) and other education coalition members, foundations and corporations, and a network of individuals, educational institutions, and nonprofits across the state who share our commitment to public education and California’s students.

To read about the CEO transition, view the letter from our Board Chair.

Since CDE Foundation’s Inception:

  • CDE Foundation has raised over $6 million to support innovative programs at the California Department of Education (CDE) and across the state

  • Increased access to professional development in STEAM

  • Supported districts in implementing new state standards and developing collaborative relationships

  • Garnered resources to develop further recommendations for California on its new accountability system, teacher support, STEAM, and education technology

MEET OUR BOARD MEMBERS

Jennifer Peck
Jennifer PeckChair
Jennifer Peck is the Partnership for Children and Youth’s first Executive Director, developing and implementing initiatives to build high quality after school and summer learning programs for students in low-income communities.
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Benito Delgado-Olson
Benito Delgado-OlsonVice Chair
Benito Delgado-Olson is the founder and Executive Director of K to College. A native of the East Bay and graduate of several East Bay public schools, Benito has a lifelong interest in the nonprofit sector and education.
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Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez
Nancy Kirshner-RodriguezSecretary/Treasurer
Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez, Principal and co-founder of Synergy Public Affairs has been a leader in intergovernmental and community relations for more than 25 years.
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David Rattray
David RattrayBoard Member
David Rattray oversees the Education and Workforce Development department at the LA Chamber and UNITE-LA, the School-to-Career Partnership of Los Angeles.
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Ken Maxey
Ken MaxeyBoard Member
Ken Maxey works as a Public Affairs Manager for Comcast. In this role Ken coordinates with local government representatives throughout the Bay Area to advocate on behalf of progressive telecommunications policies at the state and local level.
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Susan Salcido
Susan SalcidoBoard Member
Susan Salcido, Ed.D. serves as the Superintendent for the Santa Barbara County Education Office. In this capacity, she oversees all divisions and operations within the organization and provides leadership and support to districts throughout the county.
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Gerald Solomon
Gerald SolomonBoard Member
Gerald Solomon serves as the Executive Director for the Samueli Foundation, overseeing Samueli Philanthropy.
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Paul Granillo
Paul GranilloBoard Member
A native of the Inland Empire, Paul was born and raised in Redlands. In 2010, Paul became President & CEO of Inland Empire Economic Partnership.
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Janet Auer
Janet AuerBoard Member
Janet Auer is a senior advisor in education and corporate programs for Global Investment at Chevron Corporation. She is responsible for overseeing Chevron’s education investment initiatives.
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Education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world.

Nelson Mandela

MEET OUR STAFF

Jessica Howard
Jessica Howard CEO
Previously serving as Program Director for the CA STEAM Symposium, Jessica stepped into the role of CEO in July, 2019. She joined CDE Foundation as an Education Pioneers fellow in 2014 and has been instrumental in the growth and partnerships for the organization.
[email protected]
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Ed Honowitz
Ed HonowitzSenior Director of California Labor Management Initiative
Ed joined CDE Foundation in October 2016. He comes to us with a background in education policy. Ed served as education policy adviser for State Senator Carol Liu, who chaired the California Senate Education Committee.
[email protected]
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Shelly Masur
Shelly MasurCEO Emeritus
Shelly Masur is the CEO Emeritus of Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation. She brings over twenty years of experience working with youth-serving non-profits and in education-related leadership roles to CDE Foundation.
[email protected]
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Wendy Dougherty
Wendy DoughertyCOO
Wendy joined the CDE Foundation as Senior Project Director for Family Engagement in the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) Process in October 2016. She brings to the CDE Foundation significant experience managing and evaluating domestic and international PreK-12 education programs.
[email protected]
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Jessica Seybert
Jessica SeybertEvents Coordinator
Jessi Seybert joined our team in the spring of 2018. [email protected]
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MEET OUR FUNDING PARTNERS

Thank you to all of our funders for your continued support and commitment to California’s students and future.

  • 49ers Foundation

  • Anaheim Ducks

  • Autodesk

  • Blackboard

  • Boeing Corporation

  • California Education Policy Fund

  • California State University

  • Chevron

  • Comcast

  • Council of Chief State School Officers

  • David & Lucile Packard Foundation

  • Dirk & Charlene Kabcenell Foundation

  • First 5 California

  • Google

  • Heising-Simons Foundation

  • Hewlett Foundation

  • HP

  • Northrup Grumman

  • Office Depot

  • S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation

  • Samueli Foundation

  • Sobrato Foundation

  • Stuart Foundation