Schools Program Team

Shakeel Ali – B.A. San Francisco State University, Social Science and Ethnic Studies; Master Teacher Permit for Child Development; CBEST certified. Shakeel has worked as a teacher, counselor, consultant and trainer throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. He is the Help Increase The Peace Coordinator for the West Coast through the American Friends Service Committee and also teaches for USF’s Upward Bound program.

Luis Aroche – Luis has worked in the trenches of gang violence for over 10 years. His experience ranges from working with California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation re-entry population to providing preventive and intervention services to targeted communities. Luis’ knowledge on gang/youth violence has been recognized throughout the Bay Area as he has received the San Francisco Department of Public Health Latino Commission “Balancing our Lives” award, the Boys and Girls Club of America “Community Partnership” award and the San Francisco Department of Parole and Community “Acknowledgment” award for providing high level of service to the re-entry community. In addition, his passion is to empower and guide targeted communities to invest time and energy to better their lives and of their fellow neighbor.

Russell Brunson – J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution. Russell is an experienced mediator and expert on Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking for Youth. He has written several classroom curriculums and has worked extensively on issues of youth development, diversity, and effective communication in schools, youth groups, and juvenile justice systems around the country.

Eva Forchini – B.A. Pacific Oaks College, Early Childhood Education/ Human Development; Stanford University, Service Learning Curriculum Certificate. Eva is the Prevention Services Provider for Cabrillo School District and was previously the Prevention Coordinator for the Redwood City School District. She has extensive experience with conflict resolution training and coordinating of peer programs.

Lauren Kucera - M.A. University of San Francisco, Multicultural Education. Lauren is a facilitator, an educator and a co-founder of coAction, a communication and diversity training group working with educational institutions throughout the U.S. One of her primary areas of focus is taking on the racial and achievement gaps in schools. Her trainings give schools, adults, and youth the awareness, skills and activities to face discrimination campus-wide, thus supporting the creation of emotionally and intellectually-safe learning communities for all students.

Gustavo Lopez – B.A. San Francisco State University, Political Science and Latino/a Studies. Gustavo has over eight years experience working with diverse communities in the realm of education, immigration rights, and violence prevention. Gustavo has developed curriculum in conflict resolution and cultural empowerment, and has developed and provided trainings for high-risk youth. Currently, Gustavo is working with San Mateo County District high schools providing violence prevention trainings and leadership development for youth.

Maria Teresa Magaña – B.S. Notre Dame de Namur University, Psychology; M.A. University of San Francisco, Multicultural Education; Multiple Subjects Bilingual Credential . Maria Teresa has been involved in Bay Area schools for almost twenty years as a teacher and outreach specialist. As a bilingual, bicultural Educational Consultant, she offers professional translation, facilitation, and conflict management services with a focus on family/school/community involvement.

Angelica Mariano – PCRC Training Program Associate, B.A. University of San Francisco, Spanish Literature; Single Subject Spanish Teaching Credential. Angelica has worked in the nonprofit sector in the Bay Area providing direct services to the Latino community in San Mateo County. Most recently, Angelica has worked with PCRC as a Family Engagement Specialist at Hoover Community School in Redwood City. Through her extensive work with Latino immigrant families, she specializes in trainings related to family involvement in the school and community, ranging from basic communication and facilitation skills to understanding the school system and building parents’ leadership skills.

Elizabeth McLeod – Ed.M, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Multiple Subject and Single Subject (Language Arts) credential from SFSU. Co-founder of GirlVentures, a non-profit dedicated to empowering adolescent girls to discover and express their strengths (http://www.girlventures.org). For the past 15 years, Elizabeth has taught communication and leadership skills as an elementary and middle school teacher, wilderness instructor, mother, and Executive Director of an educational non-profit. She is also a long-time student (and more recently, teacher) of yoga which informs her understanding of conflict resolution and peace-building.

Alicia Santamaría – M.A. University of New Mexico, Interpersonal/Intercultural Communication. An 18- year veteran in the field of conflict resolution, Alicia first began her long-standing relationship with PCRC in 1995. She has served as contract trainer, volunteer, and held 3 staff positions at PCRC – Mediation Case Manager and both Coordinator and Manager of the Schools Program. At PCRC she conceived and developed the Parent/Teen Mediation Program and College Conflict Coaching Program. Alicia has extensive experience working with San Mateo County schools and colleges and provides dynamic, high quality conflict resolution and communication skills trainings to audiences of all ages and levels. Alicia is currently principal at adelante coaching + consulting providing personal and workplace coaching, organizational consulting and custom-designed workshops and trainings to the non-profit, education, public sector, and philanthropic sectors.

Mindy Shelton – B.A. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Liberal Studies; Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Notre Dame de Namur University (supplemental credential in English); CLAD certificate. Mindy has been an elementary classroom teacher for 10 years, and has served on various school and district committees and leadership teams. She is the School Climate Facilitator for Nesbit Elementary and has extensive experience in team building and facilitation for both staff and students. In addition, she has worked for many years in the areas of conflict resolution and character education for elementary school students.

Alejandro Vilchez – B.A. Bethany College, focus on Cross-Cultural Communication and Gang Prevention. Alejandro is a seasoned trainer and recognized leader in violence prevention within the Chicano/Latino community of San Mateo County. He is knowledgeable of gang factions operating the SF Bay Area and has over 10 years experience providing group facilitation, mediation, and trainings in conflict management. Alejandro has a special talent for using games and activities that keep trainings fun yet focused. He reaches all ages stressing the importance of communication, cultural identity, and community involvement.

Sharon Yoerg – M.A. Washington University; B.S. University of Wisconsin, Madison; Resource Specialist Credential, San Francisco State University. Teacher Leadership Program, Stanford University. Sharon is a consultant and trainer in parent and peer education, staff development, conflict mediation and other school safety programs such as bullying and internet safety. Sharon was a teacher at Woodside High School in Redwood City, CA for over 25 years and one of her skills is to develop peer programs that fit the needs of individual school sites.

Laura Ziegler – MA Education, San Francisco State University; BA University of California at Berkeley. Laura has been in the education field for over 25 years, first as a teacher at all levels and most recently as an Educational Consultant and Parent Educator. She works with schools and families to address issues such as bullying, learning differences, ADHD, and adoption. She provides support and strategies to parents and teachers raising and educating children who face personal and academic challenges.