Leadership Programs

Travis J. Bristol (he/him/his)

Travis J. Bristol is an associate professor of teacher education and education policy in Berkeley’s School of Education and (by courtesy) the Department of African American Studies. He is also the faculty director of the Center for Research on Expanding Educational Opportunity. Before joining Berkeley's faculty, he was a Peter Paul Assistant Professor at Boston University. Using qualitative methods, Dr. Bristol explores three...

Veronica Valerio

With a distinguished 28-year career in education, Veronica Valerio is a dedicated leader championing academic excellence and the holistic development of all students from TK - 12th grade from Los Angeles to the Bay Area. Her journey includes over a decade of leadership experience as a Spanish bilingual teacher, Literacy Coach, Vice Principal, Principal and in director-level roles within diverse school districts and county offices.

Veronica’s expertise in multilingual and Special Education programs, reflects her unwavering commitment to accelerating outcomes for all learners. She has...

Joel Key

Joel Key is an educator, school leader, and systems designer with over two decades of service in public education. As a doctoral student in the Berkeley School of Education's Leaders for Equity and Democracy (LEAD), Joel is exploring promising practices, pedagogies, and partnerships for teacher retention and post-secondary pathways. He currently serves as Associate Director of Talent and Human Resources at Envision Education, where he leads equitable recruitment, teacher development, and strategic partnerships across a network of schools committed to transformational outcomes for first-...

Daechelle Moore

Daechelle is earning her administrative services credential and Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership in the Principal Leadership Institute at UC Berkeley. She is a Bay Area native who began her journey working with children as an after-school teacher and camp counselor locally, in the city of San Pablo, during her teenage years. Daechelle attended San Francisco State University for her undergraduate and graduate degrees. There she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education, a Master of Arts in Special Education, as well as graduate certificates in Autism Spectrum and...

Eva Beleche

Eva Beleche is a dedicated educator in Oakland Unified School District. In her 28 years in OUSD, she has taught grades from kinder to 5th, she has been a reading coach and a TSA. She is currently a 5th grade teacher at a dual language school.

She is currently a Master’s degree and Administrative Services Credential candidate in the 25th cohort of the Principal Leadership Institute program at UC Berkeley’s School of Education. Her interests in education are Multilingual and Multiculturalism, educational equity, and building sustainable school models that prioritize student belonging...

Luz Salazar

Luz Salazar is a member of the 25th cohort of the Principal Leadership Institute at UC Berkeley’s School of Education. With nearly 30 years in Education, Luz has held roles as an Elementary, and Middle school teacher, Science and Math lead, Mentor/coach, and adjunct professor. She is a founding member of Melrose Leadership Academy, where she has worked in the implementation of the school’s vision by participating in the ILT, School Design team, and using the Expeditionary Learning framework to support our Beloved community of multilingual learners.

Luz has deep knowledge and...

Enid Garcia

Enid García is a Master's degree and Administrative Services Credential candidate in the 25th cohort of the Principal Leadership Institute program at UC Berkeley's School of Education. Her academic interests include early childhood development, special education, dual language learners, Head Start programming, and community partnership development.

Enid currently serves as a Teacher on Special Assignment Instructional Coach for TK Dual Language Schools at Oakland Unified School District, working to ensure that the youngest English Language Learners thrive in a multilingual world....

Jeremi Wooten

Jeremi Wooten is a Master’s degree and Administrative Services Credential candidate of the 25th cohort for the Principal Leadership Institute at UC Berkeley. She is a Bay Area native who is passionate about being an educator in her own community. She has been integral in the establishment and heading of the African American Parent Advisory Committee at her school site. She has worked in various areas in elementary education in her 12 years at WCCUSD.

She is passionate about early childhood development, student advocacy and mentorships for at-risk students. Jeremi currently serves as...

Anthony Whitten

Anthony Whitten is a doctoral student in Cohort 3 of the Leaders for Equity and Democracy program. Anthony’s research interests include access to and equity in graduate study for underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

Anthony has a education career spanning 21 years, including secondary and higher education. Currently serving as the Director of Diversity Admissions at Berkeley Haas, he works across all Haas undergraduate and graduate degree programs strengthening the diversity partnerships and pipelines used to build diverse classes.

Prior to joining Haas, Anthony served...

Cecee Penney

Cecee Penney is a Master’s degree candidate in the 25th cohort of the Principal Leadership Institute at UC Berkeley’s School of Education. Her academic interests include educational equity, the ethical integration of artificial intelligence in schools, and building sustainable school models that prioritize student belonging and teacher retention.

Cecee currently serves as the Head of School at The Academy, a K–8 independent school in Berkeley, where she has led for the past four years. Under her leadership, The Academy expanded its STEM and humanities offerings, implemented data-...