BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The George Daskarolis Foundation is seeking two dynamic leaders for our seven-member Board of Directors. We are looking to expand our impact on our students in the coming year, and are committed to ongoing learning and organizational development. If this excites you, please read on.
Elizabeth Daskarolis – Founder & Treasurer
In 1966 Elizabeth married George Daskarolis, a lifelong, enthusiastic, and committed Bay Area educator. She taught English at Castlemont High School for four years and when her children, Kaymaria and Peter, were born, she became a stay-at-home mother and homemaker. In 1981 Elizabeth returned to the classroom, teaching and counseling part-time at Skyline High School until 2000. After George died in 1999, Elizabeth and her children established the GDF in his memory. In 2008 Elizabeth married George Lendaris, also a lifelong educator. She now divides her time between Oakland and Portland, OR. Her greatest passion - after family, friends, and her "Oakland kids" - is travel. Before she dies she hopes to see all the places on her ever-expanding list.
Peter Daskarolis – Chairman of the Board
Peter Daskarolis lives in San Francisco. Some of his loves are music, PF Chang's, road trips, Bruins basketball and martinis. He lives for family, friends, laughter, stories, good ideas, and new connections. His work is play so he always plays at work. Before he dies he wants to have been a part of creating something timeless that makes someone else want to live more fully and completely than ever before.
Jenna Jacques - President
After many years of soul-searching and trying out different things, Jenna has realized that her passion lies within the education field and strives to make a difference for children and adults who want to learn and expand their world. As someone who was able to attend college, she is excited to be able to contribute to the children involved with GDF to ensure they have the opportunity to pursue higher education.
Jill Stowe - Vice President
Jill Stowe, a mother of three, financial planner, and believer in the power of education, joined the GDF Board of Directors in 2007. She is committed to actively supporting efforts to increase the educational opportunities available to young people. One of her primary goals is to have and model a healthy balance in life, which includes teaching her own children by example the importance of strengthening our community through philanthropy.
Kaymaria Daskarolis – Secretary
After earning a B.A. in English Literature and Afro-American Studies at UCLA (Go, Bruins!), Kaymaria earned her teaching credential at SFSU and taught middle school students for nearly a decade before venturing to Greece in order to keep a promise to her paternal grandmother. She reached Athens in time for the 2004 Olympics and for three years thereafter taught, wrote, edited, and played in the bustling Greek capital. Now back in the Bay Area teaching English at Hayward High School and working with her brother on projects for Mason Street Productions, one way she honors her magnificent father is by partnering with the GDF to encourage students' pursuit of their dreams through education.
Miranda Spang – Member at Large
It is not often that a teacher has the opportunity to stay closely connected with a group of students after they move on to the next grade. Miranda is honored to follow this graduating class of 2016 through the challenges and triumphs of high school and to assist them in fulfilling their college goals. As a first generation college graduate, Miranda understands the journey these students are undertaking and the rewards that follow. If she's not in the classroom, chances are she is trekking through some remote region of wilderness, perhaps backpacking through the amazing backcountry of California, scuba diving, or climbing a volcano.
Amy Smith Stauffer – Member at Large
Originally from Pittsburgh, Amy moved to San Diego to teach 5th grade as part of an Americorps progam in 2001. After teaching four years in San Diego and one year in Honduras, Amy came to Oakland to teach at ASCEND in 2006. She loves learning with 6th graders at ASCEND, and had the pleasure of teaching the GDF kids in the 2009-10. Committed to the life-long success of her students, Amy joined the GDF board in 2010. In her spare time Amy enjoys rock-climbing, backpacking, running, and baking cookies for the people she loves.