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Veronica Goei, Executive Director
408-347-7892 ext. 303 vgoei@gfsfamilyservices.org Veronica has been GFS Executive Director since 2000. She is a leader in the nonprofit sector with more than 18 years of experience. Under her leadership, GFS has built a reputation for expertise in early childhood literacy, family engagement and working with Latino families. She has developed curricula in the areas of parenting, diversity, early childhood literacy, and adult education. Her curricula are implemented at the local, state and national level. Veronica serves on the New Market Tax Credit advisory board of Opportunity Fund and is a member of the Children's Musical Theater of San Jose's Board of Directors. Veronica holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Chile. She is a graduate of the Harvard University Strategic Perspective in Nonprofit Management Program. She counts many accomplishments in her professional career, but none is greater than her family—her two children, Heather and Jeremy. |
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Maritza Valenzuela, Office Manager
408-347-7892 ext. 302 mvalenzuela@gfsfamilyservices.org Maritza has over five years of experience in office management and bookkeeping. Prior to coming to GFS, she worked as Office Manager and Bookkeeper Maritza holds a BA in Sociology from California State University, San Bernardino. Prior to coming to the Bay area, Maritza volunteered to assist San Bernardino Community counselors working with the pregnant teens. She has a passion for work that supports her community. |
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Nereyda M. Hurtado, Ph. D., Director of Programs
408-347-7892 ext. 301 nhurtado@gfsfamilyservices.org Nereyda is a child development specialist, who spent over a decade as a researcher at Stanford University, where she conducted studies on language development and parenting practices with monolingual and bilingual families living in the Bay Area. Nereyda is responsible for the implementation of the Building Blocks of Parenting Family Engagement Professional Development Program which seeks to support schools in transforming their interactions with families into meaningful collaborations between parents, teachers and other school staff. Nereyda graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a doctorate in educational psychology. |
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Juana Castillo, Preschool Site Supervisor
408-347-7892 ext. 316 jcastillo@gfsfamilyservices.org Juana is the Grail Family Services' California State Preschool Program Site Supervisor. Juana has been working with families and children in Santa Clara County since 2007. She has a deep vocation, great knowledge, and experience in the field of Child Development. She has a great dedication for the progress and well-being of each of the preschoolers and their families, putting the children first. Juana has a BA in Business Administration from her native country, Peru. Juana has a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit from the California Teacher Credentials Commission. She is currently pursuing her BA in Human Development at Pacific Oaks College. |
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Carolina Trenado, Family Engagement Manager
408-347-7892 ext. 315 ctrenado@gfsfamilyservices.org Carolina is responsible for the coordination, implementation, evaluation and effective management of GFS’s family engagement programs. Before joining GFS, she worked for LifeSTEPS, a nonprofit in San Jose where she was involved in designing and implementing effective programs for affordable housing complexes. She previously worked for Sacred Heart Community Service coordinating the JobLink employment services program and coordinating the agency’s volunteers. Carolina has a passion for education, alleviating poverty, creating social change and helping the Latino Community prosper. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University, Chico and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco. |
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Yadirha Orozco, Family Literacy Coordinator
408-347-7892 ext. 305 yorozco@gfsfamilyservices.org Yadirha is responsible for coordinating, implementing, and evaluating GFS’s family literacy programs for adults and their children, namely the Yes We Can…Read!™ Children’s Initiative and Raising A Reader Plus. She works under the supervision of the Family Engagement Manager. Prior to joining GFS, Yadirha worked as a preschool teacher and after school program director and academic coach. She has worked with students ages 2-18 on an individual and group level, with parents offering workshops, and providing support for the operations of an organization. Yadirha has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Child and Adolescent Psychology. |
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Keishla Thompson-Echevarría, Family Resource Center and Professional Development Manager
408-347-7892 ext. 305 kechevarria@gfsfamilyservices.org Keishla oversees all of the Family Resource Center activities serving families with children 0-5 years old focusing on school readiness, physical health, behavioral and social and emotional health, and early literacy. She also leads the implementation of the SEEDS Family Child Care Provider (FCCP) Program funded by FIRST 5 Santa Clara County’s Family Resource Center Initiative. Prior to joining Grail Family Services, Keishla worked for Reading Partners in Oakland as a Senior Site Coordinator and as a Family Engagement Coordinator for City Year in Sacramento, where she established the first Family Resource Center at Fern Bacon Middle School. Keishla graduated magna cum laude from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez with a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature. |
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Melissa Canela, Parent Services Coordinator
408-347-7892 ext. 306 mcanela@gfsfamilyservices.org Melissa coordinates the Birth and Beyond Family Empowerment Program. She also works with our ESL class on Fridays, scheduling informational presentations and workshops, and activities to practice speaking in English. Melissa has a B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Education from the University of San Francisco. Before coming to GFS, she was a Community Liaison, for Alum Rock Union School District where she provided resources to parents and families by creating partnerships with local organizations, increased parent/family engagement, and built meaningful and supportive relationships between school and students' homes. Melissa is a first-generation Latina born and raised in the east side of San Jose. |
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Irazu Martinez, Family Services Lead
408-347-7892 ext. 307 imartinez@gfsfamilyservices.org Irazu works closely with another service provider to deliver the Prevention Early Intervention (PEI) Services Program at local schools in the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District. She provides case management services to at-risk families, helping them access community resources and achieve self-sufficiency. Along with her team members, she also delivers social skills streaming workshops for young students in ARUSD schools. Irazu graduated from California State University East Bay with a B.A. in Sociology. Before coming to GFS, Irazu was a Health Services Advocate at Foothill Community Health Center and a PEI Family Partner at Catholic Charities. |
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Amira Uribe, Family Services Specialist
408-347-7892 ext. 313 auribe@gfsfamilyservices.org Amira works with the Family Services Lead to deliver the Prevention Early Intervention (PEI) Services Program at local schools in the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District. She provides case management services to at-risk families, helping them access community resources and achieve self-sufficiency. Before joining Grail Family Services, Amira was a Program Leader for AmeriCorps ThinkTogether, working with underserved youth on academic enrichment in a classroom setting, and facilitating information-sharing between parents, students, teachers, volunteers, and the community. As a Program Manager for TutorWorks, she helped children develop their basic reading, writing, and math skills. Amira has extensive volunteer experience, most recently providing crisis intervention assistance on a 24-hour hotline for Catalyst Domestic Violence Services. Amira graduated from California State University, Chico in 2015. She has a BA in Psychology and a minor in Child Development. |
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Leslie Flowers, Development and Communications Manager
408-347-7892 ext. 304 lflowers@gfsfamilyservices.org Leslie is responsible for Grail Family Services’ fund development and communications activities, including grant proposals, newsletters, social media content and fundraising events. Her background spans journalism, human resources and corporate training. As an avid reader and lifelong learner, Leslie is thrilled to be working with an organization that focuses on children’s literacy and academic success. A native Californian, Leslie has a BA in journalism from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. She enjoys travel, hiking, volunteering, theater, and reading. |
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Brenda Arenas, Child Enrichment Coordinator and Preschool Teacher
408-347-7892 ext. 308 barenas@gfsfamilyservices.org Brenda comes from Chihuahua, Mexico, and has been with GFS for 12 years. She is part of the Preschool team in the afternoon and coordinates the Child Enrichment program in the morning. She has implemented several family literacy programs and is strongly involved in her community. She has studied child development at De Anza College, and has a passion for working with families and children. |
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Martha Frias, Child Enrichment Staff
408-347-7892 Martha comes from Zacatecas, Mexico, and has been with GFS for 10 years, focusing on the enrichment of 1 to 2 year olds. She has studied child development at De Anza College. Martha is very creative and loves working with children. She is the proud mother of two children. |
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Maria Serna, Child Enrichment Staff
408-347-7892 Maria comes from Aguascalientes, Mexico, and has been with GFS for 13 years, working with children ages 0 to 5. Before GFS, she worked at San Antonio Elementary School, first as a volunteer at the preschool level, then at the kindergarten level, and finally at the first grade level. In 2004, Maria obtained a family child care degree. She studied early childhood development at De Anza College, and is currently continuing her studies at Mission College. |
Irma Contreras, Child Enrichment Staff
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Gabriela Zamora - Child Enrichment Staff
408-347-7892 Gabriela comes from Michoacan, Mexico, and has been with GFS for one year. She has been focusing on the enrichment of newborn to 2-year old children. She has studied Child Development at Mission College. She loves working with children, and is pursuing a career as a preschool teacher. |
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Maria Ornelas, Preschool Teacher
408-347-7892 mornelas@gfsfamilyservices.org Mari was born and raised in San Jose, California. She is an Associate Teacher in the GFS Preschool, and has a personal mission to inspire and encourage students to strive for greatness, and teach them through experience to realize their full potential and become the best they can be. She is currently attending San Jose City College to acquire her Associate of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education. Outside of her academic training, Mari attends early childhood education workshops. |
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Bianca Chavez, Preschool Teacher
408-347-7892 bchavez@gfsfamilyservices.org Bianca was born and raised in East San Jose. She has worked with children between the ages of 4 months to 5 years for the past few years. As an Associate Teacher in the GFS Preschool she strives every day to provide a lasting education in each child both academically and emotionally. Bianca is a first-generation college student who pursued a BA in Child and Adolescent Development with a focus on Early Childhood. She graduated from San Jose State University in the Fall of 2016. When not working, Bianca enjoys going on adventures with her nephew and nieces. |
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Urany Jazmin Ruelas, Preschool Teacher
408-347-7892 uruelas@gfsfamilyservices.org Jazmin comes from Jalisco, Mexico. Before coming to the U.S., she was a preschool teacher in Mexico. Prior to joining GFS, she volunteered at L..U.C.H.A. Elementary School and Kidango Cesar Chavez. Jazmin has a BA in Early Childhood Education. During the weekends, she enjoys spending time with her family. |
