New Leaders Step Up to Shape BCE’s Next Chapter
As BCE enters its 45th year, a new generation of volunteer leaders is stepping forward to build on the organization’s momentum and help shape what comes next.
After a milestone year for the Burlingame Community for Education Foundation, BCE is beginning the new school year with new faces in leadership, new shared roles, and plenty of momentum.
This year, BCE is building on that momentum with a new group of board members who are ready to take on key roles and carry the work forward. After several years as BCE President, Jen Faber has passed the presidency to a new generation of volunteer leaders. Pooja Shah, who served as Co-President last year, will continue in the role alongside new Co-President Alejandra Sereleas. Across the Board, returning and new volunteers are also taking on shared leadership roles, creating more opportunities for people to bring their talents and ideas to BCE.
“BCE is in such a strong place right now,” Faber said. “I’m excited to keep working on the things I care about while also giving new folks the opportunity to bring their ideas and energy to the organization. That’s how a volunteer organization stays healthy and continues to grow.” That spirit of continuity and collaboration is at the heart of BCE’s evolving leadership structure. By creating more Co-VP and shared leadership positions, BCE is making volunteer roles more manageable while expanding the number of people who can contribute. The result is a deeper bench of volunteers ready to pick up the work, build on what came before, and bring new ideas to the Foundation.
“In the past few years, BCE has grown tremendously. With that growth comes an opportunity to think differently about how we share leadership,” says Executive Director Meredith Dunn.
“We want people to be able to bring their talents and creativity to BCE without feeling like they have to do everything themselves. Shared leadership gives us more capacity, more perspectives, and, importantly, more opportunities for people to get involved.” —Executive Director Meredith Dunn
A New Leadership Partnership
After a year of learning from and leading alongside Faber, Pooja Shah is beginning her second year with a clear vision for BCE’s next chapter. Her first year gave her a close look at the organization’s growth and the opportunities ahead, from building on its strong financial foundation to bringing more families and community members into the work.
As BCE celebrates its 45th anniversary, Shah sees an opportunity to honor the legacy that has brought the organization this far while thinking intentionally about what comes next. “Our focus is not simply on continuing to grow, but on making that success sustainable,” she says. That means exploring new and diversified sources of revenue, deepening relationships with donors, families, businesses and the broader community, and helping more people understand the impact BCE has on every student in Burlingame. She also sees tremendous opportunity in BCE’s Endowment, which can help ensure that the investments the community makes today continue supporting Burlingame students for generations to come.
Just as important, Pooja wants BCE’s leadership to reflect the community it serves. “We want to create a more sustainable and accessible leadership model that allows a broader, more representative cross-section of our community to contribute in meaningful ways,” she says. That vision is already taking shape through BCE’s shared leadership structure, including Pooja’s partnership with Alejandra Sereleas, a Burlingame parent whose family has experienced the Burlingame School District from elementary school through BIS.
Originally from Colombia, Sereleas moved to Burlingame with her husband, Kostas, just before the pandemic. Their daughter, Dagny, attended McKinley’s Spanish Immersion program and Lincoln Elementary and is now at BIS. Sereleas brings more than 20 years of experience in finance and business strategy to BCE. While she is new to school foundation boards, she is not new to getting involved and describes herself as someone who is happy to “jump in with both feet.” What drew her to BCE was a desire to help make the organization feel accessible to every family. “I want every Burlingame family to feel like BCE belongs to them,” she says. “BCE is something our whole community has built together, and I want everyone to see themselves as part of it.”
For Shah and Sereleas, shared leadership is about more than dividing responsibilities. It is a way to bring different strengths and perspectives to the table while creating more opportunities for others to participate. Shah hopes that, by the end of the year, “more people feel genuinely connected to BCE, not just as donors or volunteers, but as partners in its mission.” As BCE looks toward its next 45 years, their partnership is focused on strengthening the organization for the long term while expanding the circle of people who feel invested in its success.
Building Business Connections
Another area where BCE is expanding its leadership is its Business Development team. Brendon Gildea is joining Scott Smith as Co-VP of Business Development, building on one of BCE’s fastest-growing areas of community engagement. BCE’s Business Partner network has grown significantly in recent years. Last year, 37 local businesses contributed more than $245,000 to support Burlingame schools, more than double the previous year’s business giving.
