Management
Bios
Skye Cary, School Director,
San Jose back to
top
Prior to being promoted to School Director, Skye had been a teacher
at Achievekids for 24 years. She graduated from San Jose State University
and obtained a teaching credential for severely handicapped students
in 1982. A strong advocate who is devoted to the students, Skye
used a combination of methodologies including Special Education,
Behavior Modification and Behavioral Psychology to help the young
adults in her classroom. She believes in providing Achievekids students
with many skills, helping them to stretch their abilities so they
can live as independently as possible.
Tom Drechsler, School
Director, Palo Alto back
to top
Tom has over 12 years of experience in teaching emotionally-disturbed
children. He currently manages seven classrooms at Achievekids’
Palo Alto facility which serves a range ofstudents with severe behavioral
problems. Prior to Achievekids, he worked as a teacher of emotionally-disturbed
students in a tri-county program for public school students removed
from home school or being reintroduced from correctional facilities.
Tom also served for two years as a lead teacher in a teacher mentor
program and a cooperating teacher for student-teachers. Tom has
a B.A. in History and Communication Arts from the University of
Wisconsin and teaching certificates in mild-moderate disabilities
and regular education (communication arts) and is currently attending
a graduate program in Educational Administration at University of
San Francisco.
Michael Gennette, Executive
Director back to
top
Dr. Michael Gennette is a licensed psychologist with 30 years of
experience. Prior to his tenure at Achievekids, he served as Deputy
Director for San Benito County Mental Health. Dr. Gennette served
as Vice President with HOPE Rehabilitation Services for 15 years,
while maintaining a private practice in the San Jose area. He worked
with a variety of public and private agencies dealing with family
therapy, mental health and corrections. Dr. Gennette holds a Ph.D.
from Oregon State University and a M.B.A. from San Jose State University.
He served on the Board of Directors for the San Andreas Regional
Center for 6 years and Chaired the Santa Clara County Commission
on Developmental Disabilities.
Jeanette Glasser, L.C.S.W.,
Clinical Director, Palo Alto back
to top
Jeanette has over 22 years of experience in children and family
counseling programs. She currently is a Clinical Director with Achievekids,
managing the Palo Alto outpatient and public school-based staff.
She also currently supervises the intern program. Jeanette has worked
in many areas of Achievekids clinical programs over the years—working
in just about every area and every role. Previous to Achievekids,
Jeanette worked at the Edgewood Children’s Center performing
individual, group and family therapy, intake evaluations and parent
education. She also has many years of experience of working in various
school settings as a part time employee or volunteer. Jeanette has
a B.A. and M.S.W. from the University of California, Berkeley, and
is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Hien Huynh, BS Director of
Information Systems back
to top
Hien started his college career by studying Accounting. After two
quarters, he realized that health care was more intriguing and switched
to a Pre-Med and Physical Therapy major. He loved the idea of working
with people (especially kids) through health care and medicine.
An avid soccer player, he wanted to combine his love for medicine
with his affinity for sports. Most of his early work experience
was in Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy. He worked with children
and people with disabilities for ten years. During the technology
boom, Hien transitioned to the high tech field. After 5 years of
working at large technology corporations, including Silicon Graphics
Inc., Hien decided to do something that will give back to the community
and leverage his unique background and diverse skills. He has been
working at Achievekids since 2001.
Barbara Johnson, Director
of Human Resources back
to top
After serving as Achievekids’ human resources representative
for six years, Barbara was promoted to Director of Human Resources.
She is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor’s degree
in Personnel/Organizational Psychology. Barbara brings extensive
experience in human resources and staffing to her role which includes
union negotiation, labor relations and staff training. She is nationally
certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources.
Han Lee, Director of Finance
back to top
Han has over twelve years of experience in financial management
and is a certified public accountant (CPA). She is responsible for
all aspects of the organization’s financial performance as
well as the annual audit. Han most recently worked at Tapestry Health
Systems, a non-profit agency in Massachusetts, and was responsible
for financial planning,internal controls and procedures, purchasing,
audits, tax planning and budgeting. Previously, Han worked as a
CPA in private practice supporting small businesses and as a staff
accountant for KPMG Peat Marwich supporting their non-profit practice.
Han has a Masters in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts
and a B.S. in Business Administration from Thunghai University in
Taiwan.
Jean Spurr, Associate Director
back to top
Jean has been with Achievekids for 22 years. Originally hired by
Peninsula Children’s Center (PCC) as Residential Program Director
to develop and open Moving On, one of California’s first community-based
group homes for autistic youth, her role expanded in the late 1980s
to include program development and grant writing for all of PCC’s
programs. After opening a second group home, Jean shifted her responsibilities
to Director of Human Resources. Because Jean’s interest in
program development had not waned with her years in Human Resources,
she added the responsibility of agency-wide program development
into her role in the late 1990s. Jean holds her B.A. from Reed College
and an M.S.W. in Planning,Administration and Policy from UC Berkeley.
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