Board of Directors Profiles | Kidango

Board of Directors

The Kidango Board of Directors is comprised of elected members who share a commitment to ensuring access to high quality early learning for all children. Their visionary leadership, insight and direction are the backbone of Kidango’s mission, vision, and values.

Catherine Atkin

Executive Director, Early Learning Lab

Chair

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Education: BA Stanford University, JD Berkeley School of Law, MA UCLA

Member of Kidango Board Since: 2018

Why Kidango? 
I have long been passionate about ensuring children get the set of experiences they need and to deserve from 0-5 to be healthy happy and read for kindergarten. I am honored to be on the Kidango board where I can support an amazing early childhood program that is laser-focused on providing this kind of high-quality early childhood education and development services in the Bay Area.

Erika Trageser

Sr. Research Program Manager, Salesforce Research & Insights

Vice Chair

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Member of Kidango Board Since: 2022

Why Kidango? Passionate about early childhood education that teaches social and emotional intelligence as a lifelong skill which starts in a Kidango classroom. Also, I am a former Kidango student who attended Tri City Children’s Center while my mother was a teacher. I cannot imagine what it is like for parents, teachers, and children currently and I want help support the great work already being done.

 

Gerry McFaull

CEO, Qualdeval International

Treasurer

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Education:  MSc. I.E. & Admin, Cranfield University, Cranfield, U.K.

Member of Kidango Board Since: 2004 (14 years)

Why Kidango? Early childhood development is a proven and powerful stepping stone on the path to ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential in life.  Kidango is a leader in this field and as a member of the Board, it’s my objective to contribute to the continued success and future development of the services Kidango offers to our children and families.  It is my great honor and privilege to serve our children, families, staff, funders, and community and to earn their trust through the delivery of excellent quality and care in everything we do.

Susan Muenchow

Principal Researcher, American Institutes for Research

Secretary

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Education: M.S., Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism; B.A., Stanford University, Phi Beta Kappa

Member of the Kidango Board Since: 2017

Why Kidango? Whether as a researcher, state level administrator, or journalist, my focus has been improving access to quality early care and education.  Serving on the board of Kidango, a premier agency with a history of innovation, offers the opportunity to put that focus into immediate action.

Peggy Pizzo

Director, Early Learning Project, Stanford University

Board Member

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Education: Master’s degree in Child Study from Tufts University (Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development)

Master’s degree in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University.

 

Why Kidango? Peggy Daly Pizzo is a Senior Scholar, Stanford Graduate School of Education, where she is carrying out research related to emotional and social intelligence in young children and the adults who are important to them. She is currently directing an Early Childhood Teaching Cases Project, which will result in about eight in-depth teaching cases, to be used in professional development of early childhood teachers. These cases will focus on “best practice” teacher-child interaction that promotes social and emotional skills in children, especially when there is challenging or difficult behavior.

Previously she was an Instructor, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, and a Research Associate at the Judge Baker Children’s Center in Boston, Massachusetts. She has also served as Affiliate Faculty at the Bush Center in Child Development and Social Policy at Yale University.

For twenty years, between 1973 and 1993, she promoted federal and state policies benefiting young children and their families, particularly those who participate in Head Start, child care, and early intervention services for children with special needs.

From 1980-1981, Ms. Pizzo served as Associate Director of the White House Domestic Policy Staff for Human Resources. Prior to that she was Special Assistant to the Commissioner of the federal agency that administers the Head Start, foster care, adoption assistance, child care and child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment programs.

She has also authored over 35 textbook chapters, magazine articles, and professional monographs as well as a book on parent support and advocacy activities in the United States (Parent to Parent: Working Together for Ourselves and Our Children).

Don Bolce

Director, Early Learning Services, Santa Clara County Office of Education (Ret.)

Board Member

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Education and Credentials:

  • University of California, Berkeley – B.A., Bacteriology
  • California State University, Hayward – Early Childhood Education
  • Elementary Teaching Credential – Early Childhood Specialization

Member of Kidango Board Since: 2018

Why Kidango? I know that high quality early childhood education provides a strong foundation for children lifelong success and supports families. I recognize the commitment and quality of the Kidango staff and the Kidango commitment to support these staff. I believe that Kidango has the commitment and capacity to improve the early care and education systems that support young children and their families. I am honored to work with the committed and highly talented Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team.

Mirriam Osae-Addo

Customer Service Representative, Bank Of America

Board Member

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Education:

MSW (CSUEB, Expected Graduation Date: 2025), MA, Comm. Studies (University of Ghana, Legon), BA, Political Science (University of Ghana, Legon)

Member of Kidango Board Since: 2023

Why Kidango? I know the benefits that having my kids enrolled in Kidango has brought to my family and I would like to bring my experiences and skills both as a parent and a community development officer working in the area of women and children to impact the efforts of Kidango to bring quality early to families in California.  I see this as an opportunity for community service.

Sebastian Miller

Employment Attorney

Board Member

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Education: B.A., UCLA; J.D., The University Of Chicago Law School

Member of Kidango Board Since: January 2024

Reasons for Joining Kidango Board: Parents must place enormous trust in the pre-school educators with whom they leave their children.  I want to use my knowledge of employment law to help Kidango continue to deliver benefits for the kids at its sites as well as to serve as a leader and example to others in early childhood education space.

Jean-Marie Houston

Administrator, Early Learning Support Services, San Mateo County Office of Education (Ret.)

Board Member

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Education: B.A. Human Services, Notre Dame de Namur University

A.S. Early Childhood Education, Cañada College

Member of Kidango Board Since: January 2024

Reasons for joining Kidango Board: Beginning as a parent seeking childcare in 1981, I became involved in early care and education from numerous perspectives and found a meaningful and rewarding career over 37 years. I became a strong advocate for access to, and support for, high quality early care and education. The critical roles that adults play in the growth and development of young children cannot be understated. I am honored to be able to ‘give back’ as a Board Member of Kidango – an exemplary program which aligns with my values and experience. 

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