Gildea brings both professional experience and a parent’s perspective to the role. A property manager originally from the Philadelphia area, he and his wife, Ashley, have lived in four countries before moving to Burlingame in 2024 with their children, Ryan, a second grader, and Emily, a kindergartener, both at Washington Elementary. His family’s experiences with schools in different countries helped him appreciate the value of programs that enrich students’ education beyond the basics. “In my children’s previous schools, they were introduced to music and foreign languages at a young age, and I saw firsthand how much those experiences added,” Gildea said. “I want to help make sure Burlingame students continue to have access to those kinds of opportunities.”
Gildea will work alongside Smith, who has helped lead BCE’s Business Development efforts as the Business Partner program has continued to expand. Together, they’ll focus on growing the network, strengthening relationships with existing partners, and creating new opportunities for local businesses to connect with BCE and Burlingame schools. “We’re excited to build on the momentum of the Business Partner program by growing our network and deepening our relationships with existing partners,” Smith says. “We’ll also be rolling out some new partner benefits designed to create even deeper connections between our community and our business partners.”
Growing BCE’s Story
Leadership is also expanding on the communications side of BCE. This year, Ann Wang Reed will join Rebecca Hopkins as Co-VP of Marketing. Ann has been an active member of the McKinley Elementary and BIS PTA and brings a strong understanding of the parent community and the many ways families connect with their schools.
The two will work together this year, with Wang Reed preparing to take over as VP of Marketing when Hopkins’ youngest child moves on to high school at the end of next school year.Wang Reed brings a well-rounded foundation in marketing, technology, and user engagement to the BCE Board. A seasoned corporate leader in advertising, risk, and product monetization, her professional journey includes impact across top technology and global brands including Google, Visa, Yahoo, and Sony. Furthermore, her commitment to public education is deeply personal. Having called Burlingame home for over a decade with her husband, Scott, and their two children Alianna (an eighth grader at BIS) and Anderson (a fourth grader at McKinley), Wang Reed has devoted years to supporting local schools from the ground up. At McKinley, she has worn many hats, serving as past PTA Co-President and other Exec Board roles, and at BIS she continues building community connections by leading Spirit Gear design and sales to foster Trojan pride.
“I have a deep appreciation for BCE’s commitment to a well-rounded education for all students. I believe that investing in public schools is about creating a lasting legacy—one that enriches the student experience today while laying the groundwork for thriving, engaged citizens tomorrow. As Co-VP of Marketing, I am honored to channel my professional experience and volunteer leadership into driving family outreach, strengthening engagement, and maximizing BCE’s collective impact for years to come.”
The transition reflects another important part of BCE’s evolving volunteer model: creating opportunities for volunteers to learn alongside experienced leaders before taking on roles themselves. “Having the chance to work together before a transition happens is such a gift,” says Hopkins. “It gives Ann an opportunity to learn the organizational history and systems behind the role, while also bringing her own ideas and fresh eyes to the work. That’s exactly the kind of continuity we want to create at BCE.”
The leaders highlighted here represent just a few of the many volunteers who make BCE’s work possible. Our Board of Directors brings together parents and community members with a wide range of skills, experiences, and perspectives, all united by a commitment to Burlingame students. Meet the full BCE Board and learn more about the people behind the work at bcefoundation.org/about/meet-the-team.
Calling All Volunteers!
BCE’s success has always depended on people willing to step forward and help. Today, that community includes a volunteer Board and additional volunteers who work at schools and behind the scenes to help make events and special projects possible. You don’t have to join the Board to make a difference. BCE has opportunities in marketing, local business development, events, outreach, operations, grant writing, project management, and more. Some roles require a regular commitment, while others may take just a few hours or a specific skill.
Getting involved with BCE is a great way to help Burlingame schools, share your talents, and meet parents and community members from across the district. Whether you’re ready to take on a leadership role or simply want to learn more about how you can help, there’s a place for you at BCE.
Visit www.bcefoundation.org/volunteers to learn more about open Board positions, site team roles, VolunteerCorps opportunities, and ad hoc volunteer needs.
