Newsletter | October 11, 2018
Meet the Writing Center Educators!
There are New Faces Around the 
Middle School Writing Centers!

Liz Liscum: A.K.A. "World Traveler"
Middle School Writing Center Program Manager &  Creekside HS Principal

As Program Manager, Liz ensures the Writing Centers at Adele Harrison and Altimira Middle Schools are running smoothly with the goal of helping all kids cultivate their technical and creative writing skills. 

Liz Liscum

Liz Liscum is a Sonoma Native. She had the true privilege of doing her student teaching at Adele Harrison and has never looked back. Traveling is her favorite hobby and she has been to five out of the seven continents. She only needs to go to Antarctica and Australia. 

Stay tuned... she'll soon be recruiting and training volunteers to work directly with students in the Writing Center, giving even more individualized support!
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Regina Mellinger: You'll Never Guess Who Her Mother Is! 
(Hint: a well-loved SVUSD teacher)
Writing Teacher at Adele Harrison Middle School &  Intervention at Prestwood 

Regina Mellinger

Regina Mellinger was born and raised in Sonoma, having attended Prestwood Elementary, Adele Harrison Middle School and Sonoma Valley High School. It was her 1st and 2nd-grade teacher, Mrs. Mellinger (a.k.a. her amazing mother Mary) that inspired her to be a teacher. She is beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to work within the schools she attended and with teachers that were once her own!
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Tracy Giles: You Won't Believe this Family Story!
Writing Teacher at Altimira Middle School

Tracy Giles

Tracy Giles is a fifth generation San Francisco Bay Area Californian. Fun fact: Her great, great grandmother survived the 1906 Earthquake but lost her home in the fire, escaped by ferry to Oakland, and gave birth to her great-grandmother just a few days later. Tracy is a former English teacher, avid gardener and spends as much time as she possibly can on the shores and mountains of Lake Tahoe. 
With inspiration from 826 Valencia in San Francisco, the Middle School Writing Centers funded by the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation through generous community donors like you, provides a place for all students to develop and enhance their writing skills.  Click here for more information.
Meet our Newest Board Member!
   
Sonoma Valley Education Foundation Board Chair, Tim Wallace with Board Member, Kathy Witkowicki at the 2018 Red & White Ball.
(Photo courtesy of the Press Democrat)
Kathy Witkowicki is the Co-Founder & President of Sonoma Speaker Series. Before that, she was the Founder of Stand By Me - Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance and served as Executive Director for nearly 20 years.  

Presently, she is on the Board of Directors for Speedway Children's Charities and the Sonoma Plaza Kiwanis Club. Kathy is also a member of the Development Committee for Transcendence Theater and the Task Force for the Sebastiani Theatre Foundation.

"So much of my life's work has been dedicated to helping, guiding and supporting children because as the adults in their world, that's our job!" 

Kathy has lived in Sonoma since 1979, where she raised four children who all attended Sonoma Valley public schools. 

Welcome, Kathy! 
Barn Talks is a speaker series hosted by the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation featuring alums of our high school, allowing students unique public speaking opportunities! Proceeds from the "Forever Nerdy" event will benefit SVHS Freshman Teams and the Drama Department. 

If you have a speaker idea or a cool barn tip, Sallie Kyle Moore would love to hear from you ([email protected])!
Community Events 
 Supporting Sonoma Valley Schools
Save the Date! 

Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates supporting  Sonoma Valley students:
  • Wednesday, November 14 (6:30 pm): Barn Talks "Forever Nerdy" with SVHS alumni Reed Martin and Brian Posehn. Tickets on sale NOW!
Looking for a perfect date day? Follow Sonoma Country Art Trails October 12-13 and October 20-12. Make sure to visit local Sonoma visual artist, Evan Garber. Evan will generously donate 20% of his proceeds to the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation in support of programs benefiting Sonoma Valley students! The art trails catalog is available  here.
STAY CONNECTED:
Sonoma Valley Education Foundation | 17878 Railroad Avenue  | 707-935-9566   [email protected]  | www.svgreatschools.org