Board of Directors

Jeanette Kennedy, Chairman of the Board

Jeanette believes education has the power to transform lives and, after a successful career in high tech at Sun Microsystems, decided to invest her time strengthening educational experiences of students in the community. She joined ASM in 2011 with a focus on recruiting volunteers and realized that she could use her business management, program development and fundraising skills to help grow the organization and better support the work all 200 volunteers are doing every day in classrooms in Ravenswood. Jeanette served as ASM's Director of Marketing & Strategic Planning for many years before taking on the role of Chairman of the Board. A highlight of her week is volunteering in a second grade classroom in the Ravenswood District.

Cindy Tipton, Secretary

Cindy was inspired by a friend to join ASM in 2016. Active in both PTAs and other school community events in the Las Lomitas School District, she saw immediately that the in-classroom volunteer resources that LLSD takes for granted is, for many reasons, not available in the RCSD classrooms. ASM filled this need. Cindy began as a classroom volunteer and then took on a leadership role as Site Director at Costaño School. Realizing that she had unique skills from her professional career in sales operations and database management, Cindy became ASM's Director of Data Operations & Analysis helping ASM grow more efficiently. She currently serves in that role as well as Secretary of the Board. ​

Sher Amos-Grosser

Sher is an educator who also expanded a program for K-12 students living in poverty and served as interim executive director for a childcare resource and referral agency. In addition to substitute teaching, she is a volunteer tutor with Reading Partners as well as a classroom volunteer with ASM. Sher joined ASM in 2016 then expanded her relationship by joining the board in 2018. She also serves as ASM's Director of Communications. Sher has been an advisor and board member at other nonprofits serving youth and families. She derives great joy supporting her local community and especially from her time connecting with students every week.

Amy Arnold

Amy's interest in supporting the students of Ravenswood began many years ago when she was volunteering to improve the school library programs with the goal of helping every child experience the rewards of reading. Over the years, her commitment to Ravenswood grew as she joined the board of the Ravenswood Education Foundation (REF), including serving as the organization's board President and as a board member. Amy previously worked in public affairs, marketing and strategic planning. She served on the boards of Trinity School and Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. She currently works in education as the Executive Director of Duke Technology Scholars, supporting and empowering a more diverse group of college students studying computer science and engineering.

Susie Hornbeek

Susie has long had a passion for helping children and adults to achieve their full potential through education. She has leveraged her years of experience in marketing and communications to have an impact in several local nonprofit organizations including Palo Alto Partners In Education and Upward Scholars. Susie believes that education and equity in education can be the difference in a person's life. She has been a tutor, mentor and board member with Upwards Scholars where she enjoys working with adult students learning English. Susie recently joined the ASM board of directors and will be volunteering in an ASM classroom with the start of the 2020-'21 school year. She is looking forward to supporting an elementary school teacher in the Ravenswood district as well as tutoring and providing social-emotional support for the students.

Jay Siegel

A retired economist, Jay has had an interest in education and social justice all his life. Having lived in the area since the 1960s, including a year in East Palo Alto when he was a graduate student, Jay has seen much change in the Ravenswood district. Jay served on the Las Lomitas School Board and currently focuses his energy on education inequality. Five years ago, a friend told Jay about ASM and its mission to work with children in Ravenswood. Jay continues to volunteer in the classroom and has been a board member since 2017. Jay believes one of the strengths of ASM is the ability of volunteers to build relationships with students over the course of a year and provide the social-emotional support which creates a boost in enthusiasm and self-confidence.

Parke Treadway

Parke works in public education as the Public Information Officer for the Menlo Park City School District and has long had a deep interest in education funding and equity. She discovered ASM in 2012 through her own children's school newsletter. After volunteering in the classroom for three years, Parke took on the added responsibility as Site Director for Costaño School for four years. More recently, Parke has shifted her volunteering in the Ravenswood district to mentoring students at Ravenswood Middle School, meeting them weekly to plan academic and personal goals. She also serves on the ASM Board of Directors. Parke enjoys mentoring as it provides a unique opportunity to develop deep and lasting relationships with students and see them progress in their learning journey. She has worked with two of her students for four years.