Linda Bond is Senior Policy Consultant. Prior to her work with the Center, she served as Director of Governmental Relations for the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.  She has had extensive experience with the California Legislature, serving as Senior Consultant to the Senate Education Committee, and as staff consultant to the Assembly Education Committee, the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and the Assembly Education Subcommittee on Education Reform.  Ms. Bond earned her M.A. in American Government from Rutgers University.  She has a daughter attending graduate school in public policy, and she enjoys reading, sailing, skiing and traveling with her husband.

Margaret Gaston is Senior Policy Advisor.  In 1995, Ms. Gaston established the Center by developing a private and public constituency base of support and audience for its products and services that include education and public policy communities, education support organizations, foundations, colleges, universities, and the public.  Prior to establishing the Center, Ms. Gaston was a special consultant to philanthropic organizations, advising foundation program officers, presidents and board members on grantmaking to public education and education support entities.  She has also served as a consultant and administrator for the California Department of Education, overseeing the School Improvement Program (SIP), School Program Quality Review, Community Education, and other school reform efforts before starting her own consulting firm.

At the local level, Ms. Gaston has been an elementary classroom teacher, categorical programs coordinator, and a high school vice principal.  She received San Diego State University’s Distinguished Alumni Award for 2007 from the College of Education for her work in education policy directed toward improving teaching in high need schools serving English language learners and economically disadvantaged students of color.  Ms. Gaston server on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing from 2006 - 2010.  She has one daughter, is an avid reader, and enjoys riding horses, hiking and travel.

Holly Jacobson is Director.  Ms. Jacobson joined the Center in July 2011. Previously, Ms. Jacobson served as assistant executive director, leadership development and policy analysis for the California School Boards Association (CSBA), overseeing much of CSBA's policy agenda, including teacher quality, curriculum, standards, assessment, accountability, preschool and charter schools. Before joining CSBA, Jacobson was a consultant for the Assembly Education Committee, where she analyzed and drafted education legislation. She also served as an associate consultant for the Assembly Governmental Efficiency and Consumer Protection Committee. Ms. Jacobson is a graduate of Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in history.  She and her husband have two children in public schools.

Stacey Kyle is Research Associate. She has served as the Center's research liaison since joining the staff in 2004.  Previously, she completed internships at the University of Maryland's Educational Policy Reform Research Institute and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of the Special Education Programs.  Dr. Kyle earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Organizations from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She enjoys spending time with her husband and son and is an avid San Francisco Giants fan.

Patsy Wilkes is Project Administrator. She has served in the capacity of key administrator since the Center was founded in 1995.  Her work with Silicon Valley industries, including Intel, has provided a background in accounting, human resources, and business management. Ms. Wilkes earned her B.A. in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has three nearly grown children, and on a sunny weekend she can be found riding her horse on local trails.