Closing Board Members 2025 - 2027
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Kristin grew up in a small town 30 minutes north east of Philadelphia where EVERYBODY knows your name. While she loved the sense of belonging she encountered in her childhood, she was eager for the big wide world and landed at The University of Texas for her undergraduate studies. Like most humans, Kristin’s college years were defined by wanting to have fun, activism and a deep desire to understand/combat systems of oppression. That led her to starting a non-profit called FeelGood with her friends, the mission of which was/is “to end extreme poverty, one grilled cheese at a time… through the empowerment of women and communities”. In addition to Live Oak, Kristin has her masters in public administration and is a non-profit consultant. After marrying her kindergarten classmate, Joseph Herr, the two moved to San Francisco and eventually landed in Petaluma. Both Joe and Kristin can’t believe they get to drop their 4 kids off at Live Oak 175 days a year to be nurtured and loved by such a rock star community.
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Treasurer
Robert Bunce
Robert Bunce
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Robert’s work in social justice began nearly 30 years ago and brings a wealth of K-12 knowledge and relationships to his role as treasurer for the Live Oak Board of Directors. Driven to serve from an early age, Robert put his graduate studies in education to work as Director of Education for Women Escaping a Violent Environment Inc. in Sacramento, Operations Director for Oasis Children's Services in New York City, after spending nearly a decade as a classroom teacher and coach. Robert currently serves as the Executive Director of the West Contra Costa Public Education Fund. Robert’s entrepreneurial spirit has also earned him a seat on the board of directors for DistrictOS, a K-12 data observability platform, and BizR KidZ Entertainment, a kids animation company.
Over his career, Robert has worked to develop and implement the organizational strategic plan and drive large impact initiatives. Some of the highlights from this work included the creation of the West County College Access Network, and West Contra Costa Out of School Time Collaborative. These initiatives dramatically increased student access to free public aid for college and quality after school and summer programs. More recently, Robert helped transition the Ed Fund to its current role as the strategic fund development intermediary for the West Contra Costa Unified School District. Through these efforts, Robert was able to help the Ed Fund respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting both a district COVID-19 Relief Fund and a city Relief Fund for Richmond - collectively raising over $3M for families in need. As the strategic fund development partner for West Contra Costa Unified School District, Robert has been instrumental, raising over $4M in 4 years for students and schools. Robert and his wife Noa have three children at Live Oak. Robert loves to share his love of cooking, via the NYT Cooking App, and deep love of the outdoors with his family. |
Secretary
Steve Bleasdell
Steve Bleasdell
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Steve is the parent of two LOCS students (one former and one current) and a long time Sonoma County resident with the last 16 years in Petaluma.
As a graduate of U.C. Davis School of Law, a practicing attorney since 1997, and a huge fan of Live Oak’s educational model, he is hopeful that his legal background adds value to the Board in the coming year while it works to build strong relationships and achieve win-win outcomes for LOCS, the City of Petaluma and Petaluma City Schools. An avid fly fisherman, artist, gardener, husband and father, he looks forward to sharing his values and his legal skills in lending a hand towards building an even stronger foundation for the continued success of Live Oak and the entire Live Oak community. |