Staff Bios

Alec L. Lee, Jr., Executive Director

An accomplished educator, Alec Lee co-founded Aim High in 1986 and serves as full-time Executive Director. Alec has a Masters in Education from Harvard University, and received a Klingenstein Fellowship from Columbia Teachers College. He taught history at Lick-Wilmerding High School, a college preparatory high school in San Francisco, for 17 years. As the Executive Director, Alec works closely with the Aim High staff, principals, teachers, and organizational partners.

Matt Reno, Director of Operations

Matt Reno is an experienced educator and administrator. Matt was a teacher and site director at Aim High for 15 years, prior to joining the full-time staff in 2004. Before joining Aim High, he was the Dean at St. Joseph’s of the Sacred Heart, in Atherton, CA, for nine years. Matt has a Masters degree in Education from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from San Francisco State. As Director of Operations, Matt has primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the program finances and serves as the program director for all summer program sites and facilitates the opening and support of new summer program sites.

Larissa Siegel, Director of Development

Larissa Siegel joined the Aim High team in the fall of 2010.  Larissa has 12 years of work experience with Bay Area nonprofits, specifically in major gift fundraising and donor relations.  Larissa served as the founding Director of Young Adult Programs at Temple Emanu-El, as the Director of New Generations at the New Israel Fund, and most recently as a Senior Development Officer at the Jewish Community Federation. Larissa has a deep passion for working with youth leadership programs and has worked as a trip leader for Teen Summer Travel and as a camp counselor and unit head at Camp Tawonga in Yosemite.  She currently serves an active member of the San Francisco Jewish Community Teen Foundation Advisory Council and as a reader for the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards.  Larissa is also active on the Northwestern Alumni Admissions Committee. She and her dog BusterBravo enjoy volunteering at the VA with the SPCA Animal Assistance Therapy Program.

Michelle Capobres, Director of Academics and Program Evaluation

Michelle Capobres joined the Aim High team in the spring of 2011. Michelle began her teaching career as an English teacher in China and served as Program Director of Princeton-in-Asia, overseeing programs in China, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. She taught history and literature at high schools in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Greenwich, CT and, most recently, at the Athenian School in Danville, CA. Most recently, Michelle was the Education Program Officer at World Affairs Council of Northern California. Michelle received her MA in Social Studies Education from Teachers College Columbia University and her BA in Asian Studies from the University of Michigan. She currently serves on the Executive Board of People of Color in Independent Schools (POCIS). Michelle works closely with other Aim High staff members to develop, enhance, and measure quality programming.

Richard Lautze, Director for Headlands Environmental Home Program

Richard Lautze, a veteran teacher at The Urban School in San Francisco, has worked part-time at Aim High for more than 15 years and served as the Director for the Headlands Program since 1997. Richard supervises both the Headlands Environmental Home program during the summer and the Winter Phase work performed by Aim High students during the academic year. Richard also works with the Site Stewardship Program of the Golden Gate National Parks Association, and works closely with lead teachers from the collaborating middle schools that are involved in the program during the academic year.

Dana L. Hernandez, Data Systems and Technology Manager

Dana L. Hernandez has a Masters degree in Educational Technology from Columbia University Teachers College and an Sc.B. in Educational Psychology from Brown University. She was the Director of Technology at the College Preparatory School in Oakland, California for four years before she moved into private consulting designing data management systems. Dana worked as a computer teacher with Aim High in the summers of 1995 and 1996 before becoming a Site Director for 6 years. Dana acted as the Interim Executive Director of Aim High when Alec Lee took a 6 month sabbatical, and then she became the Associate Director for 2 years. Currently Dana works part-time with Aim High as the Development & Technology Assistant and continues to work as an educational technology consultant with schools, nonprofit organizations and small businesses specializing in database design and network planning.

Terrence Riley, Program and Admissions Coordinator

Terrence Riley is a 1996 graduate of Aim High @ Urban and returned as a Teaching Assistant throughout high school.  As Program and Admissions Coordinator, Terrence is responsible for overseeing program admissions, managing year-round programs, and coordinating student and family services.  Terrence holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Southern California and an M.A. in Educational Administration and Leadership from the University of the Pacific.

 

Amanda Minix, Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations

Amanda Minix joined Aim High in the spring of 2011. Prior to Aim High, Amanda was the Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager at Cascade Land Conservancy, a Seattle based environmental organization. She holds a Certificate in Fundraising Management and an M.A. In South Asian Studies from the University of Washington. She serves on the Board of Oasis for Girls and enjoys biking, hiking and sewing in her free time.

 

Marina Javor, Development Associate: Communications and Events

Marina Javor joined Aim High in the fall of 2011. Prior to joining the Aim High team, Marina served as Development Associate at the New Israel Fund, spent two years teaching English as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Azerbaijan, and worked in advertising at two San Francisco newspapers. She has travelled extensively in Asia and Europe and volunteered in Sri Lanka with a tsunami relief project. As the Development Associate for Communications and Events at Aim High, Marina is delighted be working toward greater education for Bay Area youth.  Outside of work, she enjoys guiding whitewater rafting trips, going camping, writing stories, making electronic music on her computer, and planning her next epic international vacation.