WINDSOR EDUCATION FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of Grants and Innovative Programs for the Windsor Public Schools
Ceila Robbins has been the coordinator of grants and innovative programs for the Windsor Public Schools since 2001. She has previously been involved with education as a high school and college teacher, middle school counselor, educational consortium director and Board of Education member (and a student!) and has also been a free-lance editor and writer for the past 20 years. She lives in Bolton with her husband, horses, dogs and cats and has two daughters, one in Portland, Oregon, and one in Palmer, Alaska. When she's not working, her preferred activities include hiking, cross-country skiing, bicycling, gardening or walking on the beach.
Job Titles:
- Liaison ) Finance Committee
Daniell earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Virginia Wesleyan University (College). She then subsequently graduated from Quinnipiac University where she earned her Masters in Organizational Leadership.
Daniell began her career as a paralegal working for mid-sized law firms and various insurance companies in that capacity. She currently works as a Compliance Manager with a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Daniell has spent her life volunteering for numerous nonprofit organizations. Some past involvement includes being an Executive Board Member of the National Association of Health Services Executives, Junior Achievement, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Hartford, amongst others. Daniell is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., which has a primary focus of servicing all mankind through programming and volunteering services.
Daniell currently lives in Windsor with her son, Caleb.
Devra graduated from the Windsor Public Schools, where she served as the secretary and prom queen of her class. She has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut and a Master's degree from Springfield College.
As a Licensed Masters Level Social Worker, in the inner city of Hartford, Devra currently assesses families and children's needs, connecting them to services in their community. She has served as a member of the National Association of Social Workers as well as the Greater Hartford Alliance of Black Social Workers.
In her pursuit to serve others, Devra has joined the board to become more active within her hometown of Windsor.
Dr. Feser came to the Windsor Public Schools in July 2002.
Her professional career has included serving in three states and working in both parochial and public school systems. Prior to coming to Windsor five years ago as Superintendent, Dr. Feser served for eight years as the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction in the New Canaan Public Schools. Before New Canaan, Dr. Feser served as Principal of Danbury High School. She came to Danbury from the Arlington School District, a large suburban school system located outside of Poughkeepsie, NY, where she served as Assistant Principal of Instruction. Dr. Feser spent 11 years with the Boston Archdiocesan School System as both as a high school teacher and a school administrator.
Dr. Feser holds a B.A. Degree from St. Xavier College and an M. Ed. in Education from Boston College. She earned her Ed.D. in Educational Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Flavia earned her Master's Degrees in Geography and Public Administration from Syracuse University. She brings 6 years of experience in non-profit management and youth development to the board. Flavia moved to Windsor in 2018 and is now a proud parent of an Oliver Ellsworth pre-k student.
Flavia currently works in the Community Development Department of the Town of Windsor where she manages CDBG programs. Previously, Flavia has worked for the YWCA of Syracuse and Onondaga County where she guided the strategy and management of Girls Incorporated Programs and was in charge or grants development and Fundraising for all programs at the YWCA.
Flavia, a native from Peru, embraces diversity and is an avid believer that some of our best learning opportunities come from those with different backgrounds and beliefs.
Jane Garibay has been a life-long resident of Windsor with a few years in Mexico and Vermont. She is the Representative for the 60th district in the Connecticut legislature, representing most of Windsor and all of Windsor Locks. She was the Executive Director of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce from 1999 - 2018 and is currently the Director of First Town Downtown, Inc Windsor's Main Street program.
Jane's more than 40 years of volunteerism include serving as Windsor Board of Education President from 2000 to 2005. Her recent volunteer activities include serving as President and co-founder of the Windsor Education Foundation, President of the Windsor Food and Fuel Bank and past President and Board member of Windsor Community Television and co-chair of Windsor's Schools to Business Partnership. In 2011 she was elected to the Board of Directors of the New England Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and served for two years. In 2014 Jane again joined the board as Treasurer and was elected President in November 2018. She is also a part of the Family-Community Partnership, member of the Nutmeg Senior Rides Advisory Council and chairs Project Santa providing holidays for more than 350 children each year.
Jane lives in Windsor with her husband Bernardo and niece Jennie, and a dachshund named Otto. They have three children: Jose, Andrew, and Cate and a grandson Faolan.
Jen Peck earned a Master's degree in nursing education from the University of Hartford. Her work experience includes both hospital and community nursing, as well as international humanitarian aid work and instructing undergraduate nursing students.
Before becoming a nurse, Jen was a science teacher in the Peace Corps, serving in The Gambia, West Africa. During her service, she was awarded a U.S. Embassy grant to hold a three-day girls' education conference promoting retention of girls in school.
Jen has volunteered with various local organizations over the past twenty years. Now as proud parent of a WPS student, she finds it a privilege to serve on the WEF board of directors.
In her professional life, Katie is a 1:1 paraprofessional at the middle school, while in school herself, working to obtain her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Lisa Bress, a Windsor resident for the past 24 years, served as a WEF Board Member and later as the WEF Liaison for one year until her retirement from the Windsor Public Schools in 2014. An educator for 30 plus years, Lisa holds degrees in Theatre, Elementary Education, Special Education and a 6th year Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Hartford. Throughout her teaching career, she ensured yearly service projects with her students were part of her classroom culture. Past leadership positions include Head Teacher at Poquonock School, Co-President of The Windsor Education Association and PDEC Consultant for the Connecticut Education Association. As a volunteer, Lisa served on the Board of Directors for Civitan and Board of Trustees for Friends of Northwest Park. She enjoys participating in volunteer activities in the Windsor community with her husband Bob and son, Keith.
Mae Maloney is a 2007 graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University where she received a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and is a 2013 graduate of Smith College school for Social Work where she earned her Masters. Mae is a graduate of Leadership Greater Hartford's Quest Program.
Since 2007 Mae has worked with Leadership Greater Hartford in a variety of capacities including serving as a Grants Manager and as Program Director for several youth programs. Throughout her tenure at Leadership Greater Hartford she has implanted an after school program at Hartford Public High School, developed a summer youth leadership program for teens throughout the Greater Hartford Region and organized numerous community service projects throughout the Capital City. Mae also served as an Intern at the Institute of Living in Hartford and Community Health Resources in Enfield. Mae currently serves as the Program Director for the Leaders On Board program and Encore! Hartford program.
Mae's background in the nonprofit arena and training in social work has prepared her in several areas including program development and community organizing. She has served as a Big Sister in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program in Hartford and has coordinated a program for special needs adults in Windsor. Mae has served on numerous boards of directors.
She currently lives in Windsor with her husband, Jason, their son, Finn, and a menagerie of animals.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Member of Communications Committee
Paula M. Pierce is a Windsor High School and Loyola University graduate holding a B.A. degree in English Literature. Paula is the owner of Hosting Connecticut, LLC; a full service website development and digital marketing company.
A native of Windsor, Connecticut, she lives in Windsor with her husband, Michael. They enjoy being part of an energetic and diverse small town. Paula is an ardent supporter of Windsor and its business community, and has been recognized for those efforts by the Small Business Administration and the Windsor Chamber of Commerce. She served on the board of directors of the Windsor Education Foundation for eight years previously and was president for one, and volunteered on the board of directors of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce for 13 years, including terms as secretary and president.
Paula also has served as an English tutor for Literacy Volunteers of America, was a member of the Town of Windsor MDA Mass Vax Preparedness Committee and works with many non-profit organizations in town.