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Biographies of the Board of Directors

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Reynaldo Almeida

Rey is Aurora's Head of School. Rey, a native-born Cuban, received an undergraduate degree from Xavier University and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University in Washington, D.C. His past career experience includes positions in teaching and administration in the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Rey came to Aurora as our new Head of School in 2006, after an extensive nationwide search.

Tom Borst

Tom joined the Aurora board in 2007. He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and received his law degree from Golden Gate University. Tom is a partner with the Weiler & Borst law firm in San Ramon, practicing exclusively in the area of family law, and is a former president of the Eastern Alameda County Bar Association. His daughter, Hannah Rose, is an Aurora fourth grader.

Tom Clifton

Tom joined the board in 2004. He is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of California, Davis, School of Law. Before attending law school, Tom worked as an academic administrator at the University of California. He now practices complex litigation at the Archer Norris law firm in Walnut Creek. Tom's twin sons, Erik and Peter, are fifth graders at Aurora.

Stephen Etter

Stephen joined the board in 2005 and currently serves as the chair of the Development Committee. Stephen attended the University of California at Berkeley for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He is the founding partner of Greyrock Capital, a private equity fund, and also lectures a finance class at UC Berkeley. Steve serves as a board member on the San Francisco Giants Community Fund and as a trustee to the Berkeley Foundation. His children Daniel (third grade) and Kate (fourth grade) currently attend Aurora.

Rhonda Gillenwaters

Rhonda has served on the board since 2004, and currently chairs the Trustee Committee. Rhonda received her B.A. from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and currently is a Senior Vice President with Willis Re, Inc., a reinsurance intermediary, where she is a broker. Rhonda's daughter, Sarah, is a fifth grader at Aurora.

Nicholas Henderson

Nick joined the board in 2003 and currently serves as Treasurer and co chair of the Finance Committee. Nick received his B.A. from Harvard and MBA from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a business entrepreneur and has started three companies over the past 20 years. His son, Kai, and daughter, Melia, both attended Aurora.

Darin Lounds

Darin joined the board in 2006 and currently serves as Board President. Darin attended Michigan State University and is the Executive Director of the Housing Consortium of the East Bay, a non-profit housing organization dedicated to creating affordable, accessible housing opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities. Darin has two children at Aurora: Jade in fourth grade and Jonah in second.

Mike Orlando

Mike joined the board in 2004 and serves as Secretary. He attended Occidental College, graduating with a degree in English literature, and then attended the UCLA School of Law. Mike is currently a sixth grade humanities teacher at Presidio Hill School in San Francisco, where he is also active on the admissions and technology committees.

David Ruenzel

David has served on the Aurora board since 2005. He is an upper school English teacher at the Athenian School in Danville. Prior to joining Athenian, David spent ten years as a columnist and staff writer for Education Week and Teacher Magazine, and is still involved in editing and writing work for a number of education think tanks. David received his B.A. in English from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and his Master's Degree in English from Indiana University.

Lori Schack

Lori joined the board in 2006 and serves as co-chair of the Finance Committee. Lori received a B.A. in Women's Studies and Psychology from Brown University, and a M.A. in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota. She served as a policy analyst at the White House Office of Management and Budget from 1994 to 2000, focusing on labor and poverty issues. Her daughters both attend Aurora: Molly is in third grade and Kate is in Kindergarten.

Jonathan Velline

Jonathan joined the board in 2007 and has been active on the Finance Committee, chairing the Investment sub committee. He also serves as a board member of the Lighthouse Community Charter School in Oakland. Jonathan holds a B.A. degree in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley and is a Senior Vice President, ATM Banking and Store Strategy, at Wells Fargo. His daughter, Beatrice, is an Aurora third grader.

Nancy Walker

Nancy joined the board in 2007. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California, and received her Master's Degree in Communication Disorders from Emerson College in Boston. She is the president of the Stroke Support Group of Contra Costa County, and the mother of two children: Kate, an Aurora fourth grader, and Maya, who is in pre-school.

Travis Wall

Travis joined the board in 2007. Travis received his B.A. degree from the University of California at Berkeley, a Master's Degree from UCLA, and his law degree from University of California at Berkeley. He is a partner of the Barger & Wolen law firm in San Francisco and has two children at Aurora: Vivian, in fourth grade, and Gabe, in second grade.