ACADEMIC PROGRAM DIRECTOR

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Academic Program Director Ariel Mendez-Peñate was born and raised in Marin County. He received a BS degree from University of Santa Cruz in Geophysics. Ariel is currently working on his Master's degree in Mathematics Education at San Francisco State University. He has taught both math and science at the middle school and high school levels. In his teaching practice Ariel is passionate about math fluency and fostering a curiosity about science. He enjoys taking students into the outdoors and exploring new environments. Ariel is excited to join the Horizons at SFFS team and to build a strong connection with the program's community in the neighborhood in which he lives. He spends his free time chasing after his two children, riding mountain bikes, and cooking a variety of different cuisines. Ariel grew up bilingual (Spanish) and bicultural (Cuban American) and hopes to instill pride in his children for their multi-lingual and cultural heritage.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Amy is honored to support the work of students, educators, the Horizons at SFFS Team, and the larger Horizons community in building a more inclusive and joyful world. Her experiences of growing up in a low-income family and attending public school inspired her to seek equity and access in our education system as a means of social mobility and effective social change. A winding journey from college dropout, to community college student, to Clark University honors graduate, to Harvard’s Graduate School of Education resulted in her interest in utilizing the power of cognitive/developmental psychology, systems thinking, and conscious leadership in her work. She has over 14 years of experience as an educator with incredible students like those at Horizons and a lens of education research as a foundation for supporting organizational excellence. Amy grew up in Half Moon Bay, CA where she fell in love with art, the outdoors, and building community.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

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Program Coordinator Emely Jimenez was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, with family roots in Granada, Nicaragua. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. Having participated in several youth programs teaching recreational and enrichment activities for San Francisco youth, Emely is excited to continue pursuing their passion in advancing educational equity, community engagement and holistic wellness. During their free time, Emely enjoys taking long walks with her dog, dancing to any good rhythm, or relaxing with a good book.

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

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Samantha was born and raised in San Francisco and returned home after earning her Journalism degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She’s thrilled to be part of Horizons at SFFS as the Development Associate, where she gets to support the fantastic kids from the Mission District’s public schools. Samantha cares deeply about equitable living, learning, and playing conditions for youth. She is also passionate about reproductive justice, women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, and making her city a better place. In her downtime, she loves nothing more than binge-watching sitcoms, finding unique gems while thrifting, enjoying nature, listening to podcasts, and savoring all the tasty food in SF. 

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

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Starr is a beacon of radical optimism and positivity, bringing a wealth of experience to Horizons SF as the new Development Director. With a background as a Fund Development Director in the reproductive and birth justice and health policy space, she is well-versed in parent and family engagement. Her commitment to community-centric fundraising values is evident in her approach to relational and sustainable fundraising. Starr's expertise in grassroots organizing, trauma-informed and evidence-based research, policy advocacy, and DEI initiatives is a testament to her dynamic skill set. Her active participation on boards in Berkeley, including the School Site Safety Council, Berkeley High School- International Baccalearuete Advisory Council, and Planning and Oversight Committees, underscores her dedication to the community where her children attend school. This experience, combined with her advocacy for an equitable school system and her personal journey through the San Francisco education system, positions Starr to significantly advance the mission of Horizons SF.