PFLAG of DANVILLE & SAN RAMON VALLEY BOARD MEMBERS
CHERYL BECK
ALLISON GARDINER
CHERYL BECK
Advocacy Committee
Chapter Librarian & Resources Manager
Cheryl Beck - Advocacy, Librarian & Resource mgr.
Resident of Dublin, Cheryl is our Advocacy Chairperson and manages the PFLAG Library and promotional supplies. Since PFLAG helped support her when she first learned her son was gay, she continues in leadership with PFLAG to help other parents. She believes parents supporting other parents is one very effective way to learn how to best support and accept our own kids.
Joyce Brown - Advocacy
Our PFLAG chapter will be celebrating our 25th anniversary this year in 2020. Joyce has been with our chapter almost from the beginning. She is a change leader for lgbtq+ equality having successfully fought for Marriage Equality and is ever watchful of the latest in lgbtq+ legislation and trends. Joyce jumped right into PFLAG with both feet on a full run when she first learned one of her two daughters was gay. She's now the proud grandmother of three grandchildren from both of her daughters.
ALLISON GARDINER - advocacy chairperson
Allison Gardiner, MS Ed. is an out-gay teacher in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. She has taught high school Spanish and been Advisor to the student GSA clubs (Gay Straight Alliance à Gender Sexuality Alliance) both here in California and “back East” in Maine. She has worked to advocate for inclusion, equity and diversity education in the districts where she has taught. Allison has earned many awards some of which include the California Teachers Association's Human Rights Award out of their ALCOSTA Service Center; the SRV Education Association Excellence in Education's "Making a Change" award; and she received Special Congressional Recognition from U.S. Congressman Eric Swalwell.
She brings her 20 years of teaching experience to PFLAG to help increase the systemic supports in the community schools. Allison has worked with Administrators and District Staff throughout her tenure to assure LGBTQ+ topics, especially focusing on the Fair Education Act and GSA supports, were always included in conversations regarding Equity and Diversity. She sits on the SRVUSD Equity Leadership Team, SRVUSD Mental Wellness Committee, PTA Inclusion & Diversity Committee, and most recently became an Advisor to the Social Justice Elementary Cohort bringing Social Justice literature to classrooms throughout the SRVUSD.
Allison, her wife Debbie, and son Isaac, enjoy playing outside, game nights and trips to the beach.
Jacquie Guzzo - board member
Jacquie is the mother of two sons, the youngest of whom is transgender and who is her inspiration for her work with PFLAG. She has been with PFLAG since 2014.
When her son came out as a transgender young man at age 20, Jacquie reached out to PFLAG for support and education. Her son went on to graduate magna cum laude and is currently researching graduate schools, while working as a social worker and crisis counselor.
Jacquie, formerly PFLAG's Chapter President, puts her BA in Organizational Communications to work on PFLAG’s mission to “Advance equality for lgbtq+ individuals through support, education and advocacy.” She believes, as does PFLAG, that family support and acceptance are critical to the health and well-being of lgbtq+ individuals.
Bruce Hixon - STRATEGIC PLANNING & Administration
Our PFLAG chapter is celebrating our 25th anniversary this year in 2020. Bruce has been involved in our chapter's administration and strategic planning from early in our chapter's history. He has just trained our new Treasurer in the management of our finances and reporting requirements as well as the administrative filings with our national headquarters and the government.
He's very busy actively supporting the chapter president in all manner of administration and helping facilitate the support group meetings each month in overseeing the strategic planning of PFLAG in Danville/San Ramon Valley as well as PFLAG Contra Costa County.
Kathie Hixon - BOARD MEMBER
Kathie is the heart and soul of our chapter. As our corresponding secretary, she communicates with chapter members and individuals in our vast network of companies, organizations and the SRVUSD. When there's something to be celebrated or sorrows to be shared, Kathie is there with kind and thoughtful words and gestures on behalf of PFLAG. Having also been involved with our PFLAG chapter since just about the beginning, she has been instrumental in the growth and strength of our chapter.
Faye Isaacson - Secretary and LGBTQ Resources
How does a parent lead the way when there's just no path in front of you? Well, that's just what Faye and her husband did when prior to high school they learned their kid was not identifying with the female gender assigned at birth. They found the health professionals to support their son through these uncharted waters as their son was the first openly transgender kid in the SRVUSD. They also reached out to PFLAG for support of other parents.
Faye has read extensively on the subject, seen her son graduate summa cum laude from university and search for the right graduate school since those first days of learning they had a transgender son. We're all very proud of the Isaacson's and their son for leading the way for those of us who have come behind.
LISA LEVY - PRESIDENT
Lisa has an MA in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling as well as experience in Human Resources specializing in Performance Management, Training and Development and Executive Compensation. She was also the founder of stretch.play.yoga, a company developed to both foster social and emotional skills in children ages 2-18 as well as teach parenting skills through yoga techniques.
Lisa is on multiple committees with the 32nd District PTA and is a member of the Climate Committee for SRVUSD. Along with her oldest child and school administration, Lisa launched a task force that focused on LGBTQ+ issues at San Ramon Valley High School. This task force led to the creation of a Climate & Culture Committee made up of students, teachers, parents, administrators and counselors with the goal of conducting an equity audit at the school, identifying gaps and creating and implementing solutions.
Together with her husband, Lee, three great kids in middle and high school, and a dog, she moved to Alamo recently from Los Altos. Lisa is digging in fast and looking forward to joining forces with other PFLAG Parents, Families & Friends of lgbtq+ loved ones to offer support, education and advocacy to the community.
Wes Muldrow - Treasurer
Wes has responsibility for the finances of our chapter as well as federal and state filing requirements. He manages our chapter’s reporting requirements to the PFLAG national office in Washington, D.C. also. In addition to all this and his career in finance, you will find Wes at most of our monthly support group meetings. He believes in giving back since PFLAG was there for him when his son first came out years ago. He wants to help other parents of lgbtq+ individuals by reassuring them they aren’t alone.
Elisa Tinker - PFLAG liaison to SRVUSD
Elisa Tinker is the mother of a boy, a girl and a non-binary young adult each of whom are in or have attended SRVUSD schools. When her oldest began expressing non-binary feelings around their gender they had never heard of a non-binary person before. Their family was very accepting, but wanted a better understanding of what this meant. PFLAG helped with education and support so now Elisa is a cheerleader vs a quiet supporter for her oldest.
As liaison to SRVUSD, Elisa is working hard to keep communications strong between PFLAG, SRVUSD GSA Faculty Advisors and the Administration. Her goal beyond supporting our community of PFLAG SRVUSD families is getting the word out so new SRVUSD families will think of PFLAG for support right when their kid comes out to them as an lgbtq+ individual.
