Board & Accountability

Chair of Enrollment & Diversity Committee
kbrown@yumingschool.org

Keta Brown is a Co-Founder and Special Projects Director at The Oakland REACH. She is the proud mother of four. Keta was raised in Oakland and graduated from a public high school with the same challenges that she saw her mother face trying to support her in school 40 years ago. These are the same issues she faces today trying to ensure that her youngest child gets to college. She joined The Oakland REACH because the system has failed so many of her family members. She is still fighting to ensure her nine-year old daughter receives the education she deserves.

kferguson@yumingschool.org

Dr. Kendra Ferguson has spent more than 25 years fighting for educational equity as a teacher, principal, professional coach and school system leader. Dr. Ferguson is the founder of Ferguson Consulting Group, where she and her partners provide operational, strategic and mindful organizational support to heighten team performance. Often described as a Performance Culture Architect, in collaboration with her clients she designs, refines and aligns the ways of working, policies and structures to meet organizational outcomes. She actively seeks out and welcomes voices who are often marginalized, to help shape the plans and accurately identify needed resources to achieve the bottom line. Much of Kendra’s career has been dedicated to developing, mentoring and sponsoring adults to lead organizations focused on educating Black and Brown children, achieve excellence. Most recently, Kendra served as CEO of KIPP Memphis for five years. Prior to her role in Memphis, Kendra she served as Chief People Officer and prior to that Chief of Schools at KIPP Bay Area Schools (now KIPP NorCal). During her five-year tenure there, all of the KIPP Bay Area schools attained the prestigious national Blue Ribbon designation, and the majority of students achieved success on a set of measures that indicate readiness to succeed in college. During the same period, racial diversity among the teaching staff increased from one-third to two-thirds. Prior to her work with KIPP Bay Area Schools, Kendra worked at the KIPP Foundation, served as consultant to charter and traditional schools across the country and was a charter school founder for Aspire Public Schools. Kendra serves as a mentor and coach for educational leaders throughout the country. A proud mother of three and a native of Oakland, California, Kendra is a continual learner. Kendra earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from National-Louis University, where she completed a dissertation on Sponsorship as a way to overcome barriers to executive success for African-American women. She also holds a MA in Education, Policy Analysis and Administration from Stanford and a BA from the University of Washington.

jhenry@yumingschool.org

Jess Henry is currently the Director of Operations at NewSchools Venture Fund where she manages business operations, IT and facilities. NewSchools works to find, fund and support teams of educators and innovators who are reimagining public education so every student finishes high school prepared and inspired to create a good life. Prior to NewSchools, Jess served as the Program Director for All Stars Helping kids. She earned a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University and competed on the Women’s Gymnastics team. Jess lives in Oakland and spends her time indoor rock climbing and building forts in the living room with her four young children.

jjackson@yumingschool.org

Joi Jackson is an educator and the proud mother of a 3rd grader at Yu Ming. She is also the Director of the Alder Bay Teacher Residency, serving several schools in Oakland. Previously, Joi was a school Principal, Dean of Culture and Instruction, and 3-8th grade teacher. Joi earned a bachelor’s degree from Spelman College and a Master’s in Educational Policy and Leadership from Loyola Marymount University. Joi is passionate about supporting teachers in developing both the skills and discretion to universally design their classrooms to meet the needs of every student.

rrlee@yumingschool.org 

Reggie Lee is a parent of both a 1st grade and a third grade student. He is a parent-elected board member, and part of the Equity Design Team at Yu Ming. In his professional life, Reggie is an experienced Regional Manager in the chemicals industry. He graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor’s degree in History.

kmaxey@yumingschool.org

Kenneth E. Maxey II, MPA, MIPCR, is the President of the Urban League of Greater San Francisco Bay Area. A seasoned community organizer and executive with over 20 years of experience, he has worked with leaders like Congressman Adam Schiff, Governor Howard Dean, and President Barack Obama, and co-founded the California Democratic Party Young Black Caucus. Kenneth’s leadership roles include Chair of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, SoCal Political Director for the DNC, and GOTV Director in Iowa for Obama (2008).

Recognized for his cross-cultural partnership work, Kenneth has earned accolades from organizations like BWOPA and the California NAACP. In corporate and nonprofit roles, he has championed programs to bridge the digital divide.

Kenneth holds master’s degrees from Howard and American Universities, a bachelor’s from Notre Dame de Namur, and certificates from institutions including Oxford University. He is active in the LA art community and a member of First African Methodist Episcopal Church.

jschorr@yumingschool.org

Jonathan Schorr is a Founding Partner at Be Clear Communications. Be Clear is helping to build a better, more progressive world by helping great people and organizations tell their stories. Jonathan is a communications and strategy consultant who has provided guidance and writing to some of the nation’s leading education leaders, nonprofits and school systems. He served in the Obama Administration as Communications Director at the U.S. Department of Education, providing guidance to the Secretary of Education, and overseeing a team of more than 100 communications professionals. Previously, Jonathan served as Partner and Chief of Staff at NewSchools Venture Fund, and as Director of New Initiatives at the KIPP network of schools. Jonathan has worked as an author, journalist and teacher. He wrote the critically acclaimed book Hard Lessons: The Promise of an Inner-City Charter School and was an education reporter for the Oakland Tribune. He lives in Oakland with his wife and two daughters.

dstinfil@yumingschool.org
David Stinfil serves as Managing Director and Head of the Oakland office at Siebert Williams Shank, an investment bank. He has served as lead manager for over $25 billion of financings across the country and has particular expertise in infrastructure related transactions. In addition to serving on Yu Ming Charter School’s Board, he currently serves as Chair of the Finance Council for the Board of KIPP Public Schools Northern California. Mr. Stinfil is also the past Chair of the Finance Committee for the Board of the Alameda Health System Foundation.

yyeh@yumingschool.org

Yiaway Yeh leads the global Social Impact Civics Partnerships team for Google, which supports a broad portfolio of civics and economic security products. Previously, he was a public finance banker with Morgan Stanley raising capital for nonprofit and children’s hospitals. Yiaway has a long commitment to public service. He served as Palo Alto Mayor and Councilmember, where he chaired the City Council / School Board Joint Committee and focused on empowering youth voices in municipal government. He created the Nashville Mayor’s Office of Innovation as Co-Chief Innovation Officer of Nashville and Davidson County Metro Government and partnered with the entrepreneurial community as a Board Member of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. He also led the City of Oakland’s internal performance audit team for Oakland’s elected City Auditor. Early in his career, he served as a US Peace Corps NGO Development Volunteer in the village of Djigouera in Burkina Faso. Yiaway holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and received his BA in Political Science from American University.