Board of Trustees.
Supporting and protecting GATE’s student-focused mission.
GATE Academy is a California non-profit corporation with Board members serving on a voluntary basis. The Trustees have oversight responsibilities for financial management of the school and governance to mission.
Each board member deeply understands GATE’s mission-based program and philosophy, and together they bring the experience, knowledge and dedication that keeps our school financially sound and operationally healthy — ensuring our program operates independent of ideology and politics.
Victoria Talkington, JD
Victoria believes GATE’s inquiry-based model for gifted children sets a national standard. A Yale molecular biochemistry graduate with a JD from Harvard, she clerked for the U.S. Tax Court and served as managing partner of a Marin County law firm. Her son is a 2013 GATE graduate.
Douglas Wick
A veteran teacher of 24+ years, Doug teaches physics and engineering at Branson and co-directs the Branson Science Symposium. He holds degrees from Princeton, UT Austin and Duke. Both of his daughters have attended GATE.
Xander Barbar
Part of People Development at Boeing, Xander brings a recent student’s perspective to GATE. A UCLA Honors College graduate, he has taught abroad and led education initiatives in Seattle public schools.
Steven A. Nielsen, JD
A registered patent attorney and former GATE parent, Steve chaired GATE’s first finance committee and still serves on it. He holds a JD from UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall and a BS in Computer Science, and has been instrumental in GATE’s technology upgrades.
Michael Rapé, PhD
A Professor and Head of the Division for Molecular Therapeutics at UC Berkeley and an HHMI Investigator, Michael has had two children attend GATE Academy.
Jill Figg Dayal, JD
An Administrative Law Judge for the San Francisco Rent Board, Jill has litigated employment cases and served as a Deputy City Attorney. She holds a JD from the University of Michigan and has a daughter at GATE.
Ashley Eleftheriou, JD
A tech entrepreneur and parent of two GATE students, Ashley has founded award-winning companies acquired by Google and Pinterest. With a psychology background and a law degree, she focuses on ethical, human-centered design